1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Shuttering at partial throttle

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Dat Boi, Sep 21, 2016.

  1. Dat Boi

    Dat Boi Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2016
    36
    6
    6
    Location:
    Alton, Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Hello everyone!

    So my 2006 Toyota Prius has 286k miles and I drive it every day.

    Ever since I purchased new tires, i've noticed that the car shutters in situations with light throttle, especially when it is running from just the battery.

    Is this normal? Perhaps it was coincidental?

    Maybe shudder isn't the right term, but I can feel it in the gas pedal whenever it does exhibit the symptoms and it's been slowly been bothering me.

    Any ideas?
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,463
    8,377
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Failing transaxle is my guess. 286k is very respectable
     
  3. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,447
    3,750
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Does the traction light flash when you get these "shudders"?

    Did you buy cheap tires with poor traction?
     
  4. Dat Boi

    Dat Boi Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2016
    36
    6
    6
    Location:
    Alton, Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    You really think? It has only shown these symptoms since I bought the new tires.
     
  5. Dat Boi

    Dat Boi Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2016
    36
    6
    6
    Location:
    Alton, Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The traction light does not come on.

    I was going to go for the Bridgestone Ecotopia's, but I ended up going with a standard Uniroyal tire.

    When the car is coasting and charging the traction battery, it shows no signs of shuttering.
     
  6. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,463
    8,377
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    If anything goes wrong, you'll get a warning light. Until then, just drive
     
  7. Dat Boi

    Dat Boi Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2016
    36
    6
    6
    Location:
    Alton, Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    That sounds like a great plan, JC91006!

    Thank you guys for the quick responses, I wasn't expecting immediate advice!

    Glad to be a part of the forum :)

    I've driven this car 50k miles in the past five months and plan to keep it for a long, long time!
     
  8. Dat Boi

    Dat Boi Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2016
    36
    6
    6
    Location:
    Alton, Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I had another question, as well! It may pertain to this issue.

    On occasion, with hard acceleration, I can hear a rattle coming from the engine bay that comes and goes with no consistency. I'll have to snag a video of it making the sound sometime. I thought it was the timing chain knocking, so I replaced that.

    It almost sounds like spark knock, but I eliminated that by doing plugs and checking the coils, etc.
     
  9. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,447
    3,750
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I don't think it is mere coincidence this just started when you put new tires on. My WAG is the new tires are slipping on acceleration.
    I'd be more than willing to bet it sounds more than "almost like" knocking. Try using a higher octane gas than you are using now. Possibly your knock sensor is no longer working.
     
  10. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,463
    8,377
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    How much was the timing chain? That solved the noise?

    I would probably not invest money if a major failure arises. These cars are fairly cheap now with 200k miles. Just get another
     
  11. Dat Boi

    Dat Boi Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2016
    36
    6
    6
    Location:
    Alton, Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    That did not solve the noise. The sound is also intermittent, which makes it difficult to diagnose. I've been driving on, not worrying about it too much. Like you said, if something serious is happening, it will tell me via a CEL.

    The timing chain kit came out to about $100 after tax, me and a friend of mine knocked it out in eight hours. It did not solve the noise issue, but I wanted to do it regardless as preventive maintenance.

    I am willing to put the money into it because it is a big asset to my company, and I have access to a two post lift, ALLDATA, and friendly help.

    Six months ago, I purchased it @ 245k with a bad traction battery for $675. I had a company install a traction battery from a wrecked 2009 Prius for $900. Unfortunately, it would not come with a warranty if they sold me just the battery.

    If I paid more than $675 for it, I would probably give up on it if problems arise, but with parts being relatively inexpensive, I don't mind putting money into it.
     
  12. Dat Boi

    Dat Boi Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2016
    36
    6
    6
    Location:
    Alton, Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    For a while, it would occasionally throw a P0014, but has since cleared itself up and hasn't come back on for at least 20k miles.

    Is it possible that the knock sensor is bad but not throwing a CEL?
     
  13. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,447
    3,750
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I was going to say that there should be codes thrown for all these problems. Except for pending only codes, there should also be lights if there are DTCs thrown.

    What are you using to read the codes?
     
  14. Dat Boi

    Dat Boi Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2016
    36
    6
    6
    Location:
    Alton, Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    And I made a typo on a post above.

    I actually meant to say

     
  15. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,463
    8,377
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Keep driving it until it dies. Look for another lower mileage one with a failed battery. You can always transfer your battery and get a lower mileage car.

    Many things will fail at high mileage, electronics, shocks, computers, mfd screens, combination meters, ac...and the list goes on.

    Imagine what you can do with a $1500 car with a failed battery and 150k miles?
     
  16. Dat Boi

    Dat Boi Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2016
    36
    6
    6
    Location:
    Alton, Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I checked for codes, and it was clear. No pending codes, either.

    For the first time checking, I used my basic Bosch scanner. Then I tried my friends Snap-On shop scanner and I had the same results, no codes and no pending codes.
     
  17. Dat Boi

    Dat Boi Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2016
    36
    6
    6
    Location:
    Alton, Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    They pop up every now and then, but I usually see them selling for $2500 to $3000 with a failed traction battery.

    I almost bought an 07 with 163k miles, but I didn't have $2500 at the time and the lady wouldn't accept $2000.
     
  18. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,463
    8,377
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    There will be plenty soon. 2006 to 2009 Toyota sold hundreds of thousands of these cars, they will all fail with battery problems. No rush for you, you have 1. Get one when you see one that fits the bill.
     
  19. Dat Boi

    Dat Boi Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2016
    36
    6
    6
    Location:
    Alton, Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    That is my new plan. I'd like to have a Prius with a better body. I have a few photos of mine on my profile, and it has a lot of dings and dents.

    I could then use my current Prius as a parts car once I get another one and swap the bits I need.
     
    Dino33ca likes this.
  20. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,463
    8,377
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Best of luck to you. If you look at my signature, I have accumulated these cars through the years, the same way we discussed
     
    Dat Boi likes this.