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Brake Whine

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by bweston, Dec 16, 2004.

?

Do you notice a whine in your brakes?

  1. Yes

    2 vote(s)
    66.7%

  2. No

    1 vote(s)
    33.3%
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  1. bweston

    bweston Junior Member

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    After four days of ownership, I love my car... BUT

    Has anybody else noticed a whine in the brakes? It's very subtle (almost imperceptable), just curious if it is normal.

    bRaD
     
    #1 bweston, Dec 16, 2004
  2. Speedracer

    Speedracer New Member

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    Thats normal
     
    #2 Speedracer, Dec 16, 2004
  3. DaveG

    DaveG Member

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    You're probably hearing the regeneration of power as the car uses the electric motor to recharge the batteries during braking.

    It's completely normal - just watch the power flow display as you brake and you'll see the energy flowing back into the battery.

    Dave
     
    #3 DaveG, Dec 16, 2004
  4. hdrygas

    hdrygas New Member

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    I have rarely heard it as I usually have toons on the stereo. But the whine is the generator saving energy for you. I love these brakes, I drove my old car and thought I would never stop!
     
    #4 hdrygas, Dec 16, 2004
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I notice a squeak from the brakes when coming to a full stop while reversing with the steering wheel in full lock (either left or right). I think it only occurs when it's raining (so perhaps some part of the brakes - rotor/pad may be wet). Has anyone else experienced this?
     
    #5 Tideland Prius, Dec 16, 2004
  6. casc

    casc New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bweston\";p=\"58010)</div>
    yup.... and the brakes are slightly grabbier.... switching between my prius and the wife's camry is interesting. When I go to my backup pickup truck.... :roll: it's a VERY different world. I think the truck's leaving by year's end...

    cas (#7 driftwood '04)
     
    #6 casc, Dec 17, 2004
  7. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    My brakes have started squeaking. I'm not sure why. It's just at first, like when I'm backing out of my driveway or a parking spot. And then usually at the first stoplight I come to.
     
    #7 TonyPSchaefer, Dec 17, 2004
  8. Batavier

    Batavier Member

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    I notice a very high pitched noise when the car is stopped and I lift my foot from the brake pedal. When I push it again, the noise can be heard again. It's not the brake discs, because the car isn't moving, perhaps it's some sort of relais or maybe the switch that measures how far one pushes the brake pedal? Will ask the dealer about it next time I'm in the neighbourhood.
     
    #8 Batavier, Dec 17, 2004
  9. heliotropehead

    heliotropehead New Member

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    Yes. Mostly while in reverse and usually when it's cold outside.
    I'm glad to know it's not just me.
     
    #9 heliotropehead, Dec 17, 2004
  10. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    Bat - I've noticed this on cold mornings at high altitude. It's been reported by others living in Flagstaff (higher altitude in AZ) according to the dealer in Scottsdale - something to do with the brake pump. It was loud enough to be embarrasing in my case when I was in Big Bear Lake, CA (my high school stomping grounds) a few months back. Big Bear is about 6800 feet.
     
    #10 HTMLSpinnr, Dec 17, 2004
  11. noisebeam

    noisebeam Junior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(htmlspinnr\";p=\"58153)</div>
    I live in the low desert, but on a recent trip to the Grand Canyon (thur Flag) the brake pedal engagement started to make a very loud noise when first pressed. (not the faint whine you hear normally). My wife accused me of damaging the car ;) (its hers and she drives in 90% of time). The noise continued all the way back to low elevations, but the next day was gone.

    Al
     
    #11 noisebeam, Dec 17, 2004
  12. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

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    The high pitched 'whine' or whistle is the transistors in the inverter 'singing'. Occurs during regen braking, and when starting off at a dead stop.
     
    #12 DanMan32, Dec 17, 2004
  13. seeh2o

    seeh2o Prius OG

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    My friends say it sounds like a (quiet) jet engine coming in for a landing!
     
    #13 seeh2o, Dec 17, 2004
  14. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    Dan, what we're hearing is not regen, as the noise is present at a standstill as well. It sounds more like an actuator moaning.

    Regen singing (or singing upon acceleration) of the caps happens at any temp and elevation.
     
    #14 HTMLSpinnr, Dec 17, 2004
  15. IsrAmeriPrius

    IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Batavier\";p=\"58131)</div>
    Batavier,

    Now you have got me thinking of fabulous vacations and staying at Relais & Châteaux properties.

    The word is spelled relays.

    Cheers.
     
    #15 IsrAmeriPrius, Dec 17, 2004
  16. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

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    If it is the brakes, you may be hearing the accumulator pump.
     
    #16 DanMan32, Dec 18, 2004
  17. Batavier

    Batavier Member

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    Hehe, you're welcome. In Dutch the word for 'relay' is 'relais'... :)

    You're probably right, Rick. That must be it. Next time I'm at the dealer, I'll give their demo a try... :)

    And thanks for the diagram, Danman!
     
    #17 Batavier, Dec 23, 2004
  18. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Dang, there's so much interesting detail in the repair manual maybe I should buy one. Do dealers sell them?
     
    #18 richard schumacher, Dec 23, 2004
  19. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

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    Yes, they do, or if you have lots of time on your hands, you could do what I did; Go online to Toyota TechInfo, spend $10 for a day's access, or $50 for a month access, and download all the PDFs you want.
    I managed to do it with 2 days access, then used a trial copy of Adobe Acrobat to stitch them together.
    However, I spent HOURS with the downloads and stitching.

    You can get the repair manual, wiring diagram, campaigns, recalls, owner's manual, and New Car info.

    When you download, I suggest keeping each section (chapter) in a separate folder, as there are duplicate filenames in each chapter. You may also want to modify the filenames, prefixing them with a sequence #. This will greatly help in stitching them. Otherwise, you will waste time trying to get them in proper order.

    Also, If you are going to use a trial version of Adobe to stitch, download first using the latest update of Reader. The trial version of Adobe doesn't have enough of the updates to allow TIS to work in downloading, and you can't update the trial version.
     
    #19 DanMan32, Dec 23, 2004
  20. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    Back in the day, they had open directory indexing. With 1 day's access, we'd simply find one URL, then use wget (Gnu web get utility under Linux/BSD/etc., or Unix tools for Windows) recursively along w/ the session cookie to do a recursive download on the whole tree. Problem is, they've probably revised them a bit since then, but that was the *only* way I could get a full manual. The search engine would almost NEVER bring up all pages - at least in the case of the NCF guide.

    Dan, The accumulator pump only operates to rebuild pressure. This noise was actually occuring right at the "threshold" between regen only and hydraulic braking, which would indicate a valve/solenoid moving. I'd almost guess it was akin to a noisy faucet at a particular opening where you get a resonance in the line. However, the noise to me is more like something passing through a noisy reed valve. Guess it's something you need to hear to believe. Next time I'm at higher altitude, I'll try to record the sound somehow.
     
    #20 HTMLSpinnr, Dec 23, 2004
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