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Prius Gen 3 weird noise!??

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Genc, Apr 16, 2021.

  1. Genc

    Genc Junior Member

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    Hey so i have a Prius Gen 3 (2011) with just around 55.000miles on it worked fine no issue until now, But a week or two ago i did put a whole bottle of Chevron techtron concetrate plus (10oz) on a empty tank and filled it fully after the reason why i used it, Thought since it has not alot of mileage why not try to clean some dirty if there is any, I did drive a few mileage but not ALOT the concentrate stayed for a two weeks maybe.

    Then one of those days i wanted to turn on the car and it wasn´t turning on the Green light that appears on the engine button was turning brown, I let it cool for a few mins tried again to turn it on and it did turn ON, stopped the car again and tried to turn it ON again out of curiosity and it didn´t turn anymore after my third try out.

    It was daylight so i didn´t notice that one of passagers lights on top was on and not turning off even when i locked the car and i thought maybe that have drained the 12v battery so Then i got my tools and checked the 12v battery and it was appearing to be bad around 10.65v. So i thought maybe the light was the issue and after that day i came back to try to turn the car on and car was turning on everytime no issue still..

    BUT after a few days since Prius it´s a very quiet car you notice every unusual noise i started hearing a humming or wind noise when i was driving at higher speeds 30mph (60kmh) or over and i was SURE that one of the wheel bearing may be of issue so i checked all my tires and none of them had any play on it or made any noise when i was spinning it manually with my hands.

    Today when car was on i noticed a whining noise coming from the engine bay or something and made me realize that this may be the noise that is making the car louder at higher speeds. (Wich i have no idea what the noise can be thats why hopefully someone might have any idea)

    BTW do you think Chevron has made some faults on my car or? and what can the issue be i will upload the video i videor recorded today!!

    Here is the link i uploaded since for some reasons the website here doesn´t let me upload it
    video-1618611697.mp4 | prius whining noise | Files.fm.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    does it whine when the engine is not running? i doubt it is the techron
     
  3. Genc

    Genc Junior Member

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    It started whinning when the engine kicked it and noticed that around middle when is going into ICE from electricity driving at higher speed the noise get louder
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    maybe one of the pumps. can you hear anything under the hood?
     
  5. Genc

    Genc Junior Member

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    Couldn't exactly figure out wich part is making that noise since the noise wasn't staying to long, Did you hear the video? do you think it could be from inverter water pump?
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i did, but idk. most inverter pump failures are diagnosed visually. try putting a large dowel or something similar to each component and pressing your ear to it.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    was the engine fully warmed up for the audio recording?
     
  8. Genc

    Genc Junior Member

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    Yep the Engine was fully warmed since we just drove 50km and turned it off for a few mins then my partner went and drove 3km and when she returned she told me about this noise she noticed it when her window was down and waiting in parking lot.
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how is the oil level?
     
  10. Genc

    Genc Junior Member

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    Check two days or so ago oil level was same level as when i bought the car almost fully, Usually always check the fluids levels on antifreeze,brakes,hybrid and so every one was at the good level! will check it tomorrow aswell (Since its night here now in Norway)
     
  11. Genc

    Genc Junior Member

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    Here is new video i recorded today and from what i think this noise wasn't always on when engine kicked in, now it seems to be constant when the engine is on, Wich part is this and what do you think of this?

    video-1618659944.mp4 | Files.fm.
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that is the inverter which converts the electricity back and forth to and from the transmission and hybrid battery.
    there is such a thing known as inverter whine. all ev's have it to some extent, and it can change based on the outdoor temp as well.
    i don't hear it in the video though.
     
  13. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    so Norway has a “G” for measuring engine fluid levels? US has F, E, H & L.
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    May not be the root cause of your problems, but maybe remedy the ailing battery first.
     
  15. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Often something as simple as a solid rod of some sort (a long screwdriver, perhaps), one end pressed to a part of the car and the other to your skull just at your ear, will allow you to definitively localize the sound. (If the tool has, like a screwdriver, a pointy and a blunt end, I like the non-pointy end at my ear, but that could be a personal preference.) A store-bought "mechanics' stethoscope" is a little more elaborate, but not much.

    The same solid rod between a car part and your phone may serve the same purpose of letting you isolate, for your internet listeners, exactly which sound is the one concerning you.
     
    Ed Beaty likes this.