2 days old!

brayder · 01-19-2006, 12:15 PM

I need some help!

I'm in Arlington, VA and have had my brand new 2006 Black Prius #6 for a little less than 48 hours. Our weather has been averaging in the low 40s. I've driven it about 30 miles in about 8 trips of 3-4 miles each. The ICE is on most of the time and so far on my first tank of gas, I'm averaging 29 mpg. I know it's cold, short, stop-go trips, but even this is lower than I expected. I'm still messing with climate control, etc.

My main question: When driving, the engine, while very quiet, makes a sound like lightly rubbing/scraping brakes. Is this the natural sound of the Prius engine?

In a possibly (or probably) related question: This morning on my commute (similar to the trips outlined above), for about 5 minutes, my Prius made a VERY loud screeching/squealing sound whenever I was in motion. This is a first. The emergency brake was fully disengaged.

I'm taking it back to the dealer for service, but needless to say, I'm freaked out. Any thoughts, experiences?

Brad

galaxee · 01-19-2006, 12:39 PM

short trips of 3-4 miles will kill mpg. factor in that you're just learning the car and tada, low mpg. take it on a nice long test drive- maybe a half hour or so. find a road that's around 45mph and very few stoplights. this will give you some good experience to build on.

what were the circumstances of the noises? did you park the car and get out and listen? pop the hood? what were you doing when these noises came up? accelerating, braking, at a stop, turning, anything?

brayder · 01-19-2006, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by galaxee@Jan 19 2006, 01:39 PM
what were the circumstances of the noises? did you park the car and get out and listen? pop the hood? what were you doing when these noises came up? accelerating, braking, at a stop, turning, anything?

[snapback]193273[/snapback]

That's what I figured. I've assumed that the mpg was user inexperience, just thought I'd throw it out there since most seem to be getting 35 or more out of the gate.

The light scraping sound is whenever I'm in motion really and the engine is, of course, cold. (I'm realizing I really need to get the car out and warm it up to get a base point.) It's really very slight. With a regular car it would make me think that the brakes were rubbing just a little.

The loud screech just started out of nowhere in between stoplights after having driven it in more or less stop-go traffic for 15 minutes. It would start softly as I let off the brake and accelerated. Then, the faster I went, the louder it got. When I got up to probably 20-25 mph mid-block, it was really loud and the sound bouncing off of parked cars was startlingly and seemed to be coming from primarily the front wheel(s). THe sound would start to diminish gradually as I started to coast, decelerate, and brake. The sound stopped completely once I was at a complete stop. This went on for approximately 7-8 city blocks when, suddenly, as I was cruising at about 15-20 looking for a parking spot, it stopped completely. I just went to move my car, drove it a couple blocks, and no loud sounds. Just that gentle sound (kinda reminds me of the sound of ice skates on ice, now that I think about it...)

Thanks for the help.

For the most part, I'm in freakin' love with my Prius and want to play with it and treat it like gold. It's my first new car! I've never been a car nut, but I think I'm becoming a Prius nut!

galaxee · 01-19-2006, 01:08 PM

that screech is NOT normal at all. i've never heard anything like that. there's some whirring and clicking when you turn the car off, but nothing like a screech you can hear over traffic. i'd have them check that out. a good description will help your tech help you.

and that scraping sound does kinda sound like what i imagine the friction brakes sounding like... a very gentle scrape.

maybe have someone else drive the car first (if it doesn't kill you to let someone else drive

) and sit yourself in the passenger seat and listen closely. go pop the hood and see if you can find the noise when the car is running but stopped. this will help you describe the issue better.

then go have a tech test drive it with you and point out the noises you're hearing. if you find a good dealership, they'll be willing to listen to you and let you go out on the test drive with them.

good luck

brayder · 01-19-2006, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by galaxee@Jan 19 2006, 02:08 PM
and that scraping sound does kinda sound like what i imagine the friction brakes sounding like... a very gentle scrape.

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So you think the gentle sound is okay? It does sort of remind me of a monorail/electric trolley sort of sound...

I knew the screech definitely wasn't normal. I'll take it in to the dealer asap.

Thanks for the help!

galaxee · 01-19-2006, 01:27 PM

that scraping while driving doesn't sound right. it may be the brakes are adjusted too tight. now if you hear that same sound under the hood while stopped, then i'd think it was likely the engine sound that you're not used to.

like i said, just do a couple double-checks first before you jump to conclusions. lots of things you can listen to on your own first to be sure you have something to worry about.

Jack 06 · 01-19-2006, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by brayder@Jan 19 2006, 10:54 AM

The loud screech just started out of nowhere in between stoplights after having driven it in more or less stop-go traffic for 15 minutes. It would start softly as I let off the brake and accelerated. Then, the faster I went, the louder it got. When I got up to probably 20-25 mph mid-block, it was really loud and the sound bouncing off of parked cars was startlingly and seemed to be coming from primarily the front wheel(s). THe sound would start to diminish gradually as I started to coast, decelerate, and brake. The sound stopped completely once I was at a complete stop. This went on for approximately 7-8 city blocks when, suddenly, as I was cruising at about 15-20 looking for a parking spot, it stopped completely. I just went to move my car, drove it a couple blocks, and no loud sounds. Just that gentle sound (kinda reminds me of the sound of ice skates on ice, now that I think about it...)

