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

Soundproofing Prius Prime

Discussion in 'Prime Accessories and Modifications' started by RobertZ, Jun 30, 2018.

  1. RobertZ

    RobertZ Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2018
    63
    109
    0
    Location:
    Nashua, NH
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium

    I have owned this 2017 Prius Prime Premium model since Dec 17.
    I love the car except road noise (I have 2003 Acura MDX and it's much more quieter with 155K miles on it :))
    So I ordered the small car package from

    Small Build Package - 36 sqft of Damplifier Pro & Luxury Liner Pro * Made In USA * - Second Skin Audio

    It contains 36 SQFT of Damplifier Pro (sound vibration reduction) Luxury Liner Pro (sound barrier).
    They have a 20% discount going but even with that it was $425 just for materials.

    I am not looking forward to disassembly of a brand new car (hoping to find someone local).
    If I have to do it I will start with doors. Are there any step-by-step instructions around on interior tear down?

    Thanks,
    Robert
     
    Ascegan, mr88cet and Starship16 like this.
  2. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2018
    1,348
    1,452
    0
    Location:
    Beach Christmas
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    The link you provided mentions the weight of the material. I gues that's why Toyota didn't install much (if any?) sound insulation in the Prius? I've seen photos of various new Prius models with the door panels removed. No insulation whatsoever that I can see.

    I have always believed that my 2016 Prius is excessively loud & noisy. Much more so than other cars I have owned in the past. But I am told that I'm nuts, :ROFLMAO: other owners report that their Gen4 Prius is very quiet. Ha! Come ride with me someday... and bring earplugs! ;) I like the high mpg, but not all that darn noise. I guess there has to be trade offs.
    photo 5.JPG
     
    #2 Starship16, Jun 30, 2018
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2018
    Merkey and padroo like this.
  3. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2017
    2,515
    3,253
    9
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
    Yes, in the Repair Manual, available by subscription to techinfo.toyota.com.
     
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,768
    16,017
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    There is a difference in sound insulation between a Two and a Four Prius.
     
    Starship16 likes this.
  5. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2018
    1,348
    1,452
    0
    Location:
    Beach Christmas
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Thanks, somebody else mentioned that too. Mine is the bare-bones Three.
    I'd like to go drive a Four Touring and relax in all that silence. ;)
     
  6. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2008
    2,763
    2,250
    13
    Location:
    Chesterton, Indiana Another third world country.
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Is the Two worse than the four? My four is pretty noisy but we have crappy third world roads where I live in Indiana.

    The county patched the road in front of my house and left the rough road sign. :)

    Sorry, I can't help myself.
     
    Raytheeagle and Starship16 like this.
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    each generation gets a bit quieter. for first time owners, they're all noisy.
     
    Starship16 likes this.
  8. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2008
    2,763
    2,250
    13
    Location:
    Chesterton, Indiana Another third world country.
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    So you are saying you'll get used to it. :ROFLMAO:
     
    Tideland Prius and Starship16 like this.
  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
    sure, the older you get, the less you hear.:cool: i did put quiet tires on which made a significant difference.
     
    benagi and Starship16 like this.
  10. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2018
    1,348
    1,452
    0
    Location:
    Beach Christmas
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    I consider the Prius Prime to be the top of the line? They sure look nice. That's all I see now... all new Primes around my area. I think there have been only a few (4 or 5?) posts from Prime owners who thought the cabin would be a little quieter.
     
    #10 Starship16, Jun 30, 2018
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2018
  11. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2018
    1,348
    1,452
    0
    Location:
    Beach Christmas
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Is that the Michelin Defender tires bisco?
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    energy savers. defenders might be close, i'm not sure.
     
    Starship16 likes this.
  13. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2018
    1,348
    1,452
    0
    Location:
    Beach Christmas
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    That's right, the Energy Savers. Thanks. Sorry, I forgot.
     
  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,768
    16,017
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Yes. The Two lacks some sound insulation in the firewall (between the cabin and the engine) that the Three and higher have.

    The Four/Four Touring adds "acoustic front side window glass" (so the driver and front passenger windows are double paned like the windshield).


    All Prii will suffer from tire noise. There's no insulation in the wheel well and sound gets transmitted up. So the cabin can be supremely quiet but with the right road surface, it can still be noisy like a 90s Corolla. Pisses me off cause it just that "oh you're so close" feeling of getting a quiet ride.
     
    Merkey and Starship16 like this.
  15. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2018
    1,348
    1,452
    0
    Location:
    Beach Christmas
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Very interesting. If I had known all that, I would have definitely paid a little more and bought the Four model. A lot of noise comes through my side windows. Very noticeable and loud when on the freeway at higher speeds... or any speeds when on a certain kind of pavement or bad road.

    And no insulation in the wheel wells. My loud tires makes it even worse.
     
    #15 Starship16, Jul 1, 2018
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2018
    Merkey likes this.
  16. Mavi

    Mavi Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2015
    484
    282
    0
    Location:
    San Diego,ca
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XLE
    Starship16 likes this.
  17. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2018
    1,348
    1,452
    0
    Location:
    Beach Christmas
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    I've thought about trying it on my Prius. I looked inside the wheelwells, and I think I saw some things that probably should not be covered up with spray? I'm not sure. The last time I used that stuff was on a 1974 Datsun pickup truck.:)
     
    #17 Starship16, Jul 1, 2018
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2018
  18. CBarr31

    CBarr31 Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2007
    434
    225
    0
    Location:
    Charlotte, NC
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Mavi,

    I sprayed GMuff Sound Deadening dampener in Ema's wheel wells and it eventually gets worn off. And as Starship16 noted there are some things that shouldn't have spray on them, lol.

    I noted this somewhere else but can't remember where. The 3 Prii I currently own/drive ranked in terms of silence are Ema (Gen II), Evey (Prime) and Blue (Gen IV - 4). With my wife's old Gen II Touring being between Ema and Evey. So the Gen II's, IMO, were/are the quietest.

    Chris
     
    Starship16 likes this.
  19. Lucifer

    Lucifer Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2015
    1,014
    485
    0
    Location:
    Nh
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Crutchfield sells dampening materials.
    https://www.crutchfield.com/p_15410415/Dynamat-10415-Xtreme-Speaker-Kit.html?tp=61811&awkw=75640401625&awat=pla&awnw=g&awcr=47642430985&awdv=t&awug=9002377&gclid=CjwKCAjw9-HZBRAwEiwAGw0QcTwI-OXk7Qv0YmH8N-phKggQTGGy5jSGwDUxrRChrFqeE7D9rye_KxoC3rwQAvD_BwE

    And they offer directions and tools needed.

    Summit racing offers a spray on sound proofer
    https://www.summitracing.com/parts/liz-22031?seid=srese1&cm_mmc=pla-google-_-shopping-_-srese1-_-lizardskin&gclid=CjwKCAjw9-HZBRAwEiwAGw0QcfC2OKgL-C533dpMNenT-2qCZEc4RkGKKE-A3MUCVHz9YzzrJBoOWBoCKXEQAvD_BwE

    Which would be excellent for doors, it will stay, the stick on pads don’t stay when it gets hot.

    Do the doors first, you will get the biggest bang for your buck, lots of sound is bouncing around in the doors,
     
  20. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2018
    1,348
    1,452
    0
    Location:
    Beach Christmas
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    I like seeing the comments from people who have owned (or still own) multiple Prii's. Thanks Chris. The 500,000 Mile Man! What year is your Gen IV -4 ? (and ranked last?)
     
    Merkey likes this.