Noise after car shuts off is getting louder?

Thats probably the coolant pump for the engine. It's storing hot coolant in the thermos. The fluid in question is probably the toyota super long life coolant (its pinkish).

Even if it breaks, its not a huge problem. The car is still perfectly drivable. It just may have a harder time warming up and will impact your mpg a tad in the first 5 minutes or so.

The inverter uses the same coolant, but that cooling loop is separate. Note: the inverter coolant pump is known to fail around your mileage (I THINK) - but it won't break the inverter - the inverter has heat protection that turns itself off to "limp home mode" until it cools down again..

 

The pump sometimes is louder in cold weather anyway, my 05 was especially loud in the winter.

 

I also have a 2005 with a little over 100k miles. In the morning when I first start the car (the car is garaged) I hear a funny whine noise (It kind of sounds like the cooling fan, but it is not). It only lasts a few seconds and then stops. Also when I come home from work and turn the car off I also hear the noise for a few seconds. Does anyone have any idea how to diagose this noise?

Thank you, Priuslovers.

 

there is a TSB for the 2005 model at least where the noise does get louder in the cold weather, but toyota says the pump still works perfectly. If under warranty they will replace it with a newer less noisy model..... i was out of warranty when it occured, but decided not to replace it, as it wasnt 'broken' When the warm weather returns it returns to its more silent operation

 

Thread here:

http://priuschat.com/forums/toyota-...-you-have-squeaky-chs-water-pump-new-tsb.html

 

It's a warranty replacement item, but the design is, uhh, sub-optimal (only one end of the impeller shaft has a bearing), so they may be kind and allow you something on replacing it.