Engine Noise - Only when accelerating.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by heavenscoins, Jan 12, 2016.

  1. heavenscoins

    heavenscoins New Member

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    I can not figure out what this engine noise is. It comes and goes and happens at different RPM ranges. Kind of fluttering...like plastic in the air. It gets loud as I put more gas, but if I lower gas pedal enough or floor the gas pedal it goes away for a little bit.


     
  2. 48mpg

    48mpg Member

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    seat belt flapping in the wind, close the windows
     
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  3. heavenscoins

    heavenscoins New Member

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    Lol, I'll make sure to remove the seat belts to rule them out.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how many miles on her?
     
  5. heavenscoins

    heavenscoins New Member

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    a little over 200k. I changed the C. converter, but the noise was there beforehand. I also figured the noise usually happens when going up a hill. RPM doesn't cause it, but load condition maybe.
     
  6. 48mpg

    48mpg Member

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    see if the plastic panels are coming off or it could be a wheel bearing
     
  7. ikefor

    ikefor Member

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    I think i have the same sound on my 05, couldn't tell where the sound was coming from.
    48mpg are you referring to the plastic panel under the car that extends to the front?
     
  8. Hokie-Dave

    Hokie-Dave Member

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    From that definition, it sounds possibly like detonation or pinging. One way to rule that out usually is by using a higher octane gas and see if the noise disappears. It could be from fouled spark plugs, bad gas, dirty injectors.

    I've also heard someone mention that it could be the bearing on the water pump make a similar sound.

    dave
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    motor mounts okay?
     
  10. 48mpg

    48mpg Member

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    yes see if it moves
     
  11. heavenscoins

    heavenscoins New Member

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    The noise is definitely mechanical. The best way I can think of describe the fluttering noise is... Imagine a music cassette tape and someone ripped out the magnetic tape and is waving it in the air on the highway. The plastic opening to my air intake grid is cracked, although I doubt it would be able to make that noise only under loading conditions. Ill compare the sounds to pinging on other videos. So far the water pump bearing sounds believable. The first thing I thought was it had to do with my valves..? But im clueless on that.
     
  12. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    I suggest that you replace the cracked part, or try to seal the cracking using duct tape. That may be the cause of your issue.
     
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  13. Scott*74

    Scott*74 New Member

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    Was this issue ever resolved? My 2009 is doing the same thing.
     
  14. Keyslammer

    Keyslammer Junior Member

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    My 2007 is having the same symptom. Started after a long climb on a hill. If the engine RPM started to climb (on the high side, but not screaming), it sounds like a plastic bag flapping in the wind...but under the front of the dash (engine compartment). It is NOT a pinging sound. It only makes the sound when the rpm climbs up. So it is related to torque or RPM. I’ve never heard a sound like this before from an engine. Almost sounds like an exhaust leak...but it isn’t heard at lower rpms when we punch the throttle.

    Craig
     
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  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    motor mounts okay?
     
  16. Center of Gravity

    Center of Gravity Junior Member

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    I know this thread is old but my two cents today about this guys is that you're mistaking that sound for valve clatter, so look at other blog threads. As an old-school guy I was thinking the Prius was having bad valve guides but the problem according to other chat guys is the ports are getting clogged and therefore oil starving the valves, especially on acceleration. On old engines, American engines, once you had valve clatter you were not getting away with it for very long because the head would need to be rebuilt.

    The other threads will describe using oil additives that act like cleansing hydraulic fluid, and we Old Skool guy used to use a quart of ATF automatic transmission fluid to clean out the ports and allow better oil porting to the top of the heads. These days, there are quite a few additives that can help achieve the same thing.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  17. Imrand

    Imrand Junior Member

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    Hello guys,
    Please help me i am having same hashing sound like when you put something in running fan. This sound appears only at high RPM if i reduce gas the sound is gone also engine vibration at some certain rpm / speed. Few days back i was having misfires and unfortunately my manifold. I also saw temperature light for few times it appears and gone when I reduced speed.
    what i have done so foe is
    Clean egr
    Clean manifold
    Clean catalytic
    My manifold was burnt out so I replaced
     
  18. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Maybe it would be more helpful for you to post your questions in one of the Gen 3 forums.
     
  19. iron-icman

    iron-icman Member

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    Hi all sorry to jump on this thread, mine is doing the exact same thing, only at higher revs its doing this, what was the outcome for the issue and fix.
    I took it to a garage to check the exhaust and then tried to show them the noise but I couldn't due to not being able to rev it this high

    any help would be appreciated.
     
  20. maleko

    maleko Member

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    I can't see the OP's video on YT but it could be exhaust leaking out around your header/downpipe donut where the catalytic connects due to a clogged catalytic creating too much backpressure and resistance to flow.

    How is your performance / top end right now? Are you struggling to hit 85-90+mph on the highway with the gas pedal to the floor?