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Horrible noise when A/C is on after picking up car from the shop

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by SuperSilver28, Feb 15, 2024.

  1. SuperSilver28

    SuperSilver28 Junior Member

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    Hello everyone!


    I recently had the Brake Accumulator replaced on my 2008 Prius. When I picked up the car there was a horrible noise coming from the engine when the A/C is on.

    The noise will turn off after some time and turn back on again if the car is idling. Once I get the car up to about 25-30mph the noise turns off.

    It sounds sort of like a fan with something stuck in it. When it turns off it "winds down" (or more "grinds to a halt").

    The heat and a/c both seem to be working fine.

    I am thinking it has something to do with the compressor, but I'm not sure. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

    Here is a link to a video of the sound:
     
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Video leaves me still wondering whether it's the compressor or one of the fans.

    Not too hard to check ....

    With the car turned off (!), look under the hood for the two fans behind the radiator. Give each one a spin by hand.

    (Never stick your hands by the fan if you're not positive the car's turned off!)

    If one of them sounds like something's stuck in it, find the something, problem solved.

    If they both spin quietly ... probably bad news about the compressor.
     
  3. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Yeah that sounds like a fan something plastic is touching the fan a pan do it strap one of those connectors that hold the hose to a hole and a piece of metal something so if you start the car and the air conditioning is not on and the car is cold and the fans don't come on is the car quiet? If so then you need to remove that black plastic cover and get a flashlight and look in the fans and just move them with a screwdriver or your finger etc and you will hear and see something lightly that's something barely touching the blades and it's not catching the blades on the thrust side so whatever it is is not getting caught and drug into the blades further it's just sliding along.
     
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    You picked this up from a shop sounding like that? Why not just bring it right back?
     
    Doug McC and Danno5060 like this.
  5. SuperSilver28

    SuperSilver28 Junior Member

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    Thank you all for the replies! I took off the trim piece and indeed there was a part they forgot to reconnect hanging free and rubbing against the fan.

    We were able to reattach it with a 10mm bolt, but the hose appears to have taken some damage from the fan.

    Does anyone know what this part is or if damage to this hose is a big deal?

    [​IMG]
     
  6. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Is there coolant in your reservoir? In the picture it looks empty. You need to fill with coolant and make sure it works (hopefully the inverter pump is not fried). The hose is the bleeder hose
     
  7. SuperSilver28

    SuperSilver28 Junior Member

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    I see, thank you for the info! And yes, I checked and the reservoir is properly filled.
     
  8. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    That's the bleeder hose for the inverter cooling part of the system You crack that zerk fitting that's bolted to now the frame where it wasn't the 10 mm bolt is supposed to hold that into a special spot etc then you just crack that zerk when you fill up the inverter reservoir and the pump will bleed out air until it squirts red and then you close it It doesn't even have to be there You want to make sure that the hose isn't scuffed to the point where it's eating through and leaking coolant It doesn't look like it is It has a sleeve on it I think you're in good shape That's what I thought was making the noise but I wanted you to find it That's why it was sounding like it was that particular noise wasn't a stick or something soft anyway good lick you're well on your way everything good me personally I leave that stupid inner plastic panel off it does nothing for my gas mileage and I like being able to see my fans and hoses when I want to which is all the time so there's always that I would much rather have the plastic under the front bumper cover and part of the under engine more than covering the top of my radiator and my hose access. I have those plastic panels stacked up in the carport because I don't put them back on I guess if I sold the car possibly but our cars never sale.