Just bought a new to me 2009 prius with 50k. Love the car thus far, and am learning more and more about the hybrid stuff. One question i do have, that the dealer didnt explain well, was the planetary transmission. specifically the noises. Its pretty quiet, but from a cold start, and into reverse, its the really odd noise. It sounds kind of like im backing a front plastic lower air damn off the curb. Like the hard, hollow plastic ka-klunk. it never does it from park to drive, or after a while of driving from park to reverse. Any ideas? something i need to get looked at?
The transaxle should not be making noises. Does the noise happen when the car is stopped and you are shifting from P to R; or does the noise happen as the car is moving in reverse gear? If the latter, is the noise continuous or does it happen only once?
P to R, nothing. Its the let off the brake to began gassing, it will do it. Mainly when its cold. If its been running, the same process wont make any noises. P to D cold is dead quiet. Its like a 2 second noise. Really, a literal "ka-klunk". but its plastic, hollow sounding, not like metal or a heavy noise. if that makes any sense.
Are you parking with the parking brake on? If not, it's possible that clunk is just the parking pawl releasing itself but because the parking brake isn't on, the weight of the car is resting on the pawl.
