New Yaris Hybrid - weird and loud noise from the engine

[mjjferreira]

Hello all,

We received our new yaris hybrid two weeks ago (photo attached) nut i think something is wrong with the ICE when the engine is still cold.

Let me try to explain: in the morning, when we start driving the car, if the ICE turns on (few seconds after start driving) we ear a LOUD sound coming from the engine. Beside the usual engine noise, we ear something like someone hitting the car with a big hammer, a very loud knocking sound coming from the engine bay.

What could it be!?

Note: we also have a corola TS 2.0 MY21.5 and is smooth as butter.

Best regards

Miguel (Portugal)

Edited October 19, 2022 by mjjferreira

[Max_Headroom]

We can only guess you need to take it back to the dealer immediately before something breaks.

[Bernard Foy]

The Battery recharging noises coming from the Yaris Hybrid engine compartment is generally loud. But it sounds like someone smashing your car with a hammer, then a trip to the dealership should allay your doubts and fears.

[mjjferreira]

Yes, will take it to the dealership. I was just wondering if anyone had a similar "problem".

[Max_Headroom]

Could you post a video of the sound it would be interesting to hear it.

[Cyker]

It's hard to say without hearing it, but it might be normal.

The Mk4's engine is hilariously unrefined, esp. at lower RPM, and sounds (And shakes!) like a diesel engine when it's charging while not moving.

It's one of the things that annoys me when I'm stuck in traffic for too long - The car will be totally silent until the Battery level drops to 3 bars then suddenly RrRrRrRrRrRrRrRrR .

I find if it's moving, even at half a mile per hour, it's much much quieter and smoother, but for some unknown reason the engine is really obnoxious when running while stationary!

[mjjferreira]

1 hour ago, Max_Headroom said:

Could you post a video of the sound it would be interesting to hear it.

I will try to record the sound in the weekend.

1 hour ago, Cyker said:

It's hard to say without hearing it, but it might be normal.

The Mk4's engine is hilariously unrefined, esp. at lower RPM, and sounds (And shakes!) like a diesel engine when it's charging while not moving.

It's one of the things that annoys me when I'm stuck in traffic for too long - The car will be totally silent until the battery level drops to 3 bars then suddenly RrRrRrRrRrRrRrRrR .

I find if it's moving, even at half a mile per hour, it's much much quieter and smoother, but for some unknown reason the engine is really obnoxious when running while stationary!

The noise is more like a very loud toc-toc-toc (hammer sound hiting something solid) and happens when the car is either moving or stopped.

[mjjferreira]

Found this topic: 

it has a video in it.

and also this one

seems like its a "normal" behavior of the engine.

The noise i hear is just like that (maybe a bit louder)...and it only happens in the first run (first minutes) while the car it cold.

[Nixy]

Hi. Ive experienced the same. Believe it has to do with the Otto and Atkinson cycles operating in the same engine. It's normal. Try to ignore it if u can. Also, I have found this 3 pot engine to be irritating after a while, when driving uphill. 

[mjjferreira]

I noticed another this morning, at first run.

While moving and ICE is on, when i take the foot out of the accelerator (hybrid system starts re-charging) i hear a sound, like a small machine gun, from the engine. As soon as i accelerate again, the sound is gone.

Does this happen to you guys too?

This engine (hybrid system), the sounds it makes, it's completly different from the hybrid system on my corolla TS 2.0 MY21.5

[Nixy]

Sorry friend, u have to get used to these weird and "wonderful" noises!

[mjjferreira]

@Nixy, But did you took the car to toyota/dealership and have it checked?

They said it was "normal"?

i don't recall the car doing this when i did the two test runs 8 months ago, before buying one. 😜

[Nixy]

To be honest I didn't. With so many reporting the same noises, I so much written on the web and the fact that I own the car for a year and a half without any problems attributed to this noises, I am not worried about it anymore. 

[TonyHSD]

2 hours ago, mjjferreira said:

I noticed another this morning, at first run.

While moving and ICE is on, when i take the foot out of the accelerator (hybrid system starts re-charging) i hear a sound, like a small machine gun, from the engine. As soon as i accelerate again, the sound is gone.

Does this happen to you guys too?

This engine (hybrid system), the sounds it makes, it's completly different from the hybrid system on my corolla TS 2.0 MY21.5

This what you explained happens exactly the same when egr system had been clogged on older generation hybrids, like Prius or auris 2010-2015. The knocking noise comes from the clutch damper as a result of misfire caused by the egr. 
The knocking noise usually comes on cold start or when Battery is low and you are driving in town for example and you release the accelerator to slow down a bit while engine is working hard to recharge the Battery, then these nasty metal clunky noises comes immediately. This in previous generations is the most obvious sign of egr clogged along with spluttering engine work and nasty vibrations ( pulsating) at speeds and particularly 60mph when engine it’s not loaded. 
here 

Is your engine sound similar to this? 

[Yugguy1970]

Same in the RAV, if the engine is doing it's charging cycle when stationary it is louder and wobblier than when driving.  I wonder if it's to do with how much power it's putting into the converter.

We don't get anything clunky or over loud in either the Yaris or the RAV though.

