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Pics: EGR pipe at 230k miles

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by ATlam, Aug 13, 2017.

  1. ATlam

    ATlam Member

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    Got the engine code P0401 Insufficient Air Flow again (replaced EGR valve few months ago with warranty) so I decided to clean the EGR pipe. It was a mess! previous owner probably didn't clean it. I have been holding it off but it was pretty easy to do.

    Also seems to help with engine vibrating at 5mph with low battery charge (as if engine couldn't get any air in) that everyone has problem with, keeping an eye out to see if that problem is really solved.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Good idea to inspect and clean(y).

    Now you have an idea of the whole circuits condition, which will be littered with carbon deposits :(.

    Next step would be to clean the intake manifold and egr valve and cooler.

    If you need help, let me know(y).
     
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  3. ATlam

    ATlam Member

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    Thanks for the offer Ray, I will keep it in mind. We tried cleaning through the hole of the intake manifold (lot of stuff there too...) but felt like taking it off is a bit more complicated than the pipe so we didn't mess with it too much.

    But yes, it was everywhere! Toyota replaced the EGR valve for me, but not the cooler. If the code doesn't disappear I'll work on the intake and cooler, thanks for the advice.

    Assuming EGR valve is replaced and working properly, would the carbon deposit come back?
     
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  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    To replace the valve the service department must have had that pipe in their hands. Those guys were obviously "mailing it in". I would show those pics to the service manager.

    If he's not interested, time to talk to to Toyota.
     
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  5. Marine Ray

    Marine Ray Senior Member

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    How many miles on your Prius?
     
  6. ATlam

    ATlam Member

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    I thought about that, but since the TSB called for a EGR valve replacement and not pipe cleaning, am i in the right for complaining?

    my car has 230k miles.
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I'd vote yes. To just go in there, put a fresh valve in that carbon-clogged mess: completely unprofessional.
     
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  8. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Deposits wil return(and will for the life of the car as the exhaust gas has carbon in it). Replacing the valve will only get one component. You got a second component. But until all are cleaned or replaced, the same behavior you experienced can reccur.

    I pool my cleaning / replacement of the cooler with the spark plugs and engine coolant to reduce time soent in clean up or removing the windshield wiper cowling. But can be done off this cycle.

    Keep us posted (y).
     
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  9. ATlam

    ATlam Member

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    I will come back tomorrow and have a talk with them :) because the code came back too, thanks for the idea.
     
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  10. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    While it leaves the deposits there, there are also many occurrences where the dealer takes a "professional liberty" to do something and then the retort comes back as "why did you do that?". The right thing to do would be to advise the customer of the situation, replace the valve and suggest further work.

    But that didn't happen here:(.
     
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  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I think @Raytheeagle and his crew have a better grasp of what's happening than Toyota right now. Or maybe not...

    If the pipe is bad, the EGR cooler (other side of the replaced valve, upstream) will be pretty much solid carbon inside. The intake manifold too, that the pipe feeds in, should be pulled off and cleaned.

    While waiting to talk to the dealership, have a look at @NutzAboutBolts videos, pinned at top of maintenance sub-forum. In particular the EGR pipe cleaning, intake manifold cleaning, and EGR cooler cleaning.
     
  12. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Thanks for the vote of confidence, I think :cautious:.
     
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  13. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    Time for you to open a Mobile Bay Area Hybrid repair service. :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
     
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  14. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    If it were only that easy:cool:.

    I still have a day job which is slowly eating away at any discretionary time left :(.

    But wrenching on a car is a good way to channel energy(y).
     
  15. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    Maybe weekend Mechanic? :D
     
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  16. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    btw, I ordered the OCC, I will film it once I get it.. hopefully it'll turn out good as I hope. lol
     
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  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    That maybe doesn't read the way I intended. What I meant to say is that maybe Toyota is well aware of the problem, waiting on it to "go away"?
     
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  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it will, in 5 or 10 years. to be fair, it is 230k.
     
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  19. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Everything has a life span. If you can extend it, why not?

    Congrats on 57k by the way(y).
     
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  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    agreed, i just can't lay it at toyota's feet. at 100k, absolutely.
     
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