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weird sound

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by brtn422, Jul 1, 2007.

  1. brtn422

    brtn422 New Member

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    So the day I went to pick up my shiny new prius (last Friday, 6/22) I had to work (for a photographer in the city), and he decided that we should take my car to the photo shoot (i didn't have time to object). So we loaded all kinds of equipment, along with three people (including me) and drove to the location. I didn't have time to see a dip in the road that was coming up and drove over it at about 25mph, and the engine check light, slip light (i think?) and a couple others blinked on and off really fast. Since then, it seems when I'm only running on the electrical motor (gliding silently), i hear a constant metal sound...its not bad, and actually, could've been there before the dip, but of course now i notice it because of that incident. It might just be the new brakes wearing in? I have no idea....it does sound like rotating metal, and something you would normally hear, just not sure if it's amplified by the complete silence of the car?

    On a separate but possibly related note, I've had the "slip" light come on a couple times, once when I was going down a hill that was a bit bumpy, once when I was slowing in traffic....is that light usually reserved for slippery driving conditions? Because here in Santa Cruz, it's been 75 degrees and sunny for the last month, so the roads are definitely not slippery.....anyway, thanks in advance for the help!
     
    #1 brtn422, Jul 1, 2007
  2. Betelgeuse

    Betelgeuse Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brtn422 @ Jul 1 2007, 10:39 AM) [snapback]471015[/snapback]</div>
    Well, a metal sound isn't good, particularly if it's metal rubbing on metal. However, is it possible that this sound is the high-pitched whine of the electric motor? Have you heard the sound of the motor/generator before? It'd be most obvious when the engine was off and you were coasting to a stop (i.e. in "recharge" mode). If that's the sound you're hearing, you're in the clear; but, if this sound is different than the electric motor sound, I'd consider taking it somewhere.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brtn422 @ Jul 1 2007, 10:39 AM) [snapback]471015[/snapback]</div>
    That's pretty normal behavior for the traction control. Basically, whenever the wheels slip, it'll probably kick in. This can be on wet/icy roads or in dry roads if the wheels come off the road for any reason. This can definitely happen when going over bumps or when going over gravel or whenever the road is slippery for whatever reason. Several people have commented that the traction control seems a little over-aggressive (particularly in earlier model years of the car), but it's basically something that you just get used to.
     
    #2 Betelgeuse, Jul 1, 2007
  3. brtn422

    brtn422 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Jul 1 2007, 11:45 AM) [snapback]471038[/snapback]</div>

    It sounds like the brakes turning....rotating, kindof a gliding sound, which I think might be normal, but I'm really not sure.....I don't know if I'm just noticing it because of that dip incident, or if it was there before (I hadn't really gotten a chance to test it out before it happened)....hmmm...
     
    #3 brtn422, Jul 1, 2007
  4. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    What can you do except take it to a dealer? You might be now noticing something normal that was always there, or the bump might have damaged something. We can't tell from out here.

    Actually it would be better to find another Prius owner first and let them drive it. Sometimes dealers don't know diddly.
     
    #4 richard schumacher, Jul 1, 2007
  5. brtn422

    brtn422 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richard schumacher @ Jul 1 2007, 01:52 PM) [snapback]471099[/snapback]</div>
    good idea....I have a friend that used to work for Toyota too, I'll probably call him.....just thought I'd bounce the problem of you guys though....thanks for the help and ideas!
     
    #5 brtn422, Jul 1, 2007
  6. Betelgeuse

    Betelgeuse Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brtn422 @ Jul 1 2007, 01:39 PM) [snapback]471092[/snapback]</div>
    Did you ever notice the regeneration sound before the dip incident? I ask because it should have been there all the time. If you never noticed any high pitched whine before, then it's possible you're just noticing it now, since you're more aware. The sound is very high-pitched and is probably most obvious when you are coasting toward a red light. Actually, since you live in Northern CA, you probably go past a ton of Prii every day. Next time you're walking by a Prius that's driving down the street, pay attention to the sound it makes and see if it's the same as the sound your car makes. Of course, you'll have to hope that that car wasn't in the same type of "incident" as your car was :)

    One way to know for sure is to go to the dealer, though. Any reasonable place should be able to tell you whether it's normal in about 5 seconds. Actually, if you have any Prius-owning friends, they should also be able to tell you.
     
    #6 Betelgeuse, Jul 5, 2007
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