Creeking, torquing or something noise coming from engine compartment.

Discussion in 'Prius c Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by tnt4him, Nov 5, 2015.

  1. tnt4him

    tnt4him Junior Member

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    This noise started about two weeks ago. It only happens when I start from a standing stop and when I come to a stop. It sounds like a motor mount flexing and torquing with the engine movement. Its on the driver side. It creeks like metal bending, possibly related to the brakes on that side, maybe. Any ideas? Anyone else have such a noise?
     
    #1 tnt4him, Nov 5, 2015
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Back in the spring I had a creaking/gronching noise mostly when driving over uneven pavement, especially diagonally, I was afraid it was the beginning of the end for body structural stiffness. Which it sort of was: turned out to be my driver's door upper hinge, where the pin was worn down skinny enough that the end of the door could be picked up and dropped a cm or so, which made it loose enough that the door wasn't contributing to body stiffness any more, and could creak and gronch around on the rubber weatherstrips.

    One $35 hinge and 4 bolts later, no more noise, tight as new.

    -Chap
     
    #2 ChapmanF, Nov 6, 2015
  3. coglark

    coglark Junior Member

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    I have recently been hearing this as well. It started after I hit a rather large pothole at highway speed. Sounds like a wheel is going to fall off or something. The door hinge sounds like a good place to start looking
     
    #3 coglark, Nov 7, 2015
  4. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Be aware that there is a specialty wrench you can use if you want to sneak out the door hinge without having to remove the fender. They cleverly set the price exactly where you really have to weigh whether your time is worth enough to buy the wrench, or just go ahead and take the fender off....

    -Chap
     
    #4 ChapmanF, Nov 7, 2015
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  5. tnt4him

    tnt4him Junior Member

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    I was trying to imagine today driving along that the noise was coming from the door hinge. Sometimes I could maybe think that it was coming from there but then no, it was not. I think what I'll do is ask the dealership to identify it. If its just the motor mount like I suspect I can easily replace that.
     
    #5 tnt4him, Nov 10, 2015
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    all the best, these noises can be pesky.(y)
     
    #6 bisco, Nov 10, 2015
  7. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Right, I wasn't suggesting the cause of your noise had to be the same as the cause of mine, just only to illustrate how noises can turn out to have different, often simpler causes than you think.

    My door noise didn't come from the hinge either. It sounded like it was coming from mid-body, like the floor near the back of the driver's seat, because the body was flexing, because the door wasn't doing its part in the overall body rigidity any more, because the hinge was toast.

    -Chap
     
    #7 ChapmanF, Nov 10, 2015
  8. tnt4him

    tnt4him Junior Member

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    I took my car to the dealership and found out that the sub-frame cross-member (under the engine) has popped seams on the welds. It sounds serious but not really. Its one solid piece that can't fall off or completely fail. But it makes an annoying noise. Unfortunately it is no longer covered under warranty. So my choice is to replace or repair. I can buy a used one for about $400 or I can take the one out and weld the seams. I am a mechanic and this one is not a difficult job, probably a half day of work, when its not cold.
     
    #8 tnt4him, Nov 21, 2015
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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Can't be welded in place?
     
    #9 Mendel Leisk, Nov 21, 2015
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