2009 Prius - Revving sound??

that's good news!

better diagnostic weather this week

 

If only one has failed, I would replace just the one.

In my Gen 1, which I kept until 23x,000 miles, I eventually had to replace two wheel bearings, one rear and one front, but they failed three years and 50,000 miles apart, and the other two never gave any trouble.

There's no law of nature saying one wheel bearing's failure means another is right around the corner. A lot could happen in 3 years or 50,000 miles. Maybe you'd have traded the car by then.

 

A wheel bearing can be done by any auto mechanic. On a gen 2, no one does the bearing, but instead it's easier/more convenient to just replace the entire hub assembly.

 

Any shop can do a wheel bearing. The front is a little more time and you don't want a cheap hub bearing because they don't last. However, a Timken hub is quality and fits either side. If the mechanic tears down the left and does not hear the failed bearing, he moves to the right. Probably a $350 job total.

Timken HA590064 Wheel Bearing and Hub Assembly | CarPartsDiscount.com

 

Two points

There are likely many mechanics in CT that can do the wheel bearings if they really need it done immediately. The dealer should be the last option on a car you’re selling.

I would advise against trading in the Prius for the pittance the dealer or any dealer will give you. You can easily sell it for more yourself on CL of Cargurus. Fixing a wheel bearing is trivial. Take a look at what others are selling similar Prius’s for. Probably easily worth $5,000 or more in this market. Likely $8,000. A quick $5k in your pocket.

 

All dealers rip people off on trade ins. Oh well, that’s just what they do. No animosity towards them, they have to pay for their overhead. Also private transactions typically benefit the buyer in most states because sales tax on old cars in very low of zero. What that means is that your car is more attractive to a buyer if you sell it rather than the dealer.

 

i can't understand how a bearing relates to your description in the first post

 

Me neither.
Like I said, if you’re selling the car don’t put money into it needlessly.
And above all don’t trade it in. Sell it.

 

Take a look at carguru prices offered on 2009s
Used Toyota Prius for Sale in Stamford, CT - CarGurus

 

If you’re hellbent on fixing it before sale, here are some shops in CT to call for quotes
10 Best Prius Repair Shops Hartford, CT - Mechanic Advisor

 

growling can be a bearing, but it is the rest of your description that is confusing. i'll quote it.

 

okay, reading it again, i might be misinterpreting. 'not in ev mode' might be because you're moving too slowly?
'foot off the gas' might mean you hear the bearing because the engine is idling.

 

also, bearings don't always fail catastrophically, you might be able to drive it until you get a new car.

the noise will likely get much louder before failure.

 

A wheel bearing sound is usually quiet when cold until a mile or two makes it more obvious. Generally they are loudest at 35-50 mph. At higher speeds road and engine noise drowns them out. Sometimes they get a little louder on a curve in that 35-50 mph range. They are difficult to hear jacked up because of the brake friction and drive axle on the fronts. Once the brakes are removed, an easy job, the wheel bearing is easy to hear. After you hear one and have had it fixed its easy to diagnose in the car. Any mechanic past the oil change stage easily recognizes the problem.

Given the car is worth $5k-$6k more AND you have to wait for a replacement, go to a local general mechanic who has his own shop and get one hub replaced. No hybrid expertise required.