Hey everyone, I'm back with another question! My 2006 Prius now has 60,XXX miles and the other day while driving with the windows down, I was climbing a hill to my house and when the engine is at a certain RPM, there is a metallic sound that comes from under the car, but more in the front. You can't even hear it when the windows are up barley, but more when they are down, you can hear it, especially when you're beside a wall or guard rail and the sound can reverberate back. It sounds almost like the heat shield but the heat shield doesn't go that far up front where the noise is coming from. It's coming from the back of the engine it seems. Got underneath and nothing's loose. I'm also thinking about replacing the PCV valve soon, could that make a slight metallic rattle noise when the engine is under load? Thanks!
There is more than one heat shield. I had to replace the heat shield that goes over the muffler and is not really too easy to see. Not much thicker than tin foil, but it drove me nutz. $65ish part plus labor.Needs to be done a lift.
Check your water pump/coolant level. I had that same metallic noise at 60k miles (100km); water pump pulley was vibrating, indicating the water pump was toast. Also, check for pink stains on the passenger side of the engine. Faz
