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Humming nose when switching gears

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by bkcriz20, Jun 23, 2017.

  1. bkcriz20

    bkcriz20 Junior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    I own 2007 Prius with 109,000 miles. I notice a humming noise when I switch gears. It's not a loud noise because I can't hear it when the radio is on. Sometimes when I switch from Park to Reverse or Drive I can hear sort of a switch from the hood. It's not loud or anything it's noticeable when I don't have any music playing. I wanted to know what can these noises be?.

    Thank you for any input.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    probably a relay or something. prius make a lot of odd noises.
     
  3. bkcriz20

    bkcriz20 Junior Member

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    Is this something I need to be worried about or need to be fixed as soon as possible?.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    nah, it sounds normal to me. your shifter is electronic, so something has to close when you change gears, but i don't know how it works exactly.
     
  5. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    There is no shifting of gears in a Prius, they are in constant mesh, and all change of torque/speed ratios happens by the computer changing the timing of electric pulses.

    However, there is a mechanical parking pawl to keep the car from rolling when in park, and that is moved in and out of position by a small electric motor when you shift in and out of park. The motor is a little black thing sitting on the front of the transmission. It's held in place by bolts with anti-tamper collars around them, because it's also the anti-theft strategy, given that the steering doesn't lock.

    -Chap