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Meaning of Chimes or Bongs

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Phil Wheeler, Nov 5, 2014.

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  1. Phil Wheeler

    Phil Wheeler Junior Member

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    Recently, in the last 2-3 days, I've noticed a pair of closely-spaced bongs or deep chimes coming from somewhere in my standard (no accessories) Level 4 2014 Prius hatchback. I'm deaf in one ear so cannot determine the source. Today my wife was with me and says she thinks they're coming from the back of the interior somewhere. They may have been there all along, but I usually am playing music or listening to SiriusXM so that may have covered it.

    There are no warning lights, so if a warning, it is a gentle one.

    I've looked in that manual and find nothing relative to this. Any suggestions as to what I might be hearing?

    Phil
     
    #1 Phil Wheeler, Nov 5, 2014
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    everything comes from inside the dash. what were you doing at the time? i'm assuming you mean beeps like all the beeps? backup beep, seatbelt beep, door open beep, car still on beep, etc.
     
    #2 bisco, Nov 5, 2014
  3. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    I've heard something like that in mine too. The capacitor discharge makes a rumbling sound when they discharge.
    And with my plugin I think there are a set in the front and a set in the back too.
    While I'm plugged in, if I hit the START button twice with my foot off the brake, so the car is in ON/ACCESSORY mode,
    And I let the car shut On mode off automatically ( after 2 minutes), in another two minutes the capacitors in the front
    will make a noise like you describe as they discharge.
    I've also heard that same noise in the back by the battery pack a few times.

    I'm not sure if it's the same noise as you are hearing, but the car does make strange sounds sometimes, that's for sure...
     
    #3 vvillovv, Nov 5, 2014
  4. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    If you hear clicking sound from the back seat area when you first power up the car, it's the high voltage relays making contact.
     
    #4 cproaudio, Nov 6, 2014
  5. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    Some times I ear some rumbling noises in my tummy and then...............:cry:
     
    #5 mrbigh, Nov 6, 2014
  6. Phil Wheeler

    Phil Wheeler Junior Member

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    No this is nothing like the Beep when reversing, or when the seatbelts are not fastened. This is a deeper, more resonant chime or bong sound -- two of them in succession each time.

    I've tried to find a pattern and there seems to be none, except it's always when in motion, never at rest. I thought it might be a gentle reminder to turn on the running lights, so I turned them on: Nope, still the double chime (and it is never one or more than two, always two). It is not a *noise*, but a very distinct and always the same pair of chime sounds.

    Phil
     
    #6 Phil Wheeler, Nov 6, 2014
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Ok, just for the record: you don't have a can of spray paint or similar rolling around in the hatch? ;)
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, Nov 6, 2014
  8. Phil Wheeler

    Phil Wheeler Junior Member

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    Nope. And this is a very distinct sound, never different. And it must be pretty loud (deaf in one ear, not great in the other). And since my wife hears it, it's not my imagination.
     
    #8 Phil Wheeler, Nov 6, 2014
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    do not know, haven't heard a bong sound since the 60's...
     
    #9 bisco, Nov 6, 2014
    spiderman likes this.
  10. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    A good idea would be to record the sound with your phone and then put that file in PC for people to listen and chime in............
     
    #10 mrbigh, Nov 6, 2014
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    saw what you did there.:cool:
     
    #11 bisco, Nov 6, 2014
  12. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Tyre pressure warning? It's probably from the front as I'm not aware of any sound generating stuff in the rear. Unless you have the sound system set for rear only speakers.
     
    #12 David Beale, Nov 6, 2014
  13. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    Stop describing the sound already and record the sound so we can hear it.
     
    #13 cproaudio, Nov 6, 2014
  14. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Teacher says, "Every time a bell rings, an angel get's it's wings".

    Maybe your Prius just likes handing out wings?

    Seriously though. Near impossible to diagnose over the internet, without an audio.

    Inspect the back carefully visually...

    Then I'd ask a friend, or relative with good hearing to ride with you and try to help to determine the source.
     
    #14 The Electric Me, Nov 6, 2014
  15. Phil Wheeler

    Phil Wheeler Junior Member

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    Done with no conclusion, yet. I had assumed this was a common sound which I didn't know about (first Prius and only a couple of months old - it, I'm 77). Man was I wrong about "common sound" :)

    I'll have my wife record it next time we travel together; a bit awkward to do myself while driving! Given the nature of the sound (very mellow) and the lack of warning lights, it doesn't concern me particularly -- it just puzzles me.

    Phil
     
    #15 Phil Wheeler, Nov 6, 2014
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  16. Phil Wheeler

    Phil Wheeler Junior Member

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    It may be my Garmin navigator, which is always on but has not been navigating -- and which I have covered. I turned it off for two trips today and no chimes. Tomorrow it will be on with the screen visible. Who knows, it may be telling me of traffic cameras, schools or some such thing.

    Phil
     
    #16 Phil Wheeler, Nov 7, 2014
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  17. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Bongs are getting a lot more attention these days. ;)
     
    #17 spiderman, Nov 7, 2014
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  18. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    That's probably it. My older model Garmin GPS does have that type of sound, come to think of it.

    SCH-I535
     
    #18 xliderider, Nov 7, 2014
  19. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    The Garmin bongs to warn of traffic speed monitors (such as speed cameras). At least mine did until it bricked when I tried to update the firmware.
     
    #19 David Beale, Nov 7, 2014
  20. Phil Wheeler

    Phil Wheeler Junior Member

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    Yes I suspect that's it. I generally drive with the Garmin on and no sound even when navigating. Now I recall that the morning I started hearing the chimes I was using the nav to find a location in Culver City (L.A. suburb) that I'd not been to in a year *and* had the voice on due to heavy traffic. After that I forgot to mute the sound from the Garmin. The unit is relatively new to me (replaced a Nuvi 760) so I'm not all that familiar with its new features. And with mono hearing, I had no idea of where the sound was coming from.

    Today I will again mute its sounds and I imagine the chimes will be gone until I reactivate the sound.

    The input from all of you is much appreciated. I think this case is closed :)
     
    #20 Phil Wheeler, Nov 7, 2014
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