Prius (2004-09) :: Whirring Noise Both While Running And After Stopping
Jan 3, 2011
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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My 2008 Prius has started making a noticeable soft whirring sound whenever the engine is running. You can hear it both inside and outside of the car. The sound lasts exactly 30 seconds, then pauses for 4 seconds, than repeats . When the car is turned off, the sound can be heard for about another 10 minutes before it shuts off entirely.
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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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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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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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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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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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High pitched whirring noise when the climate control fan (compressor?) is running at low speeds. It doesn't seem to matter if the air is on or not. I'd like to know what it cost to fix and if it is covered under most extended warranties.
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For about 3 years, our SF (about 125,000 miles) has experienced the whirring/whining upon acceleration whenever the AC was running. I didn't do anything about this as the AC still worked well.
Just a few days ago, while running the AC for a "recharge" during our recent cooler weather, I realized that the AC was not cooling below outside ambient temperature, nor was the whirring present any more. I assume that the compressor finally seized. (?)
To keep repair costs low, and based upon the description above, where should I begin to look to see where the problem lies? Is it most likely a seized compressor/clutch? I am unsure if this is the issue, since even when driving with the AC turned to "Max", I now notice NO detrimental effects upon the engine/power output, which makes me wonder if the compressor actually seized. Wouldn't a seized compressor actually be very hard for the belt to turn, or possibly burn the belt?
I know the compressors and AC systems on these cars are notorious for dying too soon...
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When stopping my 2004 VW GTI 1.8T at a low speed the brakes (sounds like from the front) make a strange noise from the front. The best way to describe the noise would like when you would put cardboard or the like in your bicycle tires as a child and make that whirring noise. I have checked the brake pads, rotors and the like and cannot find any evidence of grinding or anything of the sort. It only happens at low stopping speeds and not at harsher stops. There seems to be no evidence of problems stopping or anything like that, just an aggravating noise that will not go away! What it could be because I am completely lost on this topic and have checked all the basics (pads, calipers and rotors) for wear/tear and just did my brakes about 5 months ago with no noted issues at that point with everything broken down.
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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 recently bought a 2007 Prius that is making a rather loud knocking noise that has me a bit perplexed. I know the noise is not normal as my 2005 does not do this.
The noise only happens when the ICE is running and the car is in drive
If the car is in park and you rev up the ICE the noise is not present. With that said I do not think the noise is isolated to something in the ICE as I think it would be present when revving the engine in park.
However is you put the car in drive and step on the brake (to keep the car stationary) while lightly revving the ICE the noise is present. The noise is present every time the car is in drive and you accelerating, even with the lightest of throttle.
It does not need to be under excessive load and with that said I am certain it is not spark knock/per-detonation of the fuel nor does it have the "pinging" sound like a spark knock.
If while driving down the road and the ICE shutdown down while driving at lower speeds the noise disappears. When the ICE starts back up the noise reappears.
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We were driving on mt highway and ran over rock. Had the undercarriage checked immediately and mechanic spotted the mark inches from transmission but said all was fine. Last evening the engine began to run very rough and loud particularly when not accelerating; true even when idling/parked. Also noticing a small rattle that is infrequent and disassociated with any consistent pattern. We are in Taos Ski valley at about 8k elevation. Still have two weeks of vacation driving ahead of us.
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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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On our 2008 Prius, while the brake assist pump is running I get a steady thump-thump-thump-thump noise, as shown in the video below. If you put your foot on the brake the noise stops. The brakes operate fine and there are no warning lights on. What this might be? It's coming from the passenger side of the car, and oddly it's loudest under the car near the back seat. 86,000 miles on the car.
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My 2007 Prius, 181189 miles, made a crunching sound when I left the freeway this am while stopping. No shaking, vibration or noises while going at speed.
When first accelerating I hear a crunch then clicking. This happened at each stop until I parked. Sounds fine when going in reverse.
I am at work and am wondering if I need a tow truck or try to drive 75 miles home tonight?
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I have a 2008 Pruis that acts like it has a plugged heater core but I wonder if there is more to it. I thought it had air in the system so I drew the cooling system down with vacuum and was able to get another half quart of coolant in it with a radkit plus vacuum coolant filling tool but it did not change anything. At idle there is no heat until you go up a hill at highway speeds when the heat starts to flow. As soon as the engine slows down or shuts off, there is no heat again. I was going to backflush the heater core but after I noticed all the valves and pumps in the cooling system, I stopped because I wondered if there could be a problem with any of those mechanical parts in the heating system. I don't think that there is still air in the system because the engine temperature is good and the coolant level is full when you remove the radiator cap. With the engine idling, all the hoses in the front of the engine are hot including to the heater storage tank. If you touch the aluminum pipes going into and out of the heater core, one is hot and the other is cold. Should my next step be to back flush the heater core?
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