What is my Prius C doing when I am away?

Discussion in 'Prius c Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Absolutly Red Hot, Jun 4, 2012.

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  1. Absolutly Red Hot

    Absolutly Red Hot Member

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    I was taking the trash out late this evening. as I was pasing my Prius I heard a sound of a motor running? Not the motor but comming from under the car say the rear seat area, it sounded like a fuel pump running? The car has been parked for hours. What the heck is going on? I got in and all was off. I started it and then turned it off. Walked to the rear and all was quiet. I don't get it. Can anyone tell me what was going on? I am getting used to all the vaccuum releases that go off moments after shut down. But this is hours and way disturbing.... HELP PLEASE.
     
    #1 Absolutly Red Hot, Jun 4, 2012
  2. cmstlist

    cmstlist Member

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    #2 cmstlist, Jun 4, 2012
  3. Silver bullit

    Silver bullit Right Lane Cruiser

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    I think it has something to do with the Twilight Zone.
     
    #3 Silver bullit, Jun 4, 2012
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  4. PaJa

    PaJa Senior member

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    It is an evaporation cycle, definitely. It is a prius family standard behaviour, don't worry.
     
    #4 PaJa, Jun 4, 2012
  5. Iconn127

    Iconn127 Master Diagnostic Technician

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    there is a few things that happen. it has a KEY off EVAP system leak check that it will run during specific parameters when vehicle is "cold" also about 5 hours after shutoff it will make the same whirring motor sound you may have noticed about 30 seconds after the car is locked. it has a coolant storage tank that acts like a "thermos" that keeps about 3/4 a gallon of piping hot coolant for the next drive cycle to keep emissions low. at that 5 hour mark it runs a self check and will turn on the pump for a short period of time and then go back off. hope this helps
     
    #5 Iconn127, Jun 7, 2012
  6. 4theFauna

    4theFauna New Member

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    I'm thinking of buying a Prius c in the near future and this is good to know so I don't have a moment of worry if I hear those sounds.
     
    #6 4theFauna, Jul 5, 2012
  7. Oldwolf

    Oldwolf Prius Enthusiast

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    The C does not have a coolant storage tank to check.
     
    #7 Oldwolf, Jul 5, 2012
  8. eldersciii

    eldersciii C3PO

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    Well that is better then what our smart car does when it starts. It cycles a preheated for the cat. Convt. And it sounds like my wife is blow drying her hair as we back out of the garage.
     
    #8 eldersciii, Jul 5, 2012
  9. parnami

    parnami Member

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    I kind of like that sound from my smartcar!! :)
     
    #9 parnami, Jul 6, 2012
  10. eldersciii

    eldersciii C3PO

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    What color is your Smart? Our is black w/ silver tridon cell. Not by choice just a good deal.
     
    #10 eldersciii, Jul 6, 2012
  11. parnami

    parnami Member

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    Blue metallic/black. I ordered it Nov 07, picked it up 9 months later.
     
    #11 parnami, Jul 6, 2012
  12. roadlesstraveledguy

    roadlesstraveledguy Junior Member

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    Twice now I have experienced the same issue, it sounds like something electric is running several hours after I have shut off my C. Any one from Toyota monitoring this site who can give us an answer?
     
    #12 roadlesstraveledguy, Sep 1, 2012
  13. Rob.au

    Rob.au Active Member

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    http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om/OM52B58U/pdf/Forward.pdf

     
    #13 Rob.au, Sep 2, 2012
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  14. SILVERPC3

    SILVERPC3 New Member

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    I walked outside once and heard the ICE running, keys were inside the house about 30 feet away.
    I still don't know what the hell happened? I joked with the wife telling her it had become self aware.
    Anyone else had this happen to them?
     
    #14 SILVERPC3, Sep 11, 2012
  15. Oldwolf

    Oldwolf Prius Enthusiast

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    The ICE should never run once you have powered down the car.
     
    #15 Oldwolf, Sep 12, 2012
  16. SILVERPC3

    SILVERPC3 New Member

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    Maybe it wasnt the ICE and isntead it was the same thing the OP heard. I could have swore it sounded like an ICE.
     
    #16 SILVERPC3, Sep 12, 2012
  17. SILVERCwSUN

    SILVERCwSUN Member

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    I believe your C like mine is communicating with the.........mothership.....:D mine really makes noise on winter nights with a full moon, I am just saying, kinda spooky..:LOL:
     
    #17 SILVERCwSUN, Sep 12, 2012
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  18. Tracy

    Tracy Member

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    I think it would be easy to confuse them. Fortunately I had already read about the evap check here so when I went to the garage a few nights ago and heard the car "running" I did a quick mental check, realized it was about 5 hours since I'd driven the car, so I understood what I was hearing. I might have guessed it was the ICE otherwise.
     
    #18 Tracy, Sep 12, 2012
  19. firstrival

    firstrival Member

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    This just occurred while I was in my garage. It lasted for about 10 minutes and then stopped. Sure enough, it started right about 5 hours since I turned the car off.
     
    #19 firstrival, Dec 19, 2012
  20. KaliforniaKid

    KaliforniaKid 2013 Prius v Five 2012 Priuc c Four

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    My wife told me the C was making noises from the rear trunk and yep, it was about five hours after I had parked it in the garage. I went to the garage to hear the sound but it was no longer present.

    I guess that was the evaporation cycle in process.
    I think I'm going try to catch it myself.
     
    #20 KaliforniaKid, Dec 19, 2012
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