Rattling heat shield

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by GasSavings, Jul 4, 2025 at 11:46 PM.

  1. GasSavings

    GasSavings New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2024
    8
    1
    0
    Location:
    Toronto
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Has anyone had any problems with their heat, shield, rattling, especially on startup when it is most noticeable but accelerating on and off the heat shield rattles quite loud. How do you recommend fixing this cheaply?

    thank you!
     
  2. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    8,052
    3,220
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Well, you probably have some missing fasteners, which are why the heatshield is vibrating/rattling around.

    You're going to have to get under the car and investigate what's going on under there. Once you know what is going on, then you can start looking for what you need to solve the problem.

    SM-S936U ?
     
  3. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    26,368
    17,274
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I had one come loose (the one sort of amidships, along the exhaust pipe) last year during a road trip, and didn't notice any unusual sound while cruising on the expressway but as I slowed and stopped and started again at the next exit I took, it sounded like the car was going to self-destruct.

    I carry a small spool of stainless steel wire in the back, and I found a Jiffy Lube that was open and asked if I could drive over their pit and have them use some of my wire to tie it to something. The rest of my road trip was nice and quiet.

    When I got home I did glance under and see that I think what they wired it up to was a fuel line, and it's still on my to-do list to put the car up on stands and undo that and wire it to something else.