Sizzling bacon sound coming from center console...

Background: I drive a 2012 Prius 3, purchased at the end of July 2012 and has about 13,600 miles on it.

I've got a weird one for you. So, I've done some searches and haven't found any that match this issue:

Last night, and also back in November, I was driving and started hearing what I can only describe as a combination of the sound of "sizzling bacon on the griddle" and "bubbling/gurgling water" coming from behind the center console - somewhere in the region between the middle air vents and just above the shift knob.

- Both times it's happened, the noise came at random and stopped after about 15-25 minutes.
- Both times it's happened, the car had been running at highway speeds for at least 45 minutes.
- Both times it's happened, it was at night.

When this occurs, it only seems to be heard over 35-40mph, all the way up to 80mph. There's no connection to the brakes, as I tried slowing down, stopping, etc. It stopped when the car stopped, but didn't start up again until 35-40mph was reached.

I was also able to capture some video/audio of the sound. I've uploaded it to Youtube here:

You can hear the sound most clearly between 0:25 - 0:29.

Anyone have any idea what the hell this is? Since it's so random and intermittent I want to be able to go to my Toyota Service guys and have something more clear for them, since it happens at random.

 

Haha, loving some of the replies so far. I was thinking it was either something with the HVAC, or potentially something electrical - although I never get the smell of anything burning so I'm fairly sure it isn't electrical.

 

Apologies for reviving an old thread, but I wanted to post an update:

Took the car in for 15k service two weeks ago, had them look at it. They couldn't recreate it, so nothing was done. I've noticed, however, now that the weather is warming up, that the sound now occurs more frequently and definitely seems to be tied to the HVAC system. At about the power where the auto system switches over to the upper vents, or mixed vents (instead of just the lower vents), I start hearing the sound. That said, I think there's a definite connection between the temperature of the car/HVAC system and when the sound engages.

I'm thinking it probably is something loose or rattling in there when the upper vents are activated, though when I switch to the lower vents the sound still occurs.

I'm taking it in again next weekend and asking them to go through the full HVAC system to figure out what the deal is.