Hi, I recently bought a 2004 Prius with 160000 miles. Drove it back home and for the week after with no issues. After a short drive this week there was a hesitation in the engine and the CEL was flashing. Got it home and checked the code which was a cylinder 2 misfire. I swapped the ignition coil in cylinder 2 to 1 to see if the misfire followed the coil or not. However, when I attempted to recreate the problem (have to accelerate quickly from being stopped) I got another flashing CEL but this time it was for a misfire on cylinder 3! I wasn’t expecting that haha. Any advice as to what I should do next to diagnose the problem? Thanks!
What makes this problem better or worse?
It seems to only misfire when accelerating quickly - I haven’t gotten this code while driving conservatively
How long has your 2004 Toyota Prius had this problem?
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Hi, this is Bo, an auto expert on RepairPal's Car Genius team!
It sounds like you're on the right track with your diagnosis by swapping the coils. Since the misfire didn't follow the coil and jumped to cylinder 3 instead, it could be pointing to a few possible culprits: spark plugs, fuel injectors, or even something as simple as dirty connections. Since the misfire seems to happen under load, I'd suggest checking the spark plugs next—they could be worn or fouled up, especially at 160,000 miles. If the plugs look good, then testing the fuel injectors for proper function would be the next step. Also, keep an eye on those connections to make sure everything's clean and snug. I hope this helps, and good luck getting your Prius running smoothly again!
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