1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Faint buzzing/rattling noise driving me nuts

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by elmofongo, Apr 12, 2012.

  1. elmofongo

    elmofongo Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    251
    11
    0
    Location:
    SF, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I am experiencing a buzzing rattle coming from the left corner of the dashboard in the area near the horizontal speaker. It's not loud but it's annoying. It only happens when the car is moving. It doesnt seem to be affected by the audio system being powered on or off. The best thing I can think of to describe it the sound a Geiger counter makes, but not as loud.

    Anyone experiencing a similar noise? Any suggestions to diagnose it?

    Thanks
     
    #1 elmofongo, Apr 12, 2012
  2. hmcgregor

    hmcgregor New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2006
    34
    11
    0
    Location:
    Tucson AZ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Could this be the 2012 noise maker that is mandated by law?

    -Harry
     
    #2 hmcgregor, Apr 12, 2012
  3. pfile

    pfile Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2005
    319
    35
    0
    Location:
    bay area, ca
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    do you have a cellphone in the car? your description sounds a little like the "gsm noise" that older speakerphones, etc. would couple in when a gsm phone started communicating with the cell network.
     
    #3 pfile, Apr 12, 2012
  4. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,073
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Is it continuous or intermittent?

    Tom
     
    #4 qbee42, Apr 12, 2012
  5. SCDrJ

    SCDrJ New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2006
    120
    20
    0
    Location:
    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Like a small buzz or rattle, coming from somewhere between the air vent and speaker? I have it too!!!

    It is at highway speed... Not the noise maker and not gsm noise, very familiar with that.
     
    #5 SCDrJ, Apr 12, 2012
  6. elmofongo

    elmofongo Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    251
    11
    0
    Location:
    SF, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    It seems to be continuous as long as the car is moving on pavement.
    Mine seems to occur at sub-freeway speeds. When cruising at 25mph, I can hear it. No phone. It sounds like something loose vibrating.
    :confused:
     
    #6 elmofongo, Apr 12, 2012
  7. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2010
    3,961
    2,609
    0
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Try to get the dealer to fix it. Maybe record it with your cell phone, if it's safe.
     
    #7 Rebound, Apr 12, 2012
  8. I922sParkCir

    I922sParkCir Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2010
    31
    3
    0
    Location:
    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I have it too. I think that it's that corner panel right below the corner window. When I hold it secure, that noise goes away. I'm going to buy/make small rubber shims to keep it from rattling.
     
    #8 I922sParkCir, Apr 12, 2012
  9. SCDrJ

    SCDrJ New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2006
    120
    20
    0
    Location:
    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    That's where mine is too.
     
    #9 SCDrJ, Apr 12, 2012
  10. krishkal

    krishkal New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2011
    21
    1
    0
    Location:
    Fremont, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I heard the same kind of noise from the same general area once too. If the music is loud enough, I don't hear it ;) I will drive with music off for a while to see if it keeps recurring.
     
    #10 krishkal, Apr 12, 2012
  11. elmofongo

    elmofongo Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    251
    11
    0
    Location:
    SF, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Getting a service technician to hear it is going to be a challenge.
     
    #11 elmofongo, Apr 12, 2012
  12. bfd

    bfd Plug-In Perpetuator

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2009
    659
    172
    0
    Location:
    Close to SDSU in the Far Southwest Corner of Cali
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Check the mirrors in your sun visors. Make sure they're either full closed or full open. It's one more possibility to exclude...
     
    #12 bfd, Apr 12, 2012
  13. dustoff003

    dustoff003 Blizzard Brigade #003

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2010
    1,371
    335
    0
    Location:
    Waianae, HI (Oahu)
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Could it be the Plasmacluster?
     
    #13 dustoff003, Apr 12, 2012
    1 person likes this.
  14. elmofongo

    elmofongo Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    251
    11
    0
    Location:
    SF, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I just confirmed the location of the noise source.
    Putting horizontal pressure on plastic corner defrost vent (aimed at the triangle window) quiets the noise.
    Does anyone know how to pop that piece of plastic off?
    Or at least where in the parts catalog it is located, or its name, so I can look at an illustration of the way it is fastened?
     
    #14 elmofongo, Apr 18, 2012
  15. Tracksyde

    Tracksyde Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2011
    1,429
    761
    0
    Location:
    So Cal
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    You need to remove the side pillar garnish first. Its in the PDF I've attached here. Pay close attention to this section:

    There's an illustration of it. But if you yank on the garnish hard enough and far enough away from the pillar, it may snap that clip. When I removed my pillar garnish (for the homelink mirror), I popped all the clips, then pulled it back far enough to look bheind the garnish to see that special clip that you need to turn 90 degrees. Its like a lock.

    Also, you need to first pull down the door weather stripping to expose the edge of the pillar garnish. That just slips off my hand.

    The defroster vent panel looks like it just pops off (see the attached image)
     

    Attached Files:

    #15 Tracksyde, Apr 18, 2012
    1 person likes this.
  16. elmofongo

    elmofongo Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    251
    11
    0
    Location:
    SF, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Wow, it's a little more involved than I thought [​IMG]
    I thought the corner piece just pops out by itself!

    PS: Thanks for the info!
    :)
     
    #16 elmofongo, Apr 18, 2012
  17. Tracksyde

    Tracksyde Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2011
    1,429
    761
    0
    Location:
    So Cal
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I think the corner piece sits under the pillar garnish, doesnt it? I think thats why they tell you to remove the pillar garnish first.

    Removing the pillar garnish isnt that bad. Once you start popping the clips off, they all start to come off. Just be sure to reach behind to twist that one locking clip 90 degrees. You should be able just to reach it with your hand once the garnish is semi-removed.

    Anyhow, good luck. Just remember if you took it to the dealer, chances are the tech wouldnt be as careful as you would be with your own car :D.
     
    #17 Tracksyde, Apr 18, 2012
  18. elmofongo

    elmofongo Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    251
    11
    0
    Location:
    SF, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I picked up a spare corner piece on eBay for $25 just in case I gouge the original. :D
     
    #18 elmofongo, Apr 18, 2012
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)