I have a Touring, purchased in February. I noticed a rattle during the test drive that I figured would be easily tracked down, since it seemed to be something I could almost reach out and touch. Well, it's proven to be elusive, and I am hoping perhaps there have been others built by the same guy on the same day..... The rattle is generally set off by a sharp jolt, or jittery surface. It seems to be at its worst when temps are in the 40 to 50 degree range. During our few warm days, it was not as apt to occur, and on the colder mornings, in the 20s, it also seemed to be quelled a bit. The sound is like that of a loose sun visor rattling, more plastic on plastic or metal, rather than metal on metal. I THINK it is forward of me, yet there are times I swear it is behind me. It's tough to pinpoint since I have been unable to get it to continue more than a second or two. I have removed everything from the rear, and that had no effect, hoping it was something not cinched down properly. I've not yet taken it to the dealer, though I think that is inevitable. I'd love to hear from someone who might have encountered something similar, and has been able to rectify it. Thanks for any assistance or ideas.
You might like to have a look at: http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=30705 It deals with rattles towards the back end but indicates areas to check.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brick @ Apr 11 2007, 10:05 PM) [snapback]421814[/snapback]</div> I keep my AARP slipovers on the passenger seat. Wish it were that simple The CD does slide back and forth in the dash compartment, but that is quiet in comparison.
Make sure your back seatbacks are firmly locked into the upright position. After I had window tinting installed, I noticed a rattle which seemed to be both in the front and in back. When I climbed in back to look around, I leaned against the seatback and it clicked into the locked position. Case closed.
Check in the top dash compartment that the little shelf is properly secured. Or, better yet, take the little shelf out of the glove compartment and see if the noise goes away. You could also make sure that the little shelf in the center console is properly seated.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(2Touring @ Apr 11 2007, 08:05 PM) [snapback]421779[/snapback]</div> I'm not sure the Prius has the same type door pulls as the Ford Escape Hybrid (I need to check my wife's Prius), but I had an elusive rattle that proved to be the inside door pull on the driver's side. There is one small phillips head screw at the base of the plastic "cup". I tightened that and solved the rattle.
The little triangle windows of the front A-pillars have a plastic vent panel that tends to rattle at times, to see just push down on the panel and see if the rattle stops. Wayne
my window switches, a pillar (small triangle piece next to the tiny window), rear view mirror, center speaker, door side arm rest, and door "trim" panels. ( two pieces stuck together...they rattle. i can eliminate them all.. but.. I'll wait for dynamat or something
we had a light rattle in rear found it was coming from the sliding tarp for lack of a better description. the cover you pull back to hide stuff in the hatch area was loose and rattled at times mostly when first start up while vehicle was cold before heater warmed it up,
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Apr 11 2007, 09:09 PM) [snapback]421864[/snapback]</div> I'll second this one, I had the same problem! Also had a water bottle in the passenger side door that was rattling.
I do appreciate all the ideas that have come in. I have checked most of them already. No, this is something else, and when it's discovered, I'll post the findings right away. Today, while driving through the parking lot at work which is quite bumpy in spots, one quick jolt caused the rapping sound to occur four times in rapid succesion. other times, a bump will elicit one rattle or rap. Seems to be more a function of the left side of the car hitting a bump than the right.
