Prius (2004-09) :: AC Starts To Make Whirring Noise And Just Won't Blow At All
Sep 15, 2010
So every once in a while, my A/C starts to sound like it's struggling. The force of the air gets stronger and weaker, and it starts to make a whirring noise (much louder than it should be). The temperature is fine, it's just the blowing air.
It will continue like this for weeks or months, then eventually when I start the car (particularly if I'm in my parking garage at work for some reason?!?! - could be a coincidence) the A/C won't blow at all. If I hold my hand near the vent, I can feel cold air - but it's just sitting there, not getting blown into the cabin.
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I have a 2009 Prius with about 56K miles on it that I absolutely love. Now I know from reading in the forums an my own experience that when the A/C compressor starts running you hear an electric whirring sound. My question is... is it a cause for concern when the sound it makes seems different -- the pitch sounds lower to me now. The A/C still works fine, but I didn't know if this changing sound means the compressor was on the way out.
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What could be wrong???
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I have a 2005 Prius with 218,000 miles. Over the past month or two it's started making a horrible noise, which has finally gotten to the point that I can barely stand driving it. I used to keep my radio around 25 or so, but now need to crank it to twice that to hear anything. I can't tell what it is - it sounds vaguely like wheel bearings, but somehow different. The front bearings and a trans drain/fill was done by an independent shop 6,000 miles ago. That shop says the noise is the transmission and definitely not the bearings. My Toyota dealer says the noise is the bearings and definitely not the transmission.
Here are two videos I took this afternoon, which seem to more or less capture it, though it does sound a bit different recorded on a phone than in the cabin:
(this one has a clearer example of the noise)
Background:
I didn't have any complaints with the car until just before the 200,000 mile service was due, when I started hearing front bearing noise (I've had bearings done in about 5 vehicles, so it sounded pretty obvious to me). I brought it to the dealer and was quoted an outrageous amount for front hub assemblies (they told me they couldn't do the bearings, only the whole hub assembly), sway bar end links, alignment, transmission flush, tire rotation and the engine top end service.
I got a much better quote from my local mechanic who I've used for about 3 years, so I had him do the work. This was back in June, at 212,417. He said that they'd never done the flush on a Prius transmission before, but they had the shop manual and were sure of the procedure, and that their Valvoline rep confirmed the correct fluid, and gave them a written warranty in case of any problems. He did note that "a fair amount of metal shavings came out with the old fluid" when they did a drain and fill (not a flush). He also told me that the tires were worn unevenly so I could expect a bit of road noise after the rotation and re-alignment. They an oil change, sway bar end links, front bearings, tire rotation, alignment and reans drain and fill with Valvoline Max ATF, "Toyota Type WS fluid spec." He told me the same thing about the front hubs being complete assemblies, and the part he listed (PBR930641) appears to agree with that.
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While driving, hear a whirring sound, happens about every ten seconds, lasting for about two...after getting home, shut off engine and this sound continued. Turned on, turned off, still continued. When off, occurs about every 20 seconds.
Continued for the 10-15 minutes I was in the garage. Opened the engine and definitely coming from under the Synergy Hybrid box.
Went out four hours later, and quiet. When I opened the door, sound went on again, lasting for 20-25 seconds....It then stopped and started again, occurring every 15-20 seconds, lasting for about 3 seconds.
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I am experiencing this whirring/grinding noise:
Which is the same as this thread : Grinding Noise from Dash | PriusChat
It occurs intermittently when starting up the car, though if I then turn the car off (as in my video) the noise continues.
On that thread the vehicle was in warranty and was fixed by replacing the MFD touchscreen. My 2006 UK Prius is (I believe) out of warranty, and the touchscreen/MFD seems to be working fine. Is there anything I can do preventative on this?
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My girlfriend just picked up a 2007 Prius Touring, 78,000 miles, original owner. It was a private sale and I took a look at it for her. I'm just learning about the Prius and stuff to look for, but everything looked good on it to me. After purchasing it she noticed a noise coming from the drivers side dash. I searched here and saw that dash rattles are common, but this sounds more like an electric buzzing/whirring noise. The duration of the noise is always about 2 to 3 seconds in length, then it stops. There doesn't seem to be any common factor for when it occurs. Is there anything electric on the drives side dash (far left side, closest to the window), that might be making this noise? It's not super loud, you can't hear it if the radio is on.
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Mitsubishi Lancer, 2003, 140k miles, auto transmission. About a week ago, I noticed a new noise coming from the engine compartment. It's not very loud, only a little louder than regular road/engine noise. It starts up a second or two after I begin to accelerate, and it winds down a second or two behind the rate at which I slow to a stop. It is constant when I am traveling at speed. The sound is something between a whirring and a growling noise, almost exactly the sound you hear when knobby bicycle tires roll quickly over smooth pavement.
The transmission fluid was about a quart low, and that got filled up, but the noise hasn't changed or stopped since then. I haven't had any problems with shifting out of/into gear. The car does occasionally "slip" out of gear in that when I am traveling slowly (stuck in traffic, usually) and going back and forth between light acceleration, coasting, and braking, once in a while I'll press the gas and the engine will just rev, but it won't engage. If I just let off the pedal, it will "reset" and then it moves just fine. It's done that ever since I bought the car in 2009, and it doesn't do it all that often, and only at those low traffic jam type speeds. So, I don't know if it's related to the noise, which is what I'm more concerned about.
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2005 has 130,000 trouble free miles. Recently during a long trip the engine started to make more noise than usual. This occurs during acceleration up until the point when you hear the engine really start to work.
I took the car to Toyota and they said it sounded normal. I am picky about my car and know a new noise. My wife even said she can hear it.
