phantom clarinet toot

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by bwilson4web, May 18, 2010.

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  1. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    It has been nearly a year but I still hear it. Between POWER and the engine coming on, I hear one, brief, faint 'toot' that sounds like a clarinet ... perhaps a B or B-flat. I keep thinking about recording it if nothing else to verify the pitch and measure the duration. But I kept waiting for someone to start a thread about the little toot.

    Has anyone noticed or possibly researched the little startup toot?

    Bob Wilson

    ps. Gawd I hated to start this thread.
     
    #1 bwilson4web, May 18, 2010
  2. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    #2 cwerdna, May 18, 2010
  3. johalareewi

    johalareewi Member

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    Will have to listen out while I do my pre-flight checks :)
     
    #3 johalareewi, May 18, 2010
  4. Politburo

    Politburo Active Member

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    B or B-flat... in which register?
     
    #4 Politburo, May 18, 2010
  5. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Are you sure it's not a Concert A? Maybe your Prius needs a tune up.

    Tom
     
    #5 qbee42, May 18, 2010
  6. mad-dog-one

    mad-dog-one Prius Enthusiast

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    You might want to stop the lunches at Taco Bell.
    :eek:
     
    #6 mad-dog-one, May 18, 2010
    1 person likes this.
  7. Prius42

    Prius42 New Member

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    You knew the replies were going to be like this... Anyway I went out and tried it a couple of times (unusually without kids) and I hear some relays clicking, sometimes the rumble of a pump, a beep from the Nav and then the Nav DVD seeking a bunch of times and then the ICE starting up. I don't hear anything that I would describe as a "toot". Does it happen every time? Could it be the CD player or Nav seeking? Can you go try another car at the local dealer? I had a loaner for a couple of days which was great since I could verify that all the things my Gen III does seem to be normal, or at least not confined to my car.
     
    #7 Prius42, May 18, 2010
  8. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    The "toot" isn't consistent. It seems to happen when it is warm outside and the car has been sitting for a while. I'll try to record it and share the MP3 clip.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #8 bwilson4web, May 19, 2010
  9. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Fuel system dealing with air/vapour pressure? Sometimes those valves will emit noises, and every one is different. I know the GIII has a convoluted system to control emissions as it doesn't have the bladder.

    Sometimes Pearl emits strange noises when the fuel system changes state (car on/off cycle).
     
    #9 David Beale, May 19, 2010
  10. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    You obviously, unknowingly got the Zamfir upgrade.
     
    #10 The Electric Me, May 19, 2010
  11. finman

    finman Senior Member

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    could it be the climate control system? like a vent purging/opening? I've heard it too, and thought it was coming from the underdash area like where air vents would be located.
     
    #11 finman, May 19, 2010
  12. Politburo

    Politburo Active Member

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    Since you mentioned it happens when it's warm, and finman suggested the climate system..

    If you switch to recirculation in the GenII, it makes an odd sound that typically can only be heard stopped with engine off and windows up. I wouldn't personally call it a clarinet sound, but it's close enough. It lasts for about 1-2 seconds.
     
    #12 Politburo, May 19, 2010
  13. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    You've got the area correct. I always look to the driver side vents when it happens. If it wasn't for my curiosity, I'd just laugh and tell the wife, "Well no more <whatever I didn't like> for dinner." <GRINS>

    Bob Wilson
     
    #13 bwilson4web, May 19, 2010
  14. johalareewi

    johalareewi Member

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    Perhaps there's a jazz pixie trapped behind the dash?
     
    #14 johalareewi, May 20, 2010
  15. Eoin

    Eoin Active Member

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    I've heard this too. But in my case, it sounds more like an oboe.
     
    #15 Eoin, May 21, 2010
  16. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Found it! Sony Erricson cell phone in shirt pockiet. Apparently the cell phone announces it has found a bluetooth friend with a little toot. Since it is in my shirt pocket, it seems to come from from the front left.

    What happened is I thought to record the toot with the cell phone, MPEG camera. Only it flashed a screen message instead of making a noise but the timing was right. So I closed it, held it to the right, and power cycled the Prius . . . the cell phone tooted.

    Bob Wilson
     
    #16 bwilson4web, May 21, 2010
  17. Eoin

    Eoin Active Member

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    I once spent an hour at four in the morning looking for the source of a beep around the house. I thought it was the alarm system or a smoke detector. Turned out to be a low cell phone. I would like to make a list of everything we own these days that beeps:

    Cell phone
    Microwave oven
    Clock
    Computer
    Smoke detector
    Watch
    Bread machine
    Car (many beeps!)
    Answering machine
    Carbon monoxide detector
    Door bell
    Cordless phone
    Digital thermometer

    I'm sure I'm missing a lot. Any more?
     
    #17 Eoin, May 21, 2010
  18. Prius42

    Prius42 New Member

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    Wow! That was certainly a twist. I don't think anyone was going to help you find that. At least the exercise of trying to explain it to others helped you figure it out!
     
    #18 Prius42, May 21, 2010
  19. RedBackFur

    RedBackFur Owner

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    #19 RedBackFur, May 29, 2010
  20. TheSpoils

    TheSpoils Member

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    Glad you uncovered it. The next step would have been to provide gps co ordinates along with some map locations and pictures showing exactly where the toot occurs and try to recreate it. The temperature and relative humidity would also help. Thanks :D
     
    #20 TheSpoils, May 29, 2010
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