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B-Pillar Rattle

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Steamboatsig, Nov 13, 2008.

  1. Steamboatsig

    Steamboatsig Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I have had a rattle in the driver's side B-Pillar for many months. Most of the time I ignore it, but then I really started to focus on it. I pulled the moldings off and didn't see anything that would cause a rattle. It sounds more like a ticking than a rattle. And it happens more when making right turns.

    I took it to the dealer and thankfully they were able to duplicate the sound. However, they weren't able to fix it but they did order a new molding covers for the pillar. I have to bring it back when the parts come in. Hopefully this will fix the noise.

    Anybody else have this rattle? It is directly where my left ear sits near the seat belt adjuster.

    Here are the parts they ordered.
    [​IMG]
     
  2. CBarr31

    CBarr31 Active Member

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    Location:
    Charlotte, NC
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    My wife's 2007 Touring has/had the same rattle for miles and miles and miles. Sometimes we could re-create it at the dealer sometimes we couldn't.

    The last time we took it in they put some sound deadening foam over/around the parts that you are having replaced I believe. This eliminated the rattle from being there continuously as it had been although we still here it from time to time going over rough road or railroad tracks. It "rattles" for a second as we go over the tracks but then stops when we get back onto "normal" roads.

    PLEASE report back if replacing the parts fixes the issue as I will ask them to do this next. Of course she hasn't mentioned it lately so I may just let sleeping dogs lie.

    Chris
     
  3. Steamboatsig

    Steamboatsig Member

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    2013 Prius Plug-in
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    Plug-in Base
    I got a call from the dealership on Saturday. Replacing the moldings did NOT work. The noise is still there and they are still trying to track it down.

    Good news is they are actually trying to fix it. If this was my Volvo, they would have given the car back to me. I would have heard the noise and called them. Then they would say, "oh THAT noise. Yeah, that is normal".

    Also, they have given me a 2009 Toyota Tundra Crew Cab as a rental. I love it and have put 200 miles on it already!

    I'll keep you updated.
     
  4. CBarr31

    CBarr31 Active Member

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    2017 Prius Prime
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    Prime Advanced
    Sorry the new parts didn't fix the problem but thanks for the update. Hopefully they will be able to find it for you. Her's was REALLY annoying so I am glad it only comes and goes occasionaly now.

    Thanks again for the update.
     
  5. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    i found that the rear driver side door's molding rattles.. right where the two materials meet. other doors may rattle because of this.. there's also potential to rattle under the button molding found on every door.. and the little pieces in front of the pillars on the side of the dash.. there are little pieces there that rattle if they are not places propertly.

    i put thin weather tape under everything. it really keeps the rattles down while the sound is turned up too.

    that's my list of rattles.. on yeah.. and the rear view mirror.. if you pinch the casing on the drivers side, it goes away (others have reported this too)
     
  6. blet

    blet Junior Member

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    Location:
    Boston, Ma
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I have the same rattle from the b-pillar in my 2008 and also one coming from the front passenger door. Brought it to the dealers twice. The first time I went for a ride with the service manager and he heard it. I was having an extra Smart Key made during the same visit. Well, they made the Smart Key but never got around to fixing the rattle. I made another appointment and left the car for the day. The same guy calls me at 5 pm and tells me that they couldn't replicate the noises when he went for a drive with the technician. Now this is a very consistent noise coming from the b-pillar. I hear it going over any kind of irregularity in the road and it's gone well past the annoying point. The guy says if they can't replicate the noise they can't fix it. My feeling is that this being a warranty repair, there is no incentive for them to find the problem. Frustrating...
     
  7. Marvinh

    Marvinh Marvin

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    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    I have a rattle similar to yours from the right side, under the small triangular window in front of the door. Is this in front of the 'B' pillar?

    The dealer took the small triangular plastic cover with the vent hole off (Part # 62218 in the drawing above) off and put some weatherstripping foam under it. However there is a large void space underneath and the weatherstripping was not in contact with another surface so it made no difference.

    I would suggest as you are driving put your hand over that piece and hold it down to see if that is the source of the sound. Rather than the 'B' pillars

    If it is, I don't know the solution. The dashboard parts seem to be made as snap together moldings and they just rub together at times. It may be something that you have to get used to. Please let us know if you find a solution.

    Marvinh
     
  8. rjp0503

    rjp0503 Junior Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
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    I just got a 2004 with 76k miles and I noticed a rattle that sounded like it was coming from the front driver side wheel whenever I would go over small bumps at a slow to moderate speed. So I took the wheel off to investigate. I then started lightly banging on solid parts with a rubber mallet. Nothing produced a rattle. Then I decided in order to reproduce going over a bump that I could hit the top of the brake rotor with my rubber soled sneakers. The rattle reappeared! I kept doing it to listen where it was coming from. I narrowed it down to the hybrid drive inverter (the silver box with the Hybrid Synergy Drive logo on it). Turns out there is a bracket coming off it on the front right side of it, as you are facing it, which attaches to the metal frame. The bolt was loose where it attaches to the frame. After I tightened that bolt, the rattle was gone!
     
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