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

Engine Noise - Only when accelerating.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by heavenscoins, Jan 12, 2016.

  1. heavenscoins

    heavenscoins New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2016
    4
    0
    0
    Location:
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I can not figure out what this engine noise is. It comes and goes and happens at different RPM ranges. Kind of fluttering...like plastic in the air. It gets loud as I put more gas, but if I lower gas pedal enough or floor the gas pedal it goes away for a little bit.

     
  2. 48mpg

    48mpg Member

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2015
    193
    46
    0
    Location:
    florida
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    I
    seat belt flapping in the wind, close the windows
     
    heavenscoins likes this.
  3. heavenscoins

    heavenscoins New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2016
    4
    0
    0
    Location:
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Lol, I'll make sure to remove the seat belts to rule them out.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    how many miles on her?
     
  5. heavenscoins

    heavenscoins New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2016
    4
    0
    0
    Location:
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    a little over 200k. I changed the C. converter, but the noise was there beforehand. I also figured the noise usually happens when going up a hill. RPM doesn't cause it, but load condition maybe.
     
  6. 48mpg

    48mpg Member

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2015
    193
    46
    0
    Location:
    florida
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    I
    see if the plastic panels are coming off or it could be a wheel bearing
     
  7. ikefor

    ikefor Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2014
    106
    35
    0
    Location:
    Lagos
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I think i have the same sound on my 05, couldn't tell where the sound was coming from.
    48mpg are you referring to the plastic panel under the car that extends to the front?
     
  8. Hokie-Dave

    Hokie-Dave Member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2005
    161
    41
    0
    Location:
    Manassas, VA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    From that definition, it sounds possibly like detonation or pinging. One way to rule that out usually is by using a higher octane gas and see if the noise disappears. It could be from fouled spark plugs, bad gas, dirty injectors.

    I've also heard someone mention that it could be the bearing on the water pump make a similar sound.

    dave
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    motor mounts okay?
     
  10. 48mpg

    48mpg Member

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2015
    193
    46
    0
    Location:
    florida
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    I
    yes see if it moves
     
  11. heavenscoins

    heavenscoins New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2016
    4
    0
    0
    Location:
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    The noise is definitely mechanical. The best way I can think of describe the fluttering noise is... Imagine a music cassette tape and someone ripped out the magnetic tape and is waving it in the air on the highway. The plastic opening to my air intake grid is cracked, although I doubt it would be able to make that noise only under loading conditions. Ill compare the sounds to pinging on other videos. So far the water pump bearing sounds believable. The first thing I thought was it had to do with my valves..? But im clueless on that.
     
  12. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,198
    6,461
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I suggest that you replace the cracked part, or try to seal the cracking using duct tape. That may be the cause of your issue.
     
  13. Scott*74

    Scott*74 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2018
    8
    0
    0
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Was this issue ever resolved? My 2009 is doing the same thing.
     
  14. Keyslammer

    Keyslammer Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2015
    19
    19
    0
    Location:
    San Luis Obispo County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    My 2007 is having the same symptom. Started after a long climb on a hill. If the engine RPM started to climb (on the high side, but not screaming), it sounds like a plastic bag flapping in the wind...but under the front of the dash (engine compartment). It is NOT a pinging sound. It only makes the sound when the rpm climbs up. So it is related to torque or RPM. I’ve never heard a sound like this before from an engine. Almost sounds like an exhaust leak...but it isn’t heard at lower rpms when we punch the throttle.

    Craig
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    motor mounts okay?
     
  16. Center of Gravity

    Center of Gravity Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2017
    25
    2
    0
    Location:
    New Orleans
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I know this thread is old but my two cents today about this guys is that you're mistaking that sound for valve clatter, so look at other blog threads. As an old-school guy I was thinking the Prius was having bad valve guides but the problem according to other chat guys is the ports are getting clogged and therefore oil starving the valves, especially on acceleration. On old engines, American engines, once you had valve clatter you were not getting away with it for very long because the head would need to be rebuilt.

    The other threads will describe using oil additives that act like cleansing hydraulic fluid, and we Old Skool guy used to use a quart of ATF automatic transmission fluid to clean out the ports and allow better oil porting to the top of the heads. These days, there are quite a few additives that can help achieve the same thing.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  17. Imrand

    Imrand Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2019
    19
    1
    0
    Location:
    Pakistan
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Hello guys,
    Please help me i am having same hashing sound like when you put something in running fan. This sound appears only at high RPM if i reduce gas the sound is gone also engine vibration at some certain rpm / speed. Few days back i was having misfires and unfortunately my manifold. I also saw temperature light for few times it appears and gone when I reduced speed.
    what i have done so foe is
    Clean egr
    Clean manifold
    Clean catalytic
    My manifold was burnt out so I replaced
     
  18. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,448
    3,751
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Maybe it would be more helpful for you to post your questions in one of the Gen 3 forums.