tingling sound while braking or accelerating at low speed

[joy2000]

My prius 2005 is making a tingling sound like a trembling thin metal wire when gently braking or accelerating at 5 to 10 mph. Does anybody know what's the problem? Thanks!

[Prius-a-rama]

Me too!
Mine is two weeks old and if I listen carefully when I gently brake it also makes a very, very soft grind sound, almost like what you hear when your brakes are starting to wear down, but the "grinding" isn't as pronounced as when you hear that horrible grind of your shoes/caliper/brake pads. It's much more softer sounding.
I'd also appreciate any info as to whether or not this is normal.

[Tideland Prius]

Electric motor whine? I can hear that if the radio's off and I brake lightly. It's the regenerative braking noise.

[Bill Merchant]

[font=Comic Sans MS:fecf041606]Hi Joy. I bet what you are hearing, that tinkling sound, is a loose heat shield. There are metal plates and strips attached to the underside of the car to keep the heat from the exhaust pipe and muffler on the outside, not radiating into the cabin. It's very likely one of these is a bit loose or bent so when you brake, it vibrates against another piece of metal. Next time you have an oil change ask the people working on your car to check for a loose heat shield, or if it's driving you nuts, go to your favorite garage and have them check it now. A loose heat shield is not serious, but a noise like that can be very annoying.

Prius-a-rama, I agree with Tideland that you are probably hearing the regenerative braking, which is perfectly normal. It sort of sounds like gears whirring. This isn't the same kind of tinkly sound Joy was hearing. Of course, you might have a loose heat shield too, and then hear a whirring-gear-tinkle.

I don't think either sound is cause for much worry, unless they get much louder or more pronounced.[/font:fecf041606]

[joy2000]

Hi, Bill,

Thank you for your help.

What can cause a loose heat shield?

I remember I once drove upon a curb while making a right turn, then the right front wheel fell to ground and the bottom plate near the wheel hit the curb.

About the tingling sound, I heard it before when I was driving my old Honda Civic.

[Prius-a-rama]

Yes, "whirring" is a better discription of the sound I hear than is "grinding." Much like a soft "whizzzzzzzzz."

Thanks Tideland & Bill!

[Bill Merchant]

[font=Comic Sans MS:e0aa2eff3d]I'm glad to try and help.

A heat shield can come loose for many reasons, including simply being manufactured with a little too much tolerance in a joint. Driving over the curb could have jiggled something loose, or some road debris that you didn't even notice might have struck a shield and loosened it.

When the car is in the air on a lift for an oil change the mechanic can get under it and wiggle the shields to try to find the one that is loose, then figure a way to tighten it. [/font:e0aa2eff3d]

[Hobiecat]

That's not the same as a little buzzing sound in the dash from time to time is it? I had a guy at my dealer take a ride with me right after we got ours and he said its the relay for the electronics or something like that...