my used gen III series IV model has just under 30,000 miles on it. once in awhile I thought I hear a sound and figured it was one of those dash noises (sad to think). well today I heard it again and could, it seems, make it happen as I worked the gas paddle off and on. sort of like a lower pitched sound instead of a high pitched sound. so am I nuts are is there something no right and does toyota know how to fix it? thanks
I don't remember anyone mentioning a squeaky gas pedal, might just need some WD40 sprayed on the moving parts. Your car is still under warranty why not take it to a Toyota dealer and see what they think?
You may be referring to the noise of the electric motor. Sorry, we can only guess here without hearing the noise over the internet.
My only experience is driving my 07 highlander hybrid so uncertain aso to what moving parts in the prius makes noises though believe I'm aware of the electric motor sound...thinking that one begins as soon as you open the driver door and maybe press the key. This one is while driving and does not feel/sound as they it is any sort of stuck gas pedal issue/sound rather more inside the dash area mrechanical sound that is related to when one is pressing on the gas pedal. Of course it does not happen all the time but maybe will try to record it and go from there. It is not any braking/regen braking issue/sound I know that. It only seems to appear when giving the engine gas though again not all the time. thanks
The one you hear when you open the driver's door is the brake booster pump. When you shut the car off sometimes another pump runs to check the vapor recovery system. While driving you will hear a whine from the inverters. These are the most common but there are others. Use the search function and search for noise or noises, you should find a lot of them.
There are noises also coming from the electric power steering. If radio is off, windows closed and I am not driving too fast (rolling noise low) I can hear a very faint, but distinct "inverter like" noise. It is intermittent and comes and goes depending on when and how much I accelerate or steer. It can also the noise of the AC electric compressor propagating in from the outside, which is not constant. If you are still in doubt, I would go and "bother" your Toyota dealer
I hear a low "tung" when I let off the pedal quick. I think it is the stop inside the housing. Since it is spring loaded, I think you are hearing it bottom out. Of course I can only hear this when the stereo is off.
I believe my Prius has the same problem. It has only 2500 miles. The sound is not loud but we can hear it very clear. You are right it is not the dashboard rattle noise. I have searched on PC and found other ppl have reported the weird noise, but I am pretty sure this one is different. We noticed the chirp sound when car accelerates. So we tested it on local road and highway, the result is pretty consistent. I called the dealer and they have no knowledge of it . I was able to record it on my camera but I don't know how to post it on here.
Hmmm...I've never heard that sound either, though I rarely drive without my cd player going. I've got over 12,000 miles and have had my car since June of last year. You find the sound while you're trying to accelerate? To me it sounded like you were already driving really fast.
I was doing about 40-45 MPH. I wanted to point the camera to the road but I was afraid of not catching the noise. I will try to get a better video.
Hyhi, I have posted 2 videos, just wondering if it's the same noise on your Prius. BTW, did you call your dealer and what did they say? Thanks
Sorry for the delay in getting back to this thread. Was going to post that the sound is like the one you hear from your refrigerator when it makes that bubbling noise (you know that sound it makes under the bottom of it at times...might be a tray down there for water to go into). Anyway...YES tzh you captured 100% the noise I'm hearing. Did a drive over the skyway yesterday and heard it a lot while traveling. Since I have a 7yr/100k toyota warranty and 3mth/3,000 'full coverage?' coverage also will get it down to a dealer before that 3mths is up to see if they know what the heck is causing this sound. Very strange but then I have never owned a prius prior to this 3rd gen. Was reading some post on a having the sunroof and nav though and wished I had gotten those but such is life. Have to say even though I should not have two cars my other one, the highlander 07 hybrid (also without sunroof) is very nice and a bit more comfortable for size/ride then again I'm hitting 53 so guess that comes with age lol. Am loving the prius though and like the high mpg now to make that sound go bye bye would be nice. Tzh, did you take yours to a dealer yet? Wonder if any other priuschat members have this sound and if a dealer resolved it for them. Would be good to be able to tell my dealer what it is if anyone has the cause/solution. thanks all
It does not appear to be speed related in that one can be going slower then 50 or higher then that and the sound will appear though, as with all 'great car issue' sounds it does not happen 100% of the time. Once it does begin though it can pretty much keep doing it for a long period of time and then it seems to me I can sort of control it taking place be pressing the gas paddle more or pressing it less. For what ever reason though I do not think it is in anyway related to the gas paddle at all nor pressure applied to it. In my case it sounds like the noise is coming from just under the steering wheel or directly behind it. In the old days I would refer to it as a sound from a speedo cable but cars, at least the prius, don't use such things I would think. Though then again with sounds one can think it is coming from one location when really it may be from another.
My Prius is due for the 5000 service, I'm going to ask the dealer to take a look at it. Will keep posted.
Thought I would let you all know my solution: ust got my car back from Toyota. It seems they have fixed it! They called in a specialist (after their technicians couldn't diagnose it) and he said that it was a rattle of the "heater hoses and clamps" caused by the engine/antifreeze temperature combined with the RPM's of the motor. They rerouted the hoses and installed the clamps in different locations. Currently, my car is not making the noise. They said if it comes back let them know and they will try again. So, if your car is making this noise - its not normal but it could be a common problem, seeing as to it was an engineering/design issue. If anyone is having this problem and takes their car in and the technician can't figure out what it is my service manager said they can reference this claim number: 111570301, to see what my service dept. did to fix the problem. Good Luck!
Thank you soooooo much. I will contact my dealership next week to see if they are willing to fix for me.
