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Slight but annoying whine noise when operating brake pedal

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by matherm, Dec 11, 2009.

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  1. matherm

    matherm New Member

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    My new 2010 Prius makes a slight but annoying whining noise when you touch (event lightly) the brake pedal and even when the car is truned off and parked. Sounds as if it is coming from inside the car, just above the brake pedal.

    I wondered if anybody else has experianced this? It makes me want to to turn the stereo on just to drown it out.
     
    #1 matherm, Dec 11, 2009
  2. matherm

    matherm New Member

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    Well, I went back to the dealer and listened to another 2010 Prius and it does exactly the same thing! Maybe slightly quieter but still definitely there. Indeed, the mechanic said did a PDI on another Prius and he said it was also doing the same thing. I just can't believe I'm the only person worldwide to have a problem with this. Are all the 2010 Priuses making a slight high pitched whining noise when the brake pedal is being operated and nobody is noticing?

    I'm planning over Christmas to pack the area above the brake pedal with foam to see if I can dampen the noise - I'll let you know how I get on. I refuse just put the radio on just so I can drown out this noise. Really spoiling my enjoyment of the car - would just love to hear the gentle road noise when going about town. I wouldn't mind but I do Salsa DJing as hobby and I didn't think my hearing was all that sensitive.
     
    #2 matherm, Dec 18, 2009
  3. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    You aren't talking about the buzzing from the brake accumulator pump?

    Tom
     
    #3 qbee42, Dec 18, 2009
  4. danl

    danl New Member

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    If it sounds like a rattlesnake, then yeah its the brake accumulator pump as qbee42 mentioned. Nothing to be concerned, but its a normal sound for a prius.
     
    #4 danl, Dec 18, 2009
  5. Bobsprius

    Bobsprius BobPrius

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    I believe that the sound one is hearing is the Regen Brakes. I hear it on mine all the time with the window down a little...

    Don't really hear it with them closed. It's a normal sound from what I know about the car.

    It almost sounds like train wheels on metal rails braking, but much much less of course. It's most likely a normal sound.

    I heard it on my Gen 1 Prius as well...
     
    #5 Bobsprius, Dec 18, 2009
  6. eglmainz

    eglmainz New Member

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    I would agree with you about it seeming like the regen brakes, except for the fact that he stated:

    Since it does it even when in Park, I would also diagnose a 'brake accumulator pump'.
     
    #6 eglmainz, Dec 18, 2009
  7. Bobsprius

    Bobsprius BobPrius

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    Eglaminz,

    Based on that, he didn't describe fully but I bet your right...It's that sound you hear when opening a door etc...The pump activating.

    Not sure why it's activating on application of the brake pedal? I know the Euro Vehicles are slightly different but would have thought the mechanics to be the same....

    Need just a little more details I would think to honestly answer this...if we had a recording of the sound we all would probably know in a second...:rolleyes:
     
    #7 Bobsprius, Dec 18, 2009
  8. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Not when it's parked and off.

    Tom
     
    #8 qbee42, Dec 18, 2009
  9. nooaah

    nooaah New Member

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    Mine makes that noise when I'm in Park. My Gen II never did. However, my dad's 2009 Camry hybrid makes that noise, as well. Maybe it's a new feature. ;)
     
    #9 nooaah, Dec 18, 2009
  10. matherm

    matherm New Member

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    I know the sound you are referring, no it's not that. This is more subtle and happens when you press the brake pedal slightly and is definitely a whine, fairly high pitched. It is constant if you apply the right pressure to the brake pedal.

    Update on packing with foam: Decided not to do it as there is so much going with the pedals, steering column and there is an air bag down there too. Noise is definately coming from there though.

    I'll just have to put up with it, or put the radio on. I will bring it up at the 1 year service, in case there have been more reports on this. I've certainly cought the interest of the mechanic at my local Toyota dealer.
     
    #10 matherm, Dec 22, 2009
  11. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Age helps. As you get older, you won't be able to hear those high pitched sounds. :)

    Tom
     
    #11 qbee42, Dec 22, 2009
  12. SlowTurd

    SlowTurd I LIKE PRIUS'S

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    i've been hearing since i got the car.


    it's annoying and there is no excuse for this car making this noise
     
    #12 SlowTurd, Dec 22, 2009
  13. Mike Dimmick

    Mike Dimmick Active Member

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    Normal, regen braking is the cause, and it's simply due to the way that the power cuts over. The noise is actually coming from the inverter/power control unit, I think. I'm not sure why it whines, but it does, and it's very hard to avoid. Tube trains are a lot louder!

    Personally I don't find it distracting. The scraping noise when the brake pads finally contact is a lot louder.
     
    #13 Mike Dimmick, Dec 22, 2009
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  14. matherm

    matherm New Member

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    :rockon: well, at least it's kind of comforting to know it's not just me. I think if as many people as possible compalin then they might do something about it - it has taken the edge of an otherwise brilliant car. Although, have to say, entering a UK postcode in the Sat Nav would have the guys at the human interface design at Apple chuckling for weeks - Toyota could only made it harder by asking a few general knowledge questions before allowing input.
     
    #14 matherm, Dec 24, 2009
  15. p00kienrayray

    p00kienrayray Active Member

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    Sorry to revive this old thread. Can anyone confirm this sound is from the regen braking system? I just wanna be sure before I end up taking it back to the dealer. I notice this in my Three, but NEVER in my Two. The sound is faint, but painfully high pitch.
     
    #15 p00kienrayray, Apr 24, 2013
  16. harias

    harias New Member

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    I hear that noise too. I thought it was kind of weird.
     
    #16 harias, Apr 24, 2013
  17. Reedja42

    Reedja42 2012 Prius, Gen III, Barcelona Red, (FRED)

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    If it is a high pitched whine, it is most likely the power inverter. This is a normal sound when the inverter is powering up or transferring a lot of current.
     
    #17 Reedja42, Apr 25, 2013
  18. p00kienrayray

    p00kienrayray Active Member

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    Is the inverter supposed to power up or transfer current even at a stop and car is off like in OP's case? I can hear mine even when car is off. Maybe its bc car isn't completely off when you step on brake? When I drive with radio off, it's almost too distracting.
     
    #18 p00kienrayray, Apr 25, 2013
  19. SalixIncendium

    SalixIncendium Tree Hugging Environmentalist Wacko

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    Can't help but think that more than one noise is being described here. But since we're on the topic...

    I hear a piercing, high pitched sound, almost like a ringing in your ears, when I'm gliding in EV mode, with just a small amount of wedge in the EV portion of the HSI. I'm guessing it's normal, because the car now has over 3k miles and hasn't exploded yet.

    Not sure if this is the same sound or not, but I'm guessing it's coming from the inverter...
     
    #19 SalixIncendium, Apr 25, 2013
  20. Reedja42

    Reedja42 2012 Prius, Gen III, Barcelona Red, (FRED)

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    I'll listen for it to see if I hear it when I press the brake pedal before I start the car in the morning.
     
    #20 Reedja42, Apr 25, 2013
    p00kienrayray likes this.
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