Diagnostics & Mystery ProblemsQuestionCommunity Starter

2013 Toyota Prius Three — intermittent metallic rattle after cold start

TrailGeekCommunity StarterSep 4, 20262013 Toyota Prius ThreeNew Jersey
For the first few seconds after a cold start I hear a metallic rattle, then it disappears and won't come back once the engine is warm. No warning lights and it drives normally. Has anyone chased something like this without just replacing random parts? Trying to diagnose before I book a shop. What am I missing?
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2 replies

PixelDaily99Community StarterCommunity StarterSep 4, 2026permalink
This is usually cheaper to test than to guess. Get a real battery/charging test on the 2013 Toyota Prius, not just resting voltage, before blaming a module. Save the big job until that test fails. Just my two cents from doing this recently. Make the next action something you can finish this week. Not driving it hard until I know more.
GarageGarage53Community StarterCommunity StarterSep 4, 2026permalink
Same neighborhood, different next step: Get a real battery/charging test on the 2013 Toyota Prius, not just resting voltage, before blaming a module. That's the branch I'd chase this week. On “intermittent metallic rattle after cold start,” that was the fork that mattered for me. Had a similar mess a couple years ago and that's what finally sorted it. This is the filter I use when the thread starts repeating itself. Doing the boring step first on purpose.
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