Grinding noise when coasting, hybrid battery fully charged

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Karen in NM, Nov 22, 2024.

  1. Karen in NM

    Karen in NM New Member

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    My car is a 2020 Prius AWD. I live in a mountainous area and hike a lot. When driving down a narrow mountain road (paved) where I am coasting and braking around corners, I start to hear a grinding noise when the display indicates that the hybrid battery is fully charged. The display also shows the charging arrow traveling from the front wheels to the inverter and to the hybrid battery - even when the battery is full. I have made a recording of the grinding noise and taken it to the dealer but they can't seem to figure it out. As soon as I step on the accelerator, the noise stops and of course the display shows energy transferred from the battery to the front wheels. Due to the nature of the road however, I can't accelerate very often. The dealer is unable to recreate the noise since it doesn't happen in routine city driving. Prior to having this car, I had a 2010 Prius that I bought new and drove for 150,000 trouble free miles. It was still running like new when I traded it for my current Prius. My 2010 Prius never made a grinding noise. I hope someone can help me figure this out. Thank you!
     
  2. FuelMiser

    FuelMiser Senior Member

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    When the traction battery is full, you are using friction braking exclusively. It could be that your rotors/pads need inspection for the grinding. Best to use B mode (engine braking) when coasting downhill to save the friction brakes. Your RPMs will soar, but this will not hurt the engine.
     
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  3. ColoradoBoo

    ColoradoBoo Senior Member

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    How many miles are on her, now?
    I agree, the next time you hear the grinding, shift into B and see if that helps.
    Also try to determine where the grinding is from...I'm guessing it's a brake pad, as well....probably need to get them inspected and maybe replaced and, maybe, rotors.
     
  4. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    ^ yes, those are great suggestions above.
    You may also want to change the ATF fluid. If the rear e-awd has a fluid sump, change that too. I've noticed that there's no change intervals for that in these cars, but they get very dirty with initial break-in. I also don't like all the foot notes and caveats in the maintenance manuals - basically lawyer's speak and get-out-of-jail-free clauses. Since your in high desert sand country - I would preemptively change it , just to see if there's some debris in there that could be the source of the grinding sound. I doubt it; but you should rule it out.

    This can also be a wheel bearing issue, but I'm assuming the 'professionals' would've/should've caught that - but you never know:confused::rolleyes:o_O:oops::sleep:
     
    #4 BiomedO1, Nov 23, 2024
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2024
  5. Karen in NM

    Karen in NM New Member

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    55,000 miles. I'm not braking too much - mainly coasting. The noise only happens once the hybrid battery is full. As soon as I step on the accelerator, the noise stops. The grinding noise seems to be more prevalent when I'm coasting. I will try shifting into B and see what happens..
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    does it sound like it is coming from under the hood? can you post the recording?
     
  7. kiwiscoot

    kiwiscoot Member

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    could be a little stone caught in a brake on one of your hikes. The car applies the brakes lightly to slow the car down when the traction battery is fully charged. Pretty easy for a brake repair shop to check.
     
  8. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    Actually, if your just creeping along - could it be your pedestrian warning speaker?
     
  9. Karen in NM

    Karen in NM New Member

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    Okay, so today I took my car to the top of a winding, steep paved mountain road and shifted into B to come down. Everything was fine at first although I did notice that it seemed to take longer than usual for the hybrid battery to indicate full in the display. I only had to step on the brakes occasionally when going around a steep curve. However, as soon as the hybrid battery was full, the grinding noise started and it was worse than ever. It really sounded like something was about to break so I put it back into D and that helped. This is only happening when the hybrid battery is full so I really think it has something to do with that battery. In normal city driving, the car runs perfectly. Since I hike 4 or 5 times a week though, I want to try to resolve this problem. One question I have - When the hybrid battery is full, shouldn't there be some kind of a feedback loop that prevents excess energy, from coasting or braking for example, from being forced into the full battery? If I step on the accelerator, the noise stops instantly.
     
  10. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    Well, when the traction battery is full; the ICE ECU turns off the fuel injectors to increase engine braking. That may be the difference in sound your referring to. If that's it, that's normal and repeatable. If you want an official diagnostics, take the Toyota technician out for a joy ride:p:cool: - now that you know how to make the car do that.

    Good Luck...
     
  11. Karen in NM

    Karen in NM New Member

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    Thank you. I'll see if I can get a tech to go with me. One of the trailheads is only about a six mile drive from the dealership. Is the ECU the electronic control unit?
     
  12. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    yes, one of a handful built into your car.