Prius Making "Brrrr" Noise As I Accelerate

You should have your exhaust system checked for leaks.

 

have you owned it since new, and has it had al maintenance and recalls completed?

 

running okay otherwise?

 

a bearing would make noise whether you accelerated or not.

 

jc is probably right, exhaust leak.

 

Check your oil level to make sure it's correct too.

I hate it when I allow other's to touch my car. My oil changes are done by a junior mechanic down the street from me. Last time he forget to put back 2 bolts that holds the plastic covers underneath the car back.

My suspicion has just turned to the bearing as the cause of your noise.......

 

no need to fix unless you need an inspection sticker.

 

You can get a general sense of the muffler health, by flopping down behind the car, take a look, how rusty, any rust-right-through. Also grab the tail pipe and give as much of a shake as possible, listen for rattles.

If you're in a parking lot, just watch you don't get run over.

 

I only say that because a bad bearing would make that noise and you were just told there was a problem........so, that's the most likely cause.

Physical inspections are way better than online guesses

 

Here's a different look at "expensive," repairs:
$500/200,000miles = $.0025/mile.
$500//7years = $71.43/year
$500/8years = $62.50/year

Now does $500 really look that bad now?

 

both my '04 and '06 the muffler heat shield rusted through at the mounting stud. the head shield vibrated obnoxiously at times. I had to heat the nut with a torch cause it was seized on the stud so I didn't snap the stud off. then I used a fender washer to secure the heat shield.

might want to have a look at the shield while your under there checking the exhaust out.