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Help Strange Noise

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Chelsearenee, May 6, 2016.

  1. Chelsearenee

    Chelsearenee New Member

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    This is my first time posting, but I've been reading for a while. I bought my 2007 Prius used almost a year ago (July 2015). I recently had to replace my water pump and then get the front bumper and condenser replaced due to an accident with an animal. I just picked up my car from the body shop (my local dealership does not have a body shop) and on my drive home I noticed a noise that it has never made before. It kind of sounds like a thump and maybe kind of like a bark, I'm not sure.
    It only happens when the car is on and I don't have to do anything but turn it on and it might start. I can kind of feel it when I hold the steering wheel. I'm very concerned about this noise as I've not heard it before and it's very noticeable. Has anyone else had this issue or know what could cause it? I'm planning on going into the dealership tomorrow to see if they can help since the body shop won't be open again until monday, but I would just like to have some idea as I really don't have a lot of money after the sudden repairs I have already had to make recently. I recorded a video of the noise and included it with this post because I'm bad at describing it. Sorry if this didn't make any sense, I get nervous posting on new web sites. Any help would be appreciated, though!
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome! i think it's possessed. :eek: do you call her christine?:p
     
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  3. Chelsearenee

    Chelsearenee New Member

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    I hope not! Haha. And thanks for the welcome.:)
     
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    seriously though, i have never heard that sound. hopefully, someone else has. all the best.(y)
     
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  5. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    Welcome to PriusChat! I'm sorry to admit that I've no idea what that noise is, but where does it sound as if it might be coming from? Does it only occur when the ICE (Infernal Combustion Engine) is running, or only when the "Ready" light is on? Weird, I reckon……does it go away if the car is moving? :confused:
     
    #5 WilDavis, May 6, 2016
    Last edited: May 6, 2016
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  6. Chelsearenee

    Chelsearenee New Member

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    It sounds like it's coming from the drivers side but hard to pinpoint exactly where from, though. I'm not very mechanical. I did open the hood up and it's quieter outside of the car and sounds more mechanical and whirring kind of but its down under there somewhere pretty far down. I couldn't see what was making the noise from above, though. The noise continues when I drive or am in park. I can't hear it very much after I get to a certain speed because of road noise, but I think it's pretty continuous after I start the car.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    did it start after the water pump replacement, or was it fine until the accident repair?
     
  8. Chelsearenee

    Chelsearenee New Member

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    It started after the accident repair. I drove for about a week after replacing the water pump with no issues that I noticed before I took it to the shop to get a new bumper.
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    does it make the noise if you shut the a/c off?
     
  10. Chelsearenee

    Chelsearenee New Member

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    I turned it off briefly and the noise continued but I did not leave it off for a long period of time to test that further.
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    might be worth a shot. or it could just be a coincidence. otoh, it's also possible the body shopped fiddled with something they shouldn't have.
     
  12. Chelsearenee

    Chelsearenee New Member

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    I was thinking the same thing. I'll try turning the air off longer tomorrow to see and maybe the dealership can help figure it out.
     
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how many miles on her?
     
  14. Chelsearenee

    Chelsearenee New Member

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    About 116,500.
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    on average, there shouldn't be any mileage related issues, but anything is possible. funny, it sounds like the brake actuator honking that people complain of, but i think that's only when you step on the brakes.
     
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  16. Chelsearenee

    Chelsearenee New Member

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    Well that's good to know at least, thank you.
     
  17. Chelsearenee

    Chelsearenee New Member

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    The guy at Toyota told me he couldn't tell from just the noise but it sounds mechanical and kind of like a bearing maybe but he couldn't honestly tell without doing a diagnostic which is $130. He recommended I wait until the shop I got it worked on opens on Monday to see if they'll do anything first, and gave me his card. He said it could be the hybrid water pump maybe but he still couldn't say for sure.
     
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  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    sounds reasonable. if you choose to have it repaired, they usually apply the fee toward the bill.
     
  19. Chelsearenee

    Chelsearenee New Member

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    That's good, I guess I just have to wait until Monday.