[Hybrid Theory]

Hi Everyone

Sometime when I start my car after it being off a few hours, I started to hear like vibrations or slight rattling coming from the engine. This is before the battery is warm enough to start kicking in , in the summer it starts on the battery. This started when the weather is starting to get cooler, never heard it in the summer. Does this sound normal and it’s because of the cooler weather or something else. If you listen pass the engine sound you can hear the vibration or rattling sound.

 

[Hybrid Theory]

The engine in the hybrids will generate different sounds than you are used to.

Reasons are several, the most significant one being the engine is tuned electronically to an "atkinson cycle" (expansion stroke that is longer than the compression stroke, via electronic valve timing controls) which boosts fuel economy some but does so by messing with combustion timing. Plus, in cooler weather, the engine control unit will set the idle speed higher until the engine warms sufficiently as well. Couple that with the fact that the engine is doing a range of things other than powering the wheels in a hybrid and you can expect a number of different acoustics from this engine compared to the older K series and the newer 1.5Ts.

Best thing here, if it concerns you is to head to your dealer, and see if you can listen to other hybrids on the lot and compare. You also could leave it with them to check and evaluate when it is cold too... but generally the best practice is to not do this... because you generally will get back "sounds normal, no problems found" when you just drop it off with a vague description of your concern.

Thanks, yes I have heard and read about different sounds coming from the engine of these hybrids that are a bit unusual but normal. Thanks for calming my nerves haha.

 

[Hybrid Theory]

mine has a rattle when cold in the winter
I sent a recording to my dealer and they had the car into check and said don't worry
I hope this link to you tube works

There is an issue with my CRV Hybrid? Not according to Honda

Mine sounds exactly like that when it’s starting from cold was about 48 in the morning during warm up and then today again about 60 degrees so I guess it is normal for our hybrids. Thanks you saved me a trip to the dealer. Once it gets warm the sound dissipates and goes away.