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New to Prius-unknown noise

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Prius2U, Jan 20, 2013.

  1. Prius2U

    Prius2U New Member

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    I am new to the Prius and recently purchased a low mile 2008 Prius Touring. It is still under the manufacture's warranty for another month. I have come to really enjoy it and make it a game to get higher and higher MPG. I learned how to glide and maximize battery useage. It has been a lot of fun.

    I have noticed that when I turn the car off, there is a whirring sound coming from the driver's side front. It sounds like an electric motor and is pretty loud. Is this normal?

    Thanks in advance.
     
  2. romad

    romad 2004 Prīus Base Former Owner (Sold 13 May 22)

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    Yes. Mine has done it since day one 8.5 years ago.
     
  3. Prius2U

    Prius2U New Member

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    Thanks for letting me know. I did a search and saw different issues with different responses. I just wanted to know if it is normal.

    Thanks again.
     
  4. romad

    romad 2004 Prīus Base Former Owner (Sold 13 May 22)

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    I can't remember exactly what it is but IIRC it is either something in the hybrid cooling system, or the brake regenerative system. You might find more info in the technical forum.
     
  5. PriusNP

    PriusNP Junior Member

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    Sounds normal. My 04 does the same
     
  6. PriusGuy32

    PriusGuy32 Prius Driver Extraordinaire

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    Its the coolant heat recovery system. Every time you shut your Prius off (If its a North American Prius) it pumps the hot coolant from the engine into a thermos, where it stores it. The next time you start the Prius, it pumps the saved coolant into the engines coolant loop so you have less emissions from a long warm up period.

    The pump will run 95% of the time you shut the car off or turn it on. Completely normal.
     
  7. CaliforniaPrius

    CaliforniaPrius Active Member

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    That's why you don't turn if off for short time wait.
     
  8. sarah dunetz

    sarah dunetz Junior Member

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    Mine does it too, and it was so loud that I was worried. Brought it into the Prius specialists in SF (so you know they know what they are talking about, since every other car here is a Prius), who told me that it was the coolant pump, and that it was normal. They said I could replace the pump if I wanted, but advised not to waste my money. They said they had NEVER seen one break.
     
  9. SteveLee

    SteveLee Active Member

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    Like PriusGuy32 said, it does pump coolant and it is normal. For a "Prius Specialist" to say it is THE coolant pump, is normal, and then suggest you could replace it but advised not to waste your money, is a little on the gray side (not quite the dark side). It is absolutely totally normally operating to the advantage of the efficiency of the system and saving you money on gas. This is a fairly low tech way to increase the efficiency of what may be most high tech car on the road. It strikes me that for a mechanic to suggest he is looking out for you by saving you money on repairs, though there is nothing wrong, is disingenuous at best and setting you up for the next big trust issue at worse.
     
    PriusGuy32 likes this.
  10. sarah dunetz

    sarah dunetz Junior Member

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    I should have clarified that the mechanic told me there were 3 or 4 pumps (I don't recall which), and explained the entire mechanism to me. But, since he has never seen one die, and other than being loud, it works fine, he did not recommend that I replace it.
     
  11. SteveLee

    SteveLee Active Member

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    Ok, that sounds better. My confidence in your mechanic is restored.(y)
     
  12. Kengatorfan

    Kengatorfan Junior Member

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    That's a normal noise and why my son calls the car a "spaceship"!
     
  13. CaliforniaPrius

    CaliforniaPrius Active Member

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    exactly, it does really sound like spacecraft from movies