Metal on metal grinding noise at high speed above 75mph???

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by deunan, Jan 20, 2012.

  1. deunan

    deunan Junior Member

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    I commute 180 miles a day, 6 days a week. I noticed metal on metal grinding noise(more noticeable) at high speed above 75mph especially on asphalt road. I'm sure noise is there at low speed but not enough to notice.

    My car has 50,000 miles.
    Any suggestion? Tires? Electric motor?
    Should I worry?

    Thanks
    Mike.
     
    #1 deunan, Jan 20, 2012
  2. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    What sort of grinding noise? Something like suspension noise, or more mechanical?

    You should hear more wind and road noise at higher speed, but that's it.

    Tom
     
    #2 qbee42, Jan 20, 2012
  3. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Wheel bearings? Does the car still drive solid or do you feeling it drifting?

    Assumed you already looked under the vehicle for anything hanging down.

    I would bring it in.
     
    #3 spiderman, Jan 20, 2012
  4. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Grinding? A metal grinding and you're still driving it?

    You sure it's not the plastic cover under the engine/bottom of the car? If you hit a flood or a big puddle or bottomed the car out it might have come loose.
     
    #4 GrumpyCabbie, Jan 20, 2012
  5. HyperFX

    HyperFX NIMFY (not in my front yard)

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    Sometimes it may be the brakes and rotors grinding against each other due to running over a curb, misalignment or other possible damage.
     
    #5 HyperFX, Jan 20, 2012
  6. deunan

    deunan Junior Member

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    when I go over big speed bumps, I do hear shock noise, rubbing squeak. I did bottom out my car on a big dip when i was entering a business drive way but there was nothing hanging. It sounds like mechanical maybe from electrical motor whine? transmission whine??? tires shouldn't make metal on metal whine noise, i think. I can hear clear whine noise on asphalt road-metal whine is greater than road nosie :( . I'll do another walk around tomorrow.

    car still gets around 45mph going 75+mph.
     
    #6 deunan, Jan 20, 2012
  7. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Maybe when you're stationary the plastic cover hangs correctly but when you get upto speed it is blown down onto the road making the noise.

    Alternatively, if you hit the bottom of the car hard you might have broken something? Make sure you haven't cracked the sump or the transmission and that the fluid hasn't leaked out!
     
    #7 GrumpyCabbie, Jan 21, 2012
  8. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    At the least, you should put the car up on a lift or ramps and look around.
     
    #8 El Dobro, Jan 21, 2012
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