I think it sounds a bit like the old lifter rattle my 289 Ford made in my 67 Mustang.
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I have a 2005 Prius, purchased 5 months ago with 100k miles, and it currently has 106,000 miles.
The air conditioning blows cool, but not cold. When the A/C is turned on, it makes an unpleasant whining noise. I have a recording of it.
It did not make this noise 5 months ago, and the A/C output was colder then. I haven't used the A/C that much over the winter, but it's starting to warm up now and I've noticed it's not doing as well as it used to, and it isn't sounding very good either.
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I recently had an issue with my transfer case that caused me to have to replace it with a rebuilt one. I did so and am now having a different issue. I have a switch on my dash that shows Auto, 4 High, and 4 Low. Whenever I shift that switch over to 4 High from Auto the light changes and I hear a click sound. When I shift the switch from 4 High to 4 Low I get nothing. So, I took off the transfer case motor and switched things over by hand. When I shift the transfer case (manually by hand) over to LOW setting on the transfer case; it seems to run ok as if it is in 4 low, BUT, when I shift the transfer case (manually by hand) over to HIGH setting I can shift into every gear but seemingly have no reverse. Reverse seems to make a whirring grinding sound.
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I've got a 2005 Volvo V50. High Mileage (230000). Timing belt replaced at 200k. Runs really nice, until this evening. Inserted the key and turned over but instead of starting it made whirring robot noises and read "brake failure message" and "immobilizar" after turning key to off position. It's really cold out. 0 degrees. What's the next move?
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I have a Mazda Tribute, 2005, with clogged exhaust systems that make the EGR valves blow up. Definitely due to a problem with the exhaust system, but I can't find where it is. I've replaced one of the catalytic converters and checked the other, but it didn't work, my next guess is the muffler or the manifold. Engine occasionally misfiring due to a vacuum leak that prevented the intake manifold to provide even oxygen for full combustion. The extra gas when into the exhaust system a burnt up one of the cats and left a clog somewhere in the exhaust system. If is the other cat it's a $650 part.
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This is strange. Twice in the past week I have gone in my garage at night, and my Prius'10 is make a buzzing whirring noise. Without touching it ... it's just sitting there making a buzzing noise. This is hours after using the car.
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My wife has an 07 GX470. Two days ago she came home and mentioned there was a whirring noise from the engine. I started the car, lifted the hood and heard the noise. Sounded like it was being generated by the serpentine belt. Meaning, something that the belt was "driving" was making the noise. She drove it again yesterday morning for a 10 mile trip to drop off son at camp. When she came back, she indicated that it smelled. Just walking out the door to the garage I was hit in the face by a very strong electrical smell. No fire, but smelled very bad. Car has been sitting since yesterday morning and she just now tried to start it and the car is dead. no power to anything. Battery is new 3 months ago.
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I had never been in a Prius until I bought my own 12 months ago. A relatively loud whirring noise accompanied me everywhere I went... "Oh, that's just the electric motor doing its thing!" I would tell myself and my unknowing passengers...
It was my TOTALLY shot tires. Oh sure, they had tons of tread life on them upon purchase, but they lasted a scant 22K miles, got horribly scalloped, developed stress cracks between the treads, and aren't even LRR tires! Indeed, beware of the Bridgestone Potenza Grid019.
The three miles it took to drive home on the TrueContacts were an automotive epiphany. I had no freaking idea how quiet this car really was! Even at highway speed! I feel like a fool.
Well, now I've got an LRR tire, a 6 year/90K warranty, and did it for about 400 total. Shipped to my door for about 350, local place mounted and balanced them for 50.
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I have a 2010 IV and after driving for an extended period and then shutting the car off I get a loud noise about a minute or a little more after shutdown. The best I can describe it is that it sounds like someone is dropping a 3 pound dead chicken from about 10 feet up onto my hood. It is consistent and is not any of the whirring or buzzing noises I normally hear. I also have a 2009 Touring and have never heard anything like this.
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I have a concern about not hearing the whirring sound after shutdown anymore. I know that the sound comes from a small electric-pump that pumps 3 liters of coolant into a thermal container (to keep it hot) everytime I turn the hybrid system power OFF. When the power is turned back ON, the coolant is pumped back into the engine.
I've noticed that after I got an oil change and tire rotation at Pep Boys the sound is no longer there after shutdown or power up. Then after a couple of days I took the car to the dealer to fix the tire rotation (because Pep Boys didn't do a good job at rotating the tires, there was a woo woo woo sound while driving) and the dealer also did a multi-point check, but they didn't say anything was wrong with the car.
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My 2004 Chrysler Sebring with 128K miles is making a loud whirring noise when I accelerate. It does not happen when I break, coast or am idle. I live in a city and potholes are a way of life. I got four new tires in November and had the alignment checked and fixed at the time. What it could be?
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I noticed it a little after driving for days on very snowy/slushy/gritty roads where I had to plow some parking spots with my little 2013 C3. Tonight I was driving into Vancouver and back at 100+kph and noticed like a whirring sound or like a higher pitched humming sound possibly from drivers side front tire?? A little vibration felt through the wheel.
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2008 GX with 42K and just driving home and battery light comes on and a whirring noise--pull over and open hood smell strong electrical smell--ok Alternator fried. Got it home and battery light off but still when I put a meter to my battery with engine running its only putting out 13.4V? should be at least 14.5-6 correct. Has to be Alternator cause of the symptoms and the burning electrical smell..
SO WHO has changed alternator and how hard was it? Im looking for it and I think its under the Power steering pump it seems left side engine looking at it.??
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