I have a 2010 Insight with 120,000 miles on it (yeah, I'm a big commuter). A couple of weeks ago a problem started, would come and go, but now happens all the time.
When the care is idle it is perfectly fine, but when I start to accelerate the car makes a loud squealing noise and eventually become a grinding noise. When I start to slow down, the grinding becomes a squeal again and then stops when the car does. This doesn't seem to affect the car's actual performance at all.
Wrong forum and the mods will move it to Gen2 Insight, but offhand I would say if you're lucky it's just the front brakes, especially if you've never had them changed at 120K.
On the other hand it could also be the transmission or possibly an engine idler pulley.
Try pinpointing the noise to the wheels or the middle of the car. Go to an empty parking lot and try to slow to a stop from 20MPH by just taking your foot off the gas and without touching the brake. Then do it again but come to a stop using the brakes. Try to see where the noise is coming from.
If you not comfortable troubleshooting you get the noise checked out by a competent shop ASAP.
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Insight #1 - Silver '01 5MT @ 158,388 as of 7/11 - Best Tank: 84.5MPG over 807mi
Insight #2 - Silver '01 5MT @ 450,000 as of 1/12 - Best Tank: 86.0MPG over 800mi
Insight #3 - Silver '00 5MT, MIMA #163P, BCM Gauge, OBDIIC&C Gauge, BetterBattery @ 228,869 as of 1/12 - Best Tank: 78.4mpg over 687mi
Do you hear the squeal when the motor is idling with the vehicle not moving. If NO then you can rule out engine idler pulley or anything engine related.
Lets assume that the engine is okay, that moves us on to my following suspects:
1) I'd agree with mrkcohen, I suspect that the noise you hear is brake related. I've had wear indicators hang up before on a worn brake pad and always make grinding/squealing noise. Normally with this type of issue you can roll down the windows and isolate the noise to either left front or right front. Jack up the front end and turn the wheels and see if you can isolate which one, pull the tires and see how much pad you have left and let us know.
2) Wheel bearing would be my next quess, same as before jack up the front end and turn the wheels and see if you can isolate which side is causing the noise.
3) Last suspects would be drive axles or transmission. Once up in the air with the wheels off inspect them, look at the CV boots, look for anything that might be rubbing against a drive shaft or evidence of rubing/grinding on any of the moving components.
Let us know what you find, I'm guessing it is going to be brake related but won't know until you take a look.
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Squeal to a Grind when accelerating
