1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

ac noise

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by taggart, Aug 21, 2010.

  1. taggart

    taggart Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2008
    249
    14
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    On our 2008 (26,000 miles), I've started to notice a "buzzing" noise (best way to describe it) from under the hood when the air conditioner is first turned on. Never noticed it before, but that doesn't mean it wasn't there.

    If I drive the car with the ac on, then park the car for 30 minutes or so, it seems to not occur when restarting the car and the ac.

    A little vague, I know.

    Sound normal to you?
     
    #1 taggart, Aug 21, 2010
  2. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2009
    6,722
    2,121
    45
    Location:
    North Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    There should be quite a few similar posts on here about this subject. It's the a/c compressor working. As it is electric rather than powered by the engine as in a normal car, you are more likely to hear it.

    I have found mine makes much more noise when you first turn it on when the car is hot inside. As the car cools inside, the compressor doesn't have to work so hard and gets quieter. When it has caught up getting the interior to temp it barely makes a noise. It did worry me somewhat when I first heard it myself.

    Hope this helps.
     
    #2 GrumpyCabbie, Aug 22, 2010
    1 person likes this.
  3. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2009
    2,705
    510
    63
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    I recorded my A/C sound under the hood here:

    Good luck! :)
     
    #3 2009Prius, Aug 22, 2010
    Jbio and taggart like this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)