Burned Rubber Smell & Banging under hood

Discussion in 'Prius v Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Tam2, Sep 17, 2025 at 4:54 AM.

  1. Tam2

    Tam2 New Member

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    First time Prius owner here. I just bought a 2012 Prius v, and as I was driving it home all of a sudden a loud banging/thunking noise started under the hood and then a burned rubber smell started. I turned the ac off and the noise and smell stopped immediately. Any ideas? Is it safe to drive for a few weeks until I can get it fixed?
    For the record, it has about 202k miles on it.
     
    #1 Tam2, Sep 17, 2025 at 4:54 AM
  2. Tam2

    Tam2 New Member

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    Excuse typos it’s 5am and I don’t have glasses on
     
    #2 Tam2, Sep 17, 2025 at 4:55 AM
  3. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    I would check the radiator fans first to see if they are hitting something or burning up. Typically they only run constantly with the ac on.

    Next is the electric ac compressor. Run it and see if the noise is there.

    I would not drive too much if a radiator fan is bad since it can try to run with high coolant temps, usually in traffic on very hot days.

    If you do see the engine temperature light come on, shutdown as soon as it is safe. These cars love to blow head gaskets and don't need overheating to do it.
     
    #3 rjparker, Sep 18, 2025 at 1:17 AM
  4. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    If it wasn’t a Prius, it sounds and smells like a fraying belt or frozen belt tensioner or both…
     
    #4 Air_Boss, Sep 18, 2025 at 7:37 AM
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    Keep an eye on the coolant level in the engine coolant reservoir. It’s the larger of two (pink) coolant reservoirs, at the passenger side fender in engine bay.

    any gen 3 Prius or Prius v for sale, odds are good it’s got a failed head gasket, with symptoms possibly masked by stop-leak product in engine coolant.

    was the “banging and thunking” during a cold-start, say in the morning?
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Sep 18, 2025 at 9:11 AM
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