SCREEEEEEEE!

amped · 11-10-2004, 08:46 PM

So I'm driving in downtown Portland this afternoon on my way to REI when all of a sudden the loudest metal-to-metal sound I've heard screams from the front of the car. It stopped when I did at the intersection. I looked at the delivery truck drivers on either side and they're looking at the front of my car so I start thinking "What, the tire installers screwed up, some new bug in the '05's, I have a cat stuck in the wheel (kidding cat lovers)?". No dreaded lights or any dash indication anything is wrong. At the green light I take off slowly and the fingernails on the chalkboard echoes between the buildings as pedestrians look at the car frowning. The UPS guy pacing me starts laughing. I'm a poor ad for Prius.

After a few more blocks and no smoke, I figure I'll drive it to the dealer or until it blows up, but first REI for my climbing gear. I pull into the parking garage avoiding the stares of others parking. I head for the back corner slot and the only way in is to reverse. As soon as the car moved backward, the noise stopped. I finished parking and inspected both wheels and rotors for any apparent damage. None found, but there was a scraped up pencil eraser sized pebble where I started backing in, the suspected cause of the malfunction. It probably wedged between the rotor and caliper, but luckily fell out in reverse.

No problems the rest of the afternoon. Drove serenely around town enjoying the now very quiet Prius in Stealth Mode more than ever!

**TonyPSchaefer** · 11-10-2004, 10:00 PM

Well, it's great that the problem-causing pebble fell out, but I'm sure a once-over inspection would be in order. I find it hard to believe that something could make that much noise without inflicting some damage.

Now that it has a happy ending, I have to laugh at the thought of all those poeple staring. :-) Unfortunate, though, if they blame the Prius.

**efusco** · 11-10-2004, 10:02 PM

I remember one similar story but the pebble was not so easily dislodged. Glad yours came right out.

DaveinOlyWA · 11-11-2004, 01:36 AM

actually the louder the squeal the less damage being done. the squeal is from the stone vibrating rapidly usually side to side against the rotor and that only happens if the rock is lightly touching the surface.

if it had lodged in a little tighter, it most likely would have started grinding into the rotor as the rotor broke it up. that might have scratched the rotor a little. but most rocks arent really hard enough to do damage.

i was wondering from your location if you didnt get a little volcanic glass. they are very hard but have no tensile strength.

11-10-2004, 08:46 PM	#1
amped Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: The Gorge OR Posts: 2,320 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 32 Thanked 79 Times in 53 Posts Friends: 0	SCREEEEEEEE! So I'm driving in downtown Portland this afternoon on my way to REI when all of a sudden the loudest metal-to-metal sound I've heard screams from the front of the car. It stopped when I did at the intersection. I looked at the delivery truck drivers on either side and they're looking at the front of my car so I start thinking "What, the tire installers screwed up, some new bug in the '05's, I have a cat stuck in the wheel (kidding cat lovers)?". No dreaded lights or any dash indication anything is wrong. At the green light I take off slowly and the fingernails on the chalkboard echoes between the buildings as pedestrians look at the car frowning. The UPS guy pacing me starts laughing. I'm a poor ad for Prius. After a few more blocks and no smoke, I figure I'll drive it to the dealer or until it blows up, but first REI for my climbing gear. I pull into the parking garage avoiding the stares of others parking. I head for the back corner slot and the only way in is to reverse. As soon as the car moved backward, the noise stopped. I finished parking and inspected both wheels and rotors for any apparent damage. None found, but there was a scraped up pencil eraser sized pebble where I started backing in, the suspected cause of the malfunction. It probably wedged between the rotor and caliper, but luckily fell out in reverse. No problems the rest of the afternoon. Drove serenely around town enjoying the now very quiet Prius in Stealth Mode more than ever! __________________ "The men that American people admire most extravagantly are the most daring liars; the men they detest the most violently are those who try to tell them the truth." -- H L Mencken

11-11-2004, 01:36 AM	#4
DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 12,378 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 24 Thanked 121 Times in 103 Posts Friends: 10	actually the louder the squeal the less damage being done. the squeal is from the stone vibrating rapidly usually side to side against the rotor and that only happens if the rock is lightly touching the surface. if it had lodged in a little tighter, it most likely would have started grinding into the rotor as the rotor broke it up. that might have scratched the rotor a little. but most rocks arent really hard enough to do damage. i was wondering from your location if you didnt get a little volcanic glass. they are very hard but have no tensile strength. __________________ My Blue 2010 : Last tank 541.9 @ 49.48 pump (56.7 MFD) 5.54 CPM, 21 MPH, Lifetime:5442.2 miles 56.5 MPG pump. (62.22 MFD) 4.72 CPM. Summer MPG 57.4 Winter: 49.5 My 2006 SPM: Last tank 376.6 miles @38.21 pump (40.8 MFD) 7.17 cpm winter mpg 49.64 summer mpg 53.41 lifetime: 42,563.5 miles 51.5 mpg pump (52.7 mpg MFD) 5.51 cpm My 2007 Zenn total "fuel cost" $166.58 on "about" 9599.7 miles. 1.74 cents per mile (granted i plug in for free at work!!) My Plate: DUALPWR (Dual Power)

11-10-2004, 10:00 PM	#2
TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 10,498 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 39 Thanked 165 Times in 106 Posts Friends: 23	Well, it's great that the problem-causing pebble fell out, but I'm sure a once-over inspection would be in order. I find it hard to believe that something could make that much noise without inflicting some damage. Now that it has a happy ending, I have to laugh at the thought of all those poeple staring. :-) Unfortunate, though, if they blame the Prius.

11-10-2004, 10:02 PM	#3
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 17,231 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 49 Thanked 249 Times in 148 Posts Friends: 37	I remember one similar story but the pebble was not so easily dislodged. Glad yours came right out.