New to Prius. What's that noise?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by cullenwymore, Oct 22, 2025 at 7:29 PM.

  1. cullenwymore

    cullenwymore New Member

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  2. AzWxGuy

    AzWxGuy Weather Guy

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    Probably the ICE coolant being injected back into the engine from the thermos bottle. It does this to decrease the time before the engine reaches operating temperature. A similar noise is heard when you shut off the vehicle as the bottle is loaded.
     
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  3. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    The first noise is the sound of the brake pressure pump, pumping you up some brake pressure you can have on tap when stopping the car. It's doing what it's there for, which should make you smile.

    Edit: or as AzWxGuy suggested, the pump moving coolant out of the thermos, though if it's that the recording makes it sound noisier than I'm used to. I was hearing the kind of joy-buzzery sound I associate more with the brake pressure pump. But the timing—seemingly after going READY—does sound more like the thermos pump, as the brake pump usually tries to get a head start on things by running as soon as you open the driver's door.

    The second noise is also normal, if you mean that sort of whiny B-above-middle-C-ish noise. You can read about it in this post.
     
    #3 ChapmanF, Oct 22, 2025 at 7:48 PM
    Last edited: Oct 22, 2025 at 7:54 PM
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  4. AzWxGuy

    AzWxGuy Weather Guy

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    I retract my guess. My 2008 was a long time ago. There is a noise after shutting off the engine though, as the ICE coolant thermos bottle is loaded.
     
  5. cullenwymore

    cullenwymore New Member

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    Thanks for the responses. I found info on the brake pump and that seems operating normal. Is the thermos pump the same at the coolant control valve? (located under the inverter). I get the concept, it seems a bit loud but I'm not sure or if that is even a symptom of failure.
     
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    No, the thermos pump is a pump, and the valve is a valve.

    They are related; the valve changes positions to change the coolant flow path between normal engine operation, saving hot coolant in the thermos, or getting it out. The pumping of the coolant is done by the pump.