New Pri - New Noise

Check the outside of the wheels, something could be caught in the space between the front plastic fender pieces and the tires. Had similar problems with the car noises and it turned out to be caught debris in the front end of the car, you would not hear it at alot at low speeds, and really hear it at higher speed. Other then that have the dealer re-check the front end alignment and calibration.

 

Maybe they stuck a card in there to goof with you....

Reminds me of when I was riding my bicycle with another rider, we were going nuts trying to figure out what this whistling noise was from her bike..... I took a close look and it was a leaf stuck in under her rear brake caliper.

 

Make sure the inner plastic of the wheel well is secured with the rivets. The last time I heard that sound was when one of them was loose. Check to see that they are all tightened and secure.

 

sounds like one of those plastic wheel rings isn't on there tightly. let us know what it turns out to be...

 

I predict it's none of those things. I started a thread on this subject on PriusOnline. It's just a noise that happens sometimes, then disappears, then happens again. For me, it started after a few months. I don't like it, but it's not that big a deal. People have speculated a number of things to cause it, but none seem to be correctable. Assuming it's the same sound I (and many others have), you may just have to live with it.

marlowe

 

I hear that sometimes too. It definitely sounds like something mechanical, like some kind of whirring. Possibly a pump of somekind. It seems to be of the same type of noise (one of them anyway) that I hear in the minute or so after I power down the Prius.

I think it's probably perfectly normal.

 

You'll probably hear several rattles and noises during the coming months, as they have been widely reported in this forum. My 2004 Prius rattles more over uneven pavement than my 1997 Caravan.

 

I had the same thing happen to me. Front left. I looked at the front tire etc nothing. I had my wife come out side to listen while I drove back and forth on the drive way when suddenly a little piece of plastic flipped out. Looked like some sort of plastic water bottle top. My theory was it was wedged in the disk brake and was rubbing. Nose went away. If my wife had not seen it pop out I would have never figured it out.

 

I've seen those posts too, but I'm hoping it's just a case that the people without rattles have no reason to complain. My 2-month old, 1,850-mile car is ROCK-SOLID TIGHT. The only noise I have ever heard came from something I was carrying in the back. I'm hoping this isn't going to change on me.

 

My car has lots of rattles, but when I track them down it is usually something I put in the car. Things like the wheel nuts I have to carry because the spare tire uses different ones than my steel wheel snow tire set. The actual car rattles are only over big bumps with my 42 lbs tire pressures, and are less than any of my previous cars.

 

Mine has this sound too. I hope this helps clear something up for those of you who are saying "My Prius doesn't rattle": it's not the kind of noise you think of when someone says "rattle". I'd describe it as a quiet click (like a relay or something) occuring at a constant frequency of about 10-15Hz for a duration of about three seconds. I notice it happening a couple of times on a typical around-town trip. It sounds like it's coming from near the front right corner.

Alex

 

Well, if we aren't talking about rattles, let me mention there are several 'housekeeping' sounds that you will not hear on a normal car, but which are perfectly normal on the Prius. An example would be the pumping of the radiator fluid into the thermos when you turn the car off. I've heard odd activity while waiting in fast-food drive-thrus, but I've never been concerned with the sounds. Perhaps a technical expert could chime in with all the unusual things a Prius does on a daily basis.

 

well dont have anything to add to this post, but after nearly 18 months and 18,000 miles, i have discovered a new noise...

last night, i had parked the car, and me being me, had to turn everything off, so i had the defrost on, so turned it off which causes it to switch to heat, then switched off fan and heard a squeak.

with some experimentation, was able to reproduce the sound and have determined the sound comes from the reposition of the vent from defrost to the foot position.

i had never noticed this before because i usually have all that stuff off as im pulling into park, but was on cellphone and didnt do it untill i was already stopped. dont know if the quieter situation did it or if it is something that has just started...anyone else have this?

 

Here are a few sound warnings from the owner's manual:

* When the hybrid system is started or stopped, you may hear a sound coming from the hybrid vehicle battery in the luggage compartment. However, this does not indicate any trouble.

* You may hear a small sound in the engine compartment after the hybrid system is started or the brake pedal is depressed repeatedly. This is a pump pulsating sound of the brake system, and it is not a malfunction.

* When the anti-lock brake system is activated, you may hear the anti-lock brake system operating and the vibrations of the vehicle body and steering wheel. You may also hear the motor sound in the engine compartment even after the vehicle is stopped.

In the following conditions, you may hear a motor sound in the engine compartment:

* The brake pedal is depressed when the hybrid system is turned off.
* The driver’s door is opened.
* For a few seconds after the hybrid system is “OFF†and about 90 seconds have passed.

I'm sure there are many other noises we haven't heard on conventional vehicles before... Of course it would be nice to be able to identify/explain any noise you do hear, so repair people, feel free to chime in!