Strange tick sound from behind driver seat

Hi guys I have a 2010 Prius with 4500 miles and I am having a strange tick or slight rattle type of noise that I just recently started to notice. I haven't been able to pinpoint it. I can hear the noise mostly during stop and go traffic. It is coming somewhere behind the driver seat from the bottom left side. I can't tell if it's the driver seat or the left back seat. I mostly hear it when I accelerate from a stopped position and then when I remove my foot from the gas pedal. I think it's coming from the driver seat but moving around while seated doesn't make any noise. Is it possible it's from the battery or something? When it happens if I press the gas pedal and then remove my foot, I can hear the sound. It'll pretty much continuously make the sound when accelerating and removing my foot off the gas pedal when it mysteriously appears. Sometimes it gets loud enough where I can hear it even if the radio is on. I know there is a slight tick noise when I first apply the brakes too coming from the brake pedal area and it kind of sounds like that only louder at times. Of course the noise is more noticeable when the stereo is off. What's crazy is sometimes it doesn't make the mysterious noise and I haven't been able to pinpoint exactly why that is. I live in Los Angeles and I've driven the car during the daytime and at night. The only driving condition I've found where it seems to always make the noise is when there's stop and go traffic. Seems like the first few times I stop and go there will be no sound but it'll get louder as I continue driving under the stop and go condition. I have tried adjusting the driver seat, adjusting the back seats, removing all junk and pretty much anything I could think of. Could it be some weird noise as the car switches from battery usage to charging the battery? It seems like the noise appears at that exact moment. If I drive over bumps the car seat normally is fine so it seems to me if it was the car seat it should make the noise when going over bumpy roads and not just when I'm accelerating and removing my foot off the gas pedal. Please let me know if you guys have any ideas as I am trying to get as much input as possible before taking it to the dealer. This is really taking the enjoyment out of driving my Prius. As far as I know the noise mysteriously appeared the last few weeks or so. Thank you!

 

I tried what you suggested but no noise whatsoever. I tried listening very carefully and I still cannot pinpoint exactly where the sound is coming from. I do not have the lumbar creak issue and since my seat doesn't squeak one bit I don't think the front seat squeak TSB fits my problem. I guess I'll have to have someone else drive the car and see if I can locate the source better. I also have the right rear creak noise when I go up my driveway but that doesn't really bother me. If I can solve this mysterious tick sound I'll be a happy camper!

 

Okay I think you're absolutely right Azimuth! The noise is definitely coming from the seat assembly. I am not able to reproduce it unless I am driving the car. I found out that if I raise or lower my seat using the appropriate handle on the left side of the driver seat, the slight rattle will go away for some time. It eventually comes back. I'm just going to have the dealer take a look at it. I'm guessing what'll happen is there won't be any noise when I take it in. At least now I know what's making the damn noise!

 

Are you serious? The instructional DVD really stated this? I have to check and see if I received a DVD. That's what I was wondering as it seems the tick sound happens randomly. Can anyone else comment on this DVD? Thank you for the information!

 

Unfortunately I've already tried that and no luck. I already know about the Front Seat Squeak TSB, but it is not a squeaking noise. Still the TSB might solve my problem. In the past whenever I've had a service technician work on problems like this, generally I've gotten the car back in worse shape than before. That's why I'm scared to have the tech take apart my seat. I guess I'll just try to live with it and if it gets too bothersome than I'll have no choice. Hopefully I won't hear the rattle as much once the temperature warms up here in LA. My issue is definitely with the seat assembly itself and not a noise made by the hybrid battery system. Sometimes I am able to reproduce the slight rattle by leaning forward without moving the seat. The only thing that's strange is that the noise is not always audible. Thanks for all the input guys! Really appreciate it!

 

Okay guys I finally decided to take my car in since it was time for my 5k service. I would highly recommend anyone who is taking their car in for interior work to take pictures beforehand! I'm not sure what TSB was performed since the printer was down so they said they would mail the paperwork. It's too early to tell but it looks like my driver seat rattle and the right rear creak noise are gone. The bad news is the service tech scratched up my steering wheel and my driver's side door panel. Not to mention wonderful hand prints all over my car seat when I got the car back today. I was so pissed off I got a hold of the service manager here at Toyota Santa Monica and he said he would have his interior specialist take a look at it. He said he would call me tomorrow. So just wanted to let you guys know what happened. As soon as I have more information on what TSB was performed I will let you know. Wish me luck with the interior scratches!

 

They did perform the seat squeak TSB on my vehicle but that actually did nothing to solve the problem. My issue was finally resolved after taking my car in over five times. What the service manager finally did to resolve my issue was to order a new seat assembly. Once they changed the entire seat assembly the noise was gone for good. If you have the same problem, unfortunately you may need a new seat assembly. They tried everything including lubing the heck out of the seat and performing the above mentioned TSB to no avail. I'm sorry you are having an issue with your seat and I hope you are able to get it resolved! Please let us know what happens!

mhajii210

 

Guys I can't believe my luck! The front passenger seat has now developed a similar type of rattle. I am taking the car in this Wednesday, but my guess is that the seat assembly needs to be replaced for the passenger seat as well. I am so disappointed in the quality of my Prius and it has been a very frustrating experience to say the least!

 

I am positive it is the seat base since when it is rattling I can temporarily make the noise stop by applying pressure to the seat back. I have heard others hearing a noise from the seat belt area and that is a separate issue. I had the exact same problem with the driver's seat and it has been fine ever since the seat assembly was replaced. I feel that in my particular build both seats were defective.