It is never pleasing to notice a sound on your vehicle that you don’t know where it comes from. You may be wanting to know what to do when you detect a reversing gear noise that remains on your Toyota Prius? Any gearbox issue can be serious, but before making sure, it is better to do a few investigations. Our team has made this article to help you deal with it. First, we will see what the origins and the different gearbox noises can be on Toyota Prius, and second, what are the solutions available to you.
Classical reverse Toyota Prius noises and some tips to preserve your gearbox
Why does the reversing of my Toyota Prius make a different noise from my other speeds?
De facto, integrating all gears, bearings and pinions into a gearbox is a difficult task. The noise made by the reversing of your Toyota Prius is logical. It can be explained in a fairly simple way. In fact, the gears used for conventional speeds (1st to 5th or 6th) are so-called “helical” gears (oblique gears) . The use of such a pinion makes the noise caused by the gears less strong than with spur gears used for the reverse gear.
Tips to limit wear on your clutch and gearbox
- Don’t give a big boost:
Certainly, if you kick the throttle hard when you are in reverse or when you put the vehicle in the revs, you risk to burn your clutch or gnawing at the gearbox pinions. - Never reverse while the vehicle is in motion or vice versa:
Reversing the direction of operation of the gearbox during operation is a very bad idea. In fact, the pressure you will apply on the gears will be monumental and you will develop a premature wear and tear of the gears. You can even break the gears of your gearbox at speed by doing so. It will therefore be completely typical if you experience a reverse noise on your Toyota Prius if you shift gear under these conditions.
Different Toyota Prius reversing noises and their origins
Finally in this section, we will move on to what you are probably most excited about in this article, to learn about the source of reversing noise on Toyota Prius. Here are the 3 typical sounds you may be victim of.
I listen to a grinding noise when starting in reverse gear
If you notice a grinding noise when you start in reverse with your Toyota Prius, it may be the engine mounts that are tired. Indeed, when the engine is in reverse gear, due to the pinions we saw above the vibrations generated by the gearbox are higher and it is therefore conceivable that due to their wear the silentblocks no longer absorb the engine vibrations well. In this case, do not hesitate to browse this content for more details about strut mount noises on Toyota Prius.
An increased reverse knocking noise on Toyota PriusX
If you are subject to a knocking noise when you are in reverse with your Toyota Prius and this noise tends to build up as you gain speed. It is conceivable that you are experiencing a serious issue that needs to be solved as soon as possible before ruining your entire gearbox. In fact, an intensifying rattling noise means that the gears are damaged. If they are, debris will disperse to the rest of the box and damage other gears before long. Take your vehicle to your technician quickly or check out this content about gearbox noise on Toyota Prius for more details.
I listen to a noise when I go in reverse
Listening a noise when you shift into reverse is normal and related to the gears and sprockets used in the gearbox. If, on the other hand, you have the feeling that your Toyota Prius reverse gear makes more noise than before, it is conceivable that filings have been produced and are moving around in it. It is therefore time to empty the box.