I just bought this car last month as a Scion Certified vehicle. I have an 06 xB with 43,000 on it, auto. I noticed recently that cold morning starts sometimes generate a squeak/squeal noise, not bad and usually goes away once warmed up.

Also, a noise I hear when in low RPM's such as in overdrive with the auto, reminds me almost of a spark knock, goes away when rpms are higher or it downshifts. I know it can't be a spark knock since the CEL light is not on and spark knocks usually only do it under load. Not sure what this is.

Also, does anyone get a little rattle noise in drive at a stop/idle, coming from exhaust or something?

Another is the brakes, while they work ok, they don't vibrate, but it kinda grabs in and out when coming to a stop.

Car is all stock. Shouldn't these things have been checked at certification for Scion?

I have an appointment Thursday at a local Scion dealer to get these noises checked out, the dealer I bought it at is almost 3 hours away so I have to see someone local.

 

There's a few issues to have checked. It sounds like the break rotors may be warped just a tad. With the rattle on the exhaust, check to make sure the hangers are good and tighten the catback connection. Have the belts checked as well as the pulleys.

As for the knocking... couldn't tell you. Post a follow up after the appointment.

 

Check the heat shield on the exhaust mani , could be loose.
The little rattle at idel might be a cable or hose ( fuel line, ac line, throttle cable , ect.) not connected in a proper place. Look at the exhaust tip, is it touching the cut out in the bumper?

Brake rotors don't usually warp , the biggest culprit with a vibrating pedal pulsing feeling is a new set of pads that were not broken in ( since it was from a dealer and certified they may have thrown on a new set of pads and not had the time to do a break in ) Clean the pads and rotor with a light emeroy cloth and re-seat them by doing 5 or six runs from 50 mph to 10 , not coming to a complete stop. the rotors need to get a little of the pad built up on them evenly , don't let the pads sit on a hot rotor ( like at a complete stop or it will build up unevenly and you'll need to start again)

The squeek/squeal check the belt , could need replacing or tightening.

 

Off topic but that is really useful advice, I'm going to have to try that on my g/f's Saturn. I did a brake job on it a bit back and was ____ed because I thought I had a bad rotor. I'll have to give this a shot and hopefully save me replacing them again.

 

I actually have an 06 xb auto with 48,000 on it.

Yes, in the mornings it is normal for squeaks and squeals as the engine warms up. it sounds like a little mouse, but once the engine is warmed up it sounds much better.

Not sure about the spark knock, but you might wanna get that checked out.

What is this rattle noise? Is this high pitched, or something banging around?

I notice the breaks to be much more sensitive to pressure as you get below 15MPH. They do jump in and out while slowing down, but some slight adjustments to the pedal can help alleviate the jumpiness of the final stop.

For the most part, I think you are fine, but its always better to be safe than sorry. Just gotta get used to the slight differentiations from most other cars.

 

Exhaust doesn't touch the bumper, it looks perfectly center and I've had someone in the car with it running while I check it out to see if it moves/shakes and it does not.

The rattle I hear at an idle is more of a vibration I believe, when I put it in neutral it doesn't do it. I was checking it out last night with the car running in drive(someone holding the brake) and popped the hood and the stock airbox moves a lot, not sure if there is a way to stop it, but that could be some of the noise.

Where is this heat shield at? Is it easy to get to?

 

check the inside of the air box,i had a noise like that too at an idle and it was a little plastic cylindrical piece(bout the size of a can) and it shook loose and was just sitting on top of my filter, i just had to pop it back on. the brakes ive noticed as well on my car and ive checked them time and time again and my rotors are good and smooth, idk if the car has full time ABS or not but i just assumed that was what was causing that pull and release from the brakes.

 

Trust me this car makes a LOUD noise when abs kicks in....its no fun. Usually kicks in on potholes while braking and feels as if the car is never going to stop!

Makes the same noise that you hear everytime you move the car past like 5mph for the first time...that kind of engaging sound with some sort of pressure.

Atleast it makes that noise in a stick shift everytime you move past 5mph...

 

Well, got it back from the dealer. Everything checked out ok. The main issue was both belts, drive and accessory, which I had them replace and it doesn't make any noise now at idle, or driving. The brakes they said had new pads, but they didn't turn the rotors, so I'm just going to put new rotors on it anyway. I can't believe the belts were causing all that noise. Only 43k on it.

 

is it just me or does it seem like theres way to many belt problems with the 1st gen xA and Xb.

 

Glad to see you got her fixed
And figured they put new pads on. Before you replace the rotors , unless they are scarred , just clean em up with a light sanding , brake cleaner and rebed the new pads.

 

hmm interesting, maybe i should replace my belts too. im at 48k but it aint too bothersome as of now.

 

It was worth the $134 to do it for me.