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Toyota Service can't explain the grinding noise. :(

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by cynnjohn, Jul 19, 2011.

  1. cynnjohn

    cynnjohn New Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Hi...i'm new here.
    I've got a 2004...it has 90,000 miles.
    For about the last 5000 miles i've been experiencing - only a few times a month, and totally out of the blue - a grinding noise coming from the front (i think left). This happens when i'm traveling at about 55-58 mph (never at lower speeds). It even happened once when the cruise was set. It gets pretty loud, and i find that if i pull over and stop for a few seconds, then keep going, that it stops. In other words, it seems that breaking to a stop disengages whatever the cause is. Also, no warning lights come on at all...like i said, it happens totally out of the blue.
    No, it's not the wheel bearing. The toyota guys thought it might be that and i spent over $500 to find that the wheel bearing wasn't the problem . :(
    This is very disconcerting...esp. when the toyota guys don't know what's going on.
    Any ideas??? I'd like to get this taken care of.
    Thanks,
    cynnjohn
     
    #1 cynnjohn, Jul 19, 2011
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    Plug-in Base
    cv joint?
     
    #2 bisco, Jul 19, 2011
  3. Troyroy

    Troyroy Member

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    Take your car to a real mechanic.
     
    #3 Troyroy, Jul 19, 2011
  4. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    A rock caught in a brake caliper can sound like that, then get ground away or fall out before you can look for it.
     
    #4 richard schumacher, Jul 19, 2011
  5. koolingit

    koolingit Member

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    Check that all the plastic parts (fender liners, splash shields etc.) are all properly fastened. It sounds like the wind is catching a corner of one of these parts and it is either flapping or rubbing the wheel or the ground. When you stop, the plastic goes back where it belongs till the next time the wind catches it just right.
     
    #5 koolingit, Jul 20, 2011
  6. franken

    franken New Member

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    I'm with Richard on this, we have experienced this twice, and I am reasonably certain that it is a rock between the brake disc and the tin shield. However we have never been able to absolutely 100% confirm it. Happened first on a remote gravel road, and more recently in the city. The first time it happened we pulled up and the grinding noise was still evident at really low speeds, jacked the wheel up and the noise stopped, so I'm guessing that is when the stone fell out. Second time I wasn't in the car, but the noise stopped after stopping and taking off again.
     
    #6 franken, Jul 21, 2011
  7. GSW

    GSW PRIUS POWER

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
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    II

    +1. Happened to me as well crossing a stream during the wet months. I took it to a carwash and got lucky, it washed the pebbles out and have not had a problem. That was 2 years ago.
     
    #7 GSW, Jul 21, 2011
  8. Joabel

    Joabel Junior Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
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    Three
    I just had this problem. Took it to Midas and they found a pebble trapped behind the brake disk and had to disassemble the entire assembly to get it out. $130
     
    #8 Joabel, Mar 10, 2018
    bisco likes this.
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