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Rattling Noise from the Heat Shield - Throw it away?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by dhman2006, May 13, 2017.

  1. dhman2006

    dhman2006 Member

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    I've been hearing a little rattling noise from my car for a few days now. At the beginning I wasn't sure what the noise was, but today I jacked up the car, crawled underneath, and found out that the heat shield that goes above the middle section of the exhaust pipe has come loose. Does anyone know how important that heat shield is? Do I need to repair it or can I throw it away? One of my coworkers told me to throw it away ... apparently that's what he did with his.

    What do you folks think?
     
    #1 dhman2006, May 13, 2017
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Never throw out anything. Just thank the automotive gods that it's at least still there. It does serve a purpose, best not to second guess it. Replacement cost for all these things is basically: take the most ridiculously exhorbitant cost you can dream up, then double it.

    Figure out why it's rattling. Maybe a missing bolt? More likely the bolt is still there, but the shield snagged on something and tore off the bolt, enlarging the hole? Get it raised, DIY if you can safely, and see what's going on.

    If it's a torn out hole, and the bolt is still there, at hardware stores you can pick up oversized washers: have larger outside diameter than usual, will span the torn hole. Bring in the bolt to check fit.
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, May 13, 2017
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  3. dhman2006

    dhman2006 Member

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    Left side of the shield is rusted out and just came off the bolt. The bolt is still there, but the piece that was holding onto the bolt got rusted and can't be hold onto by the bolt anymore.
     
    #3 dhman2006, May 13, 2017
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  4. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Temperatures in that area of the car are hot due to combustion. I would look for a salvage part if what remains will not work or cannot be cobbled together to work.

    IMO, replace the shield;).
     
    #4 Raytheeagle, May 13, 2017
    Last edited: May 13, 2017
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    If the tear is too big for over-sized washer, my next ploy would be a short piece of galvanized pipe hanger, again, just acting as a washer at the tear-out zone:

    upload_2017-5-13_13-25-50.png
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, May 13, 2017
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  6. Tande

    Tande Active Member

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    FWIW....mine did the same thing at about 100,000 mi. .......I repaired it just as Mendel described in post #2.....
     
    #6 Tande, May 14, 2017
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  7. Kenny94945

    Kenny94945 Active Member

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    see post 4.
    I would attempt a repair with what ever product...hanger, washers, sheet metal, nuts and bolts
    Good luck.
     
    #7 Kenny94945, May 14, 2017
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  8. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    This looks like it would work...
    ExtremeHeat.jpg
     
    #8 RRxing, May 15, 2017
  9. ALS

    ALS Active Member

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    Yep $200 including labor. That is what I paid the dealer last month when mine came loose.
     
    #9 ALS, May 15, 2017
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  10. goodwheelz

    goodwheelz Junior Member

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    I tried a few solutions. The easiest was to put two pairs of 2 Harbor Freight steel cable ties through the hole and around the bracket above the heat shield. I positioned one band going through the whole and to the right and the other band going through the whole and to the left to provide a counter pressure on each side.

    Total Repair Cost: $6.99
     

    Attached Files:

    #10 goodwheelz, Dec 1, 2020
  11. HammerGrips

    HammerGrips Junior Member

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    Mine is now doing the same. I'm thinking I will just tear it off, assuming it's easier than reattachment. If you think about a Prius going down the road, there should be plenty of airflow. Sitting or slow traffic, the engine's not running.
     
    #11 HammerGrips, Nov 9, 2022
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Get some fender washers; make it last.
     
    #12 Mendel Leisk, Nov 9, 2022
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