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Anyone know what this strange clicking noise under the dash is?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by thetuningspoon, Apr 14, 2022.

  1. thetuningspoon

    thetuningspoon Junior Member

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    Does anyone know what this noise is? I only seem to hear it during warmer months, particularly when I'm running the A/C. But in this video I'm not running the A/C and the ICE is not running either, but you can still hear the sound. This is an '08 model.

    I took this video from under the dash near the gas/brake pedals.

     
    #1 thetuningspoon, Apr 14, 2022
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    maybe an hvac vent door kind of stuck?
     
    #2 bisco, Apr 14, 2022
  3. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    See this thread:

    No, that wasn't a mouse in the heater | PriusChat

    It isn't that a door is 'stuck', it is that the door's position sensor is sending noisy data, which makes the ECU keep moving the door around trying to hold the 'same' position.

    Because you have a Gen 2, be sure to read that thread down to post #13 about yitznewton solving the problem of more difficult access in Gen 2.
     
    #3 ChapmanF, Apr 14, 2022
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  4. thetuningspoon

    thetuningspoon Junior Member

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    Thanks @ChapmanF, that looks like my issue!
     
    #4 thetuningspoon, Apr 30, 2022
  5. thetuningspoon

    thetuningspoon Junior Member

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    Turns out that the part I need fixed is actually the actuator above the one discussed in that thread, which is even harder to get at. Here is the thread discussing that one: Blower won't go to defrost | PriusChat

    They appear to me to be the same part with a different arm (?)

    Of course I didn't realize this until after I had pulled out and attempted to repair the lower actuator. Now I broke it and have no more A/C :-(

    I just ordered a couple of the Santech equivalents of this part, which are much cheaper than the OEM. Hopefully I can at least replace the one I broke until I work up the courage to pull apart the dashboard. https://www.autozone.com/cooling-heating-and-climate-control/a-c-heater-blend-door-actuator/p/santech-a-c-heater-blend-door-actuator-mt18625/558331_0_0
     
    #5 thetuningspoon, May 17, 2022
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  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Attempted to repair how, and broke, how? They're somewhat forgiving little gizmos....
     
    #6 ChapmanF, May 17, 2022
  7. thetuningspoon

    thetuningspoon Junior Member

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    I opened it up, removed the big gear, and sprayed it with contact enhancer. I marked the position with a sharpie so I'm sure I got it back where it should be, but In the meantime the motor dropped out onto the floor and I don't know if I got it back in the proper position or not. I didn't realize it was loose like that. When I make adjustments to the heat/ac temp control I don't see or hear it doing anything now.
     
    #7 thetuningspoon, May 17, 2022
  8. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Probably recoverable. :) As you've already ordered a replacement, maybe resurrecting the old one can be a relaxing puzzle for later.
     
    #8 ChapmanF, May 17, 2022
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  9. thetuningspoon

    thetuningspoon Junior Member

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    @ChapmanF Can you confirm whether both actuators on the left side of the dash are the same part (minus the arm)?
     
    #9 thetuningspoon, May 17, 2022
  10. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    I know nothink, nothink.
     
    #10 ChapmanF, May 18, 2022
  11. thetuningspoon

    thetuningspoon Junior Member

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    Well, the Santech part does not fit. The white nub that the arm attaches to is on the opposite side of the unit :( AutoZone's website lied to me :mad:

    I found some used ones on eBay and will hope for the best.
     
    #11 thetuningspoon, May 18, 2022
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