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

Sound from Engine

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by cjindia, Oct 12, 2008.

  1. cjindia

    cjindia New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2008
    10
    0
    0
    Location:
    Chicago
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Hi All

    I had my 5000 mile service done at Toyota dealership Dan Wolf in Naperville, IL yesterday (whose ad's seem to be plastered on every page of the forum website!!). After I took the car back and left, I noticed a new sound from the engine. I noticed the sound when I am stationary at a light or at a stop sign. From inside the car it sounds like a muffled pop that sometimes doesnt come on, but sometimes comes on every couple of minutes. Its not the whirring sound from the dashboard that I am used to, which i know is normal.

    So, when I returned back home, I kept the car powered and stationary, with my foot on the brake (car was in gear not in park), lowered the window and listened. Its some sort of pump or motor running in the engine that I never heard before. It almost feels like something is being regularly charged, but the car engine/motor is not actually running. Any idea what the source of this sound could be and if I need to get it checked.

    I would rather not get the dealership to just open the car, as even after something as simple as oil change I am getting new sounds from the car. I sometimes wonder what these car dealerships and their service departments actually know.

    Thanks for your help
    CJ
     
    #1 cjindia, Oct 12, 2008
  2. GreenJuice

    GreenJuice Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2008
    195
    127
    3
    Location:
    London, UK
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Perhaps you could attach a sound file on this site....?
     
    #2 GreenJuice, Oct 12, 2008
  3. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,074
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Is it a buzzing or ratcheting sound?

    Tom
     
    #3 qbee42, Oct 12, 2008
  4. Bob64

    Bob64 Sapphire of the Blue Sky

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2007
    1,540
    92
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    If it is always running, it may be related to the inverter coolant pump...
     
    #4 Bob64, Oct 12, 2008
  5. cjindia

    cjindia New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2008
    10
    0
    0
    Location:
    Chicago
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Its like a motor or pump sound, its definitely not a buzz and it doesnt alwys run. Sometimes its not there at all, but sometimes it comes on every couple of minutes and i only notice when stalled at a light or stop sign.
     
    #5 cjindia, Oct 12, 2008
  6. cjindia

    cjindia New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2008
    10
    0
    0
    Location:
    Chicago
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Ok, I listened again for it. Basically, while car is stationary, some sort of switch comes on followed by a whirring sound for 4-5 seconds. This is not the same noise that comes from the dashboard while normal driving. It almost feels like after the switch comes on, a fan is running or just some sort of motor is running. Any thoughts anyone???
     
    #6 cjindia, Oct 12, 2008
  7. maseace

    maseace Prius enthusiast

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2008
    191
    11
    0
    Location:
    Poulsbo, WA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Must be the electric fans, from either the A/C or front defrost being on. I know when the front defrost on mine is turned on, it cycles on/off and is heard when stopped like you describe. Check for the little orange defrost light on the dash. It's the one in the upper right corner of the image.
     

    Attached Files:

    • Dash.jpg
      Dash.jpg
      File size:
      13.1 KB
      Views:
      528
    #7 maseace, Oct 13, 2008
  8. cjindia

    cjindia New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2008
    10
    0
    0
    Location:
    Chicago
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Ok. The sound definitely has something to do with the AC. It doesnt come on otherwise. It comes on when something related to the AC comes on every now and then. Whenever this comes on there is the sound, followed by a whirring noise as if a fan or pump is running. Is this the inverter collant pump? How does the inverter coolant pump work? Thanks
     
    #8 cjindia, Oct 19, 2008
  9. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2006
    18,058
    3,074
    7
    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    The air conditioning compressor makes a whirring sound; it is electrically driven. Likewise the ventilation fan makes a noise, but it should be obvious when that is running.

    Tom
     
    #9 qbee42, Oct 19, 2008
  10. maseace

    maseace Prius enthusiast

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2008
    191
    11
    0
    Location:
    Poulsbo, WA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    The inverter coolant pump always runs when the hybrid system is on (all the time the car is in 'ready' mode or ig-on), and is pretty quiet (you can't really hear it in the car). I think it has to be the AC or defrost in which case the sound you describe is normal and expected.
     
    #10 maseace, Oct 20, 2008
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)