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Whirring noise

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by SSimon, Feb 23, 2007.

  1. SSimon

    SSimon Active Member

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    Last night, upon starting my car, a whirring noise was coming from the dash. The noise was comprised of short, decelerating whirs and an occassional long, even toned whir. The noise went away after a minute or two. The same thing happened this morning, only it was a longer duration event. The noise composition was the same. I took it into the dealer and of course the noise stopped before anyone could have a listen. Now, I have to schedule an appointment to leave the car there over night for them to have a listen upon start up. I'm wondering if anyone here has experienced this so that I may ensure they're looking into the potential correct problem. Initially, it sounded as if the noise was coming from my cd player but upon closer listening today, it seemed to be coming from the display. Anyone?

    *edit*

    Thought this may help......my car is an '06
     
    #1 SSimon, Feb 23, 2007
  2. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    You are sure it's not the pump transferring coolant from the thermos bottle?

    Tom
     
    #2 qbee42, Feb 23, 2007
  3. SSimon

    SSimon Active Member

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    Yeah, if you're talking about the standard whirring noise that one hears when shutting down the car. It's literally coming from the dash. It's loudest when I put my ear up to the display. Thanks though.
     
    #3 SSimon, Feb 23, 2007
  4. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    hmm, whirring from the dash? i'll ask DH if there's anything in there that makes a noise like that.
     
    #4 galaxee, Feb 23, 2007
  5. SSimon

    SSimon Active Member

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    Thanks, Galaxee.
     
    #5 SSimon, Feb 23, 2007
  6. jimmyrose

    jimmyrose Member

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    That sound indicates it's time to change the Hamster, the part of HSD that everyone here seems to think means Hybrid. Make sure PETA is around... :)
     
    #6 jimmyrose, Feb 23, 2007
  7. SSimon

    SSimon Active Member

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    OK, I took my car in today and they had a listen. They say that this whirring noise is the ABS system performing its check. I told them that I hadn't heard this in the past year and they said it may be louder due to the cold temps. Said it's absolutely normal. Any comments?
     
    #7 SSimon, Feb 24, 2007
  8. nctalkinghead

    nctalkinghead New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SSimon @ Feb 24 2007, 06:53 PM) [snapback]395948[/snapback]</div>
    Last week the service tech also told me the "whine or squeal" that I was hearing upon startup and shutdown was the ABS actuator. He said the sound was common in cold temperatures. I told him that my "whining" sound had occured during days that had 80 degree temps as well as the 20's we had last week. That's why I think my is the coolant transfer pump's bad bearings. The service tech would not consider the pump, so I probably will be looking for another Toyota service spot soon.
     
    #8 nctalkinghead, Feb 25, 2007
  9. SSimon

    SSimon Active Member

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    Yeah, anything as loud as this doesn't seem "normal" to me. I hadn't heard it for my first full year of ownership. Where does your noise come from???? And, is it a short, incremental noise with an occasional longer burst?
     
    #9 SSimon, Feb 25, 2007
  10. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    so this only happens at startup? or at startup and shutdown? any time while driving (ie, when holding the brake?) though you can hear the brake actuator through the dash, it's louder with the hood open. obviously ;)

    nctalkinghead, you're not too far from us, why not hop over to durham to have it looked at?
     
    #10 galaxee, Feb 25, 2007
  11. SSimon

    SSimon Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Feb 25 2007, 06:17 PM) [snapback]396369[/snapback]</div>
    only at start up for the first minute or so. Never during any other operational time. Is this normal?
     
    #11 SSimon, Feb 25, 2007
  12. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    he's thinking that if it's the abs actuator, you'd hear it any time the thing was in operation.

    does it coincide with the usual coolant thermos emptying? is it kinda like a squeal? when it's cold out, my coolant pump either does the occasional squeal or a constant one. depends on the conditions.

    'course DH is asleep right now so we'll have to discuss this tomorrow.
     
    #12 galaxee, Feb 26, 2007
  13. SSimon

    SSimon Active Member

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    No, not a squeal. It's got a more of a friction kind of sound. I don't know enough about the car to know what part is making what noise. I hear noises at shut down and start up, just never heard this before. Is it possible for this car to start making an entirely different noise an entire year later and it be a "normal" noise?
     
    #13 SSimon, Feb 26, 2007
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