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Strange sound....

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by LoriP73, Jan 24, 2018.

  1. LoriP73

    LoriP73 Junior Member

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    Last night on my way home from work I was stopped at a traffic signal, I lifted my foot lightly off the brake pedal and I heard this weird sound like my car had suddenly picked up something metal-ish and was dragging it on the pavement. I immediately put my foot back on the brake. The light changed and I had to drive on, the noise continued. I was talking with hubby on the phone while this happened and told him that I was scared to continue driving home. It sort of subsided, but I could faintly hear it every now and then as I continued the drive home. I checked to see if there was something strange under the car when I got home, but couldn't see anything out of the ordinary. Hubby took the car for a spin around the neighborhood and said that he could hear the noise too, but faintly. Again, I'm scared to drive the car. I have to commute about an hour to get to work, and another hour to get back home. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I drive a 2017 Prius Touring.

    Thank you.

    Lori P
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i can only recommend that you take it back to the dealer, it should be fine to drive there.
     
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  3. LoriP73

    LoriP73 Junior Member

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    This morning (Jan 24th), hubby and I took the car out for a little "cruise". It did well today, no metal-ish grinding sound. We both figured it was good for me to drive to work and home, so I took her out. No strange sounds at all today. YAY!!!!

    Hubby thinks that it could have been some kind of build-up on the brakes from the "GUNK" that they use on the roads in the "big city" (calcium chloride liquid crap).

    Won't be driving tomorrow as we're to get about 10 cm of snow. UGH!!!!

    Will be mentioning the sound to the service department when I take her in for an oil change though.

     
  4. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    That noise from the brakes grinding on the rotor disk is not uncommon. In damp air or after driving on wet roads the disks corrode slightly (normal) and the first should wear of after a few miles. As others have said on here before, you can expedite the clearing by coasting in Neutral and applying the brakes. You should choose a safe place to do this, maybe on a quiet downhill sloped road.

    PS, welcome to Prius Chat. :)
     
    #4 RCO, Jan 25, 2018
    Last edited: Jan 25, 2018
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  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    agreed, and surprised that they never heard it before. i get it almost everyday first thing.
    what is surprising is her statement 'the light changed and i had to drive on, the noise continued'.
    i don't get it without foot on the brake.
     
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  6. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    I think as the disk rusts, the corrosion swells enough to rub against the brake pads until it's worn off again.
     
    #6 RCO, Jan 25, 2018
    Last edited: Jan 25, 2018
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    wow, that's some serious moisture!:eek:
     
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  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yeah I was gonna say, something must be stuck between the brake pad and discs or something that is rotating as the car moves. It obviously dropped or melted overnight.
     
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  9. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    It could have been that guy trying to clean the windshield, dragging along.
     
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  10. LoriP73

    LoriP73 Junior Member

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    Thank you to everyone for your replies.

    The weird sound has subsided.

    Annnnnnnd..... hubby took me to work on Thursday due to us having a "heavy snowfall warning" and I'm glad he took me in, you couldn't see anything aside from 1 lane on a 3 lane highway. Plus..... people in their "cars" were having a tough time getting up the main hill to get home. *sigh* Hubby has also informed me that tomorrow, he WILL be taking me to work again, in his tank. lol

    Lori P.
     
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  11. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    That's exactly what hubbies are for. Sounds like you got a good one! ;)
     
  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I'd just like to point out how dynamic of a range of shades that Hypersonic Red/Emotional Red displays.


    RCO's photo is on a cloudy day but it appears the sun is poking out from behind, giving a brighter red (the light is reflecting off the titanium flakes layer). Lori's is taken on an overcast day, showing the darker side of Hypersonic (you're seeing through the titanium reflective layer and into the base red paint).
     
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  13. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    Sounds like you were there, Sherlock! (y)