.
[snapback]193293[/snapback]

From this description ("...out of nowhere...stopped completely"), it sounds more as if you had a pebble or twig get kicked up into a brake, then "spit out". That's a long shot, but I've had it happen a few times over the years, and it's sudden and unnerving.

brayder · 01-19-2006, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jack 06@Jan 19 2006, 02:53 PM
From this description ("...out of nowhere...stopped completely"), it sounds more as if you had a pebble or twig get kicked up into a brake, then "spit out". That's a long shot, but I've had it happen a few times over the years, and it's sudden and unnerving.

[snapback]193345[/snapback]

That makes sense for the screech...it really was arbitrary how it started and stopped. Maybe a little piece of asphalt...

I just went and drove it on some relatively quiet and narrow streets with parked cars (for maximum sound reverberation) and the gentler sound is definitely something rubbing. No similar sound when parked. Gets quieter as I depress the brake pedal and stops completely when stopped. I think Galaxee had it nailed with the brakes being adjusted too tightly.

I'm taking it in to have them check and possibly adjust them a bit. Maybe they'll see evidence of the "screech" as well.

Jack 06 · 01-19-2006, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by brayder@Jan 19 2006, 12:48 PM
No similar sound when parked. Gets quieter as I depress the brake pedal and stops completely when stopped. I think Galaxee had it nailed with the brakes being adjusted too tightly.

[snapback]193374[/snapback]

I think so, too. Also, you may be a "sound-sensitive" driver; I've known some.

Finally, in my experience, brakes are usually a little noisy when newest, and noisier at light pedal pressure than full pressure. Just from the new surfaces coming into contact with one another.

But worth checking.

brayder · 01-19-2006, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jack 06@Jan 19 2006, 04:06 PM
I think so, too. Also, you may be a "sound-sensitive" driver; I've known some.

Finally, in my experience, brakes are usually a little noisy when newest, and noisier at light pedal pressure than full pressure. Just from the new surfaces coming into contact with one another.

But worth checking.

[snapback]193386[/snapback]

I'm definitely a "sound-sensitive" driver. I haven't had the best luck with used cars and have always had one ear out...

I'll post the results...

Thanks a lot!

01-19-2006, 12:15 PM	#1
brayder Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 11 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I need some help! I'm in Arlington, VA and have had my brand new 2006 Black Prius #6 for a little less than 48 hours. Our weather has been averaging in the low 40s. I've driven it about 30 miles in about 8 trips of 3-4 miles each. The ICE is on most of the time and so far on my first tank of gas, I'm averaging 29 mpg. I know it's cold, short, stop-go trips, but even this is lower than I expected. I'm still messing with climate control, etc. My main question: When driving, the engine, while very quiet, makes a sound like lightly rubbing/scraping brakes. Is this the natural sound of the Prius engine? In a possibly (or probably) related question: This morning on my commute (similar to the trips outlined above), for about 5 minutes, my Prius made a VERY loud screeching/squealing sound whenever I was in motion. This is a first. The emergency brake was fully disengaged. I'm taking it back to the dealer for service, but needless to say, I'm freaked out. Any thoughts, experiences? Brad __________________ one love 2006 Prius Black Package #6

01-19-2006, 01:08 PM	#4
galaxee resident lab rat Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: boilermaker territory Posts: 9,675 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 94 Times in 37 Posts Friends: 26	that screech is NOT normal at all. i've never heard anything like that. there's some whirring and clicking when you turn the car off, but nothing like a screech you can hear over traffic. i'd have them check that out. a good description will help your tech help you. and that scraping sound does kinda sound like what i imagine the friction brakes sounding like... a very gentle scrape. maybe have someone else drive the car first (if it doesn't kill you to let someone else drive ) and sit yourself in the passenger seat and listen closely. go pop the hood and see if you can find the noise when the car is running but stopped. this will help you describe the issue better. then go have a tech test drive it with you and point out the noises you're hearing. if you find a good dealership, they'll be willing to listen to you and let you go out on the test drive with them. good luck __________________ black 2005 prius, a few mods that make me happy g: class of '09 in intense science DH: class of '09 in medical equipment hoping to discover the 'reward' part of the sacrifice-reward cycle soon!

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01-19-2006, 12:39 PM	#2
galaxee resident lab rat Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: boilermaker territory Posts: 9,675 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 94 Times in 37 Posts Friends: 26	short trips of 3-4 miles will kill mpg. factor in that you're just learning the car and tada, low mpg. take it on a nice long test drive- maybe a half hour or so. find a road that's around 45mph and very few stoplights. this will give you some good experience to build on. what were the circumstances of the noises? did you park the car and get out and listen? pop the hood? what were you doing when these noises came up? accelerating, braking, at a stop, turning, anything?

01-19-2006, 01:27 PM	#6
galaxee resident lab rat Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: boilermaker territory Posts: 9,675 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 94 Times in 37 Posts Friends: 26	that scraping while driving doesn't sound right. it may be the brakes are adjusted too tight. now if you hear that same sound under the hood while stopped, then i'd think it was likely the engine sound that you're not used to. like i said, just do a couple double-checks first before you jump to conclusions. lots of things you can listen to on your own first to be sure you have something to worry about.