"winding" noise when decelerating... normal?

pachakutek · 09-03-2011, 12:40 AM

Hi guys,
about 3 weeks with the brand new Insight... all good, tanked twice and just over 900mi already.
So far so good... however, today we started noticing a slightly loud "winding" noise when coasting/braking at low speeds... It stops as soon as the cars stops, and it seems to be there when accelerating too, but the engine kind of drowns it... definitively there when stopping.

At first I thought it was just me, but my wife noticed too, and I'm sure it wasn't making that noise before.

Has you guys noticed something similar? Is it normal? It might be the engine is now broken in, and that's normal?

I hope it's normal, but even if, it's a bit annoying.

Thanks!
Tona

Zwolfe · 09-03-2011, 01:17 AM

I've always attributed the noise to the electric motor. I could be wrong.

I actually like the sound. But that's just me, I'm weird like that.

But that isn't anything unusual, as far as I know.

pachakutek · 09-03-2011, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwolfe

I've always attributed the noise to the electric motor. I could be wrong.

I actually like the sound. But that's just me, I'm weird like that.

But that isn't anything unusual, as far as I know.

Cool... glad to hear it's not just me.
Curious to know why the noise wasn't there before - all these 900mi. Maybe because it just got broken-in - or maybe I was too excited to pay attention?

Zwolfe · 09-03-2011, 01:45 AM

I don't really know the answer to that question.

The wife put the most miles on it when we first got it, so I'm unsure.

Within 2 weeks she already had over 1k miles on it.

I cannot recall exactly how it sounded brand new off the lot.

Zwolfe · 09-03-2011, 01:48 AM

When I hear it, it's when I'm accelerating very rapidly.

I also hear it when, say, I take my foot off the gas pedal and am coasting to a stop.

Perhaps the noise is always there and I just don't usually notice.

I ignore a lot of different sorts of noise, i.e. road noise unless it's highly evident.

Maybe it could be the CVT. I just always figured it was the electric motor. I could be wrong like I said.

vegajf51 · 09-03-2011, 02:43 AM

I always attributed it to being the electric motor, my wife's Prius use to make the exact same sound.

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Cobb · 09-03-2011, 04:27 PM

Unless your cvt fluid is low I wouldn't worry.

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johnner1999 · 09-05-2011, 08:19 AM

wouldn't it be the regenerative braking kicking in (which technically is the motor)

Cobb · 09-05-2011, 11:19 AM

I recall the dog whistle, but not the whirling noises the prius makes.

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