[anchorman]

There was another post on this subject not long ago.  It’s perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.  
 

There is a recommended cure…..  turn the radio up.  

[mjjferreira]

36 minutes ago, TonyHSD said:

This what you explained happens exactly the same when egr system had been clogged on older generation hybrids, like Prius or auris 2010-2015. The knocking noise comes from the clutch damper as a result of misfire caused by the egr. 
The knocking noise usually comes on cold start or when battery is low and you are driving in town for example and you release the accelerator to slow down a bit while engine is working hard to recharge the battery, then these nasty metal clunky noises comes immediately. This in previous generations is the most obvious sign of egr clogged along with spluttering engine work and nasty vibrations ( pulsating) at speeds and particularly 60mph when engine it’s not loaded. 
here 

Is your engine sound similar to this? 

Yes, it's a similar sound (rattling). However, in my case, the Battery was above half and it only happens when the car is moving and i am NOT accelerating (hybrid system is charging)

[TonyHSD]

13 minutes ago, mjjferreira said:

Yes, it's a similar sound (rattling). However, in my case, the battery was above half and it only happens when the car is moving and i am NOT accelerating (hybrid system is charging)

How old is your car exactly, how many days or weeks? 
What you have described sounds like a issue with egr. The knocking comes when engine it’s not loaded, correct? There are reported failures on this clutch from Italy. There is a member who probably will get in ouch soon and will confirm that. Poor quality petrol or perhaps contaminated petrol with chlorine cause an egr failure and leads to the similar knocking noise and problems. There were some problems with the clutch previously about Yaris mk4 and have been replaced under warranty. But I don’t remember if these two cases are connected. Loud bang once on cold start because of the parking pole odd position or because you are reversing while the engine kicks in are normal , but what the Prius did on the video above its not normal and it’s sign of issues with the engine. Perhaps try to record your car exactly when it does that and can share with us and with the dealer when you visit. Here it’s an example from Corolla 2.0 which is similar engine to yours but with one more cylinder. 

 

[mjjferreira]

I have a 2.0 Corolla. 😉

Car has two weeks and i filled it with the more expensive gasoline here in Portugal.

Regarding the video, i dont thing its like that. However i didnt open the hood when the knocking is happening.

The knocking occurs when ICE is running (doesn't matter if car is moving or not)

The second "noise" its a rattle that happens when ICE is on, car is moving but i am not accelerating (hybrid system is recharging). I happens when release the foot from the accelerator pedal and the car is "cruising".

 

As far as i've noticed it only happens at the beginning of the day, when engine is still cold. After running for a few minutes...everything is smooth.

[TonyHSD]

“The second "noise" its a rattle that happens when ICE is on, car is moving but i am not accelerating (hybrid system is recharging). I happens when release the foot from the accelerator pedal and the car is "cruising".” 

This is exactly a behaviour of the car when there is an issue with blocked egr and the engine is spluttering and the noise you hear knock knock comes from the springs of the clutch damper. Sometimes the car can do that and that’s why there is a clutch there exactly for that purpose to dampen any excess of torque and prevent transmission destruction. However if the car dies it all the time when cold or when engine is unloaded it is not normal and dealer should see the car. This can also occur when the fuel is not good. Doesn’t matter if you fill up at the best garage and the most expensive fuel. Best to refill at another place and see if anything changes. The car is too new to have issues, perhaps is from the fuel. 
Good luck 

[mjjferreira]

I always put fuel in the same garage for the last 4 years...never had an issue.

It's not the fuel.

This weekend i will try to record it.

[anchorman]

3 hours ago, mjjferreira said:

I always put fuel in the same garage for the last 4 years...never had an issue.

It's not the fuel.

This weekend i will try to record it.

Mine does exactly the same. It makes all sorts of noises when it’s cold.  

[mjjferreira]

How long do you have yours?

[Ken Adams]

I too have a brand new Toyota yaris hybrid and experience the same noise. After starting from cold the ICE starts and about 30 seconds later another noise starts in the engine bay. its sounds like a large rattly compressor and lasts for another 30 seconds.

I've spoken to 2 Toyota dealers who have listened to this noise and they assure me it is normal and part of the warm-up routine. However, it doesn't sound right.

Ken

 

 

[mjjferreira]

Hello guys,

Today i drove to a dealship/toyota and did a test drive of another yaris (with 17k miles) and it has nothing to do with mine. Despite the test drive car was turned on for the first time today (ICE was cold) it was MUCH, MUCH smoother and quieter than mine (that was already warm), both in idle and acceleration.

Mine (it has 250 miles) sounds and feels like an agricultural tractor compared to it. After i drive the other yaris as soon as i started driving mine again it was like a total different car...a tractor with a bassy loud engine.

Also the accelerator response was much better in the other yaris. When i hit the accelerator in the other yaris the engine sounded and felt like a proper gasoline engine, doing the same in mine it sounds like a diesel/tractor engine with a subwoofer under the hood.

One last note: After i drove mine, i stopped at the dealship (the ICE was on) ...i opened the door to speak to the sales man, and as i was speaking with him, the opened door was shaking due to the amount of vibration caused by the engine.

😞