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faint irregular beeping while moving forward

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by tinaeva, Jul 24, 2009.

  1. tinaeva

    tinaeva Junior Member

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    [I've added this to this forum as I got no responses in the Newbie forum, so thought maybe I posted it in the wrong spot.]

    I bought a 2009 Prius, called a demo by the dealer as his wife used it and put just over 5000 miles on it. I've had it for only 19 days and drive it every day.

    About a week ago, I noticed a faint, irregular beeping or whistling that seems to come from the navigation console. It seems to happen when I'm moving forward, particularly when the gasoline engine is NOT running. I hear it when coasting or on electric motor and occasionally when I brake-right before the car stops. I do not hear it when braking slightly or momentarily and never when the car is at a complete stop.

    I think it's more of a whistle, but my husband and son say it's more of a beep. My son thinks it's a computer sound related to changing conditions of the fuel system.

    My husband walked along the outside while I drove slowly. I could hear it inside, but he could not hear it outside. It is not related to the audio or climate systems and is heard with the windows closed. It is not the screws under the door mirrors. I checked them and all the plastic covers are intact.

    There are no warning lights and the noise is not always there, but I will hear it at some point during any trip in the car. (My commute is about 25-30 minutes at 35 - 40 mph.)

    I spoke to the service department about it by phone and they had not heard of this, though he suggested some sort of 'feedback from the navigation system.' He wants to keep it a whole day to check it out, difficult for me, as the dealer is not located nearby.

    Any ideas? Should I even bother about this?

    Thanks.

    Kris :confused:
     
    #1 tinaeva, Jul 24, 2009
  2. hschuck

    hschuck Member

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    I have noticed a sound like you describe in my 2005. My wife (who hears much better than I) had not noticed it; when I asked her to listen for it at a time I was noticing it she clearly heard it. We agree that it seems to come from forward of the firewall. I have dismissed it as not being annoying enough to bother with and suspect that is probably associated with some function of the electrical power management system.
     
    #2 hschuck, Jul 24, 2009
  3. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Are you sure you are not talking about inverter whine? The inverter that powers the motors makes a high-pitched whining noise when power is flowing to the motors.

    Tom
     
    #3 qbee42, Jul 24, 2009
  4. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    If it's a very high pitch sound then it's the inverter and normal. The anti-lock brakes can also make sounds, even when not "anti-locking" ;) . There are two facing pages in the owners manual on Prius sounds. Basically, they say "anything you hear is normal". ;)
     
    #4 David Beale, Jul 24, 2009
  5. tinaeva

    tinaeva Junior Member

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    Thank you everyone for your replies. I did stop by the Toyota dealership and the service manager drove the car around the lot with me. I identified the sound I was concerned about and he said it is the electric motor and completely normal. I don't know why I didn't hear it the first week, except there were so many things to pay attention to in learning about everything, navigation, bluetooth, etc, so I guess I missed it.
    Seems you are all right--the electric motor. Thanks. I'm happy now!

    Kris
     
    #5 tinaeva, Jul 24, 2009
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