in a 2003. I have a '10 and member of PChat. My GF has the '03 Gen 1. Has experienced a random sound from the dash area for a month. She describes it as a "sizzling" noise coming from the area between the ignition and radio. Does not stop when the A/C is turned off. Doesn't seem to be affected by how long the car is running. Has happened only twice - but she is quite concerned it may indicate an electrical issue. Can anyone provide guidance on this? Thanks.
Uh, not much of a description: How long? What speed or driving? What stopped it? Perhaps your GF might describe it in more detail? I take it you weren't there at the time. Bob Wilson
How long? A few minutes until she shut the car off. What speed or driving? Slow - like turning into a driveway so about 5-10MPH. What stopped it? When she turned off the car. She's concerned as this sound comes on out of the blue (just started), but the 2 times, when she was close to her destination. May be nothing (?) but would like to know if other Gen 1 drivers had this occur as well. Thanks!
Ask her when it next occurs: turn the fan control to different speeds - the fan might be rubbing against something or have bearings going out. If the sound changes with the fan control, we'll know or eliminate that from the ambiguity group. eject the CDs or tapes - these units also have motors and moving parts. If they are rubbing against something, they could be causing the problem. turn the A/C on/off and move the controls through all positions - again, we're trying to find anything that may change the nature of the sound As long as she doesn't smell 'smoke,' she is safe. These kind of mechanical things often sound worse than they really are. But there is one quick inspection you might do, the A/C filter. If you take out the glove compartment, it requires pulling the hinge pins, you can quickly see the A/C filter. Pull it out and inspect it for possible damage. If the filter failed, 'stuff' might have fallen into the fan compartment and started rubbing against the fan. GOOD LUCK! Bob Wilson
Thanks very much. I have relayed your suggestions over to her. Honestly it was a bit frustrating trying to get diagnostic info from her. I felt like Sgt. Joe Friday... I'll report back if it recurs.
Talk about timelapse between postings.... Update. My GF's 2003 prius. She said the ticking noise had gotten steadily worse. Well yesterday we took her car for a drive and I was able to experience the issue. She said it was a 'sizzling noise' from the dash area - intermittent. I finally heard it and was able to diagnose/pinpoint. First it may happen 30% of the time during a typical drive lasting 20 min or more (per her...). As I said luckily it happened while I was in her car. Sure enough - 25 min or so, and weird. Slowly starts - it was more of a ticking noise steadily increasing and noticeable with the radio off. When she (driving) hit me in the leg and yelled THERE IT IS!!!! I barely noticed but there it was. I told her to keep driving as I fiddled with touching panels changing AC/heat modes and fan speeds, turning it off etc. The sound varied and at times quit - but it definitely was there as she said. Then driving back home, almost there, it began again. This time we were close to a shopping center and I had her pull in. After stopping and putting in Park, I got into the driver seat and it was pretty steady by then. I was able to move my ear around and touch various areas as well as change controls. Nothing mattered - it was an irritating soft ticking noise with a crackling like background - almost as if a small fan was hitting a housing side or such. FINALLY I changed something and the sound went away. Changed it back and it started. --- I moved the auto temp dial from her standard 75 to another temp. Bottom line - for whatever reason- whatever module it works ---- at 75, a motor or fan or baffle ---- makes a ticking noise when warm. I was able to replicate it every time. Set at 75, eventual ticking/crackling noise. one notch higher or lower - gone. I demonstarted to her - and get this --- she said - Now what do I do, I like the setting on 75.... Only a woman...... BTW the sound seems to come from directly behing the center vent on the driver's side. So it's now set on 76 and seems to work OK. Anyone else with a Gen 1 have this issue? Or do you know what mechanism the auto temp works??
