Electrical/Relay Clicking Sound

Hi everyone, I was wondering if you could help me.
My 2010 prius is making a strange sound, and has been since day one. I have looked around on the forums and have seen a few people mention it but no solutions/explinations.

It makes a "Clicking" sound sometimes that can be heard inside the cabin and sounds like it is coming from the center dash. It is definitly NOT a squeaky dash or door panel or anything like that. It is definitly electrical in nature. It almost sounds like a very fast clicking relay or maybe another electrical component. It is fairly high pitched (not like the inverter whine, though) and definitly clicking (maybe buzzing), not constant. It sort of sounds like a cricket. I am working on adding some audio/video to this post, should have some up today.

Here are some things I have noticed about the noise:
1. Only happens when gas pedal is depressed, not when braking or coasting.
2. When the display is in "Eco" it happens loudest and consistently when the bar is 3/4 of the way full, but it can happen (although the clicking is slower and less consistent) at 1/2 or just before the power section of the bar.
3. The car must be "warmed up" i.e. doesn't happen right away, car must be driven for 10-15 min if engine is cool.
4. Seems to be happening more/more quickly after starting the car in the hotter weather (I purchased my car in Feb.)

Hope you can help! I haven't taken it in yet, I was tying to get some ideas before talking to the dealership.

 

found a youtube video, this is exactly what my car is doing!

 

It's in the shop today, the tech drove with me and agreed its not normal. They are having a specailist come in to look at it today, so who knows what he will say.

It does not matter if the ac is on or off, it does it almost anytime the engine is warm and the eco bar is 3/4 full, I assume it relates to engine rpms'. It was more sporadic when the weather was cooler. It doesn't sound like plastic, but who knows.

I didn't hear it when I test drove the car, but the engine probably wasn't warm enough. Surely something this loud, inconsistent, and annoying isn't normal. Also not many people have said they have the noise, making me think its not normal.

 

I don't think its common, and I hear it from the same place.

 

ust got my car back from Toyota. It seems they have fixed it! They called in a specialist (after their technicians couldn't diagnose it) and he said that it was a rattle of the "heater hoses and clamps" caused by the engine/antifreeze temperature combined with the RPM's of the motor. They rerouted the hoses and installed the clamps in different locations. Currently, my car is not making the noise. They said if it comes back let them know and they will try again.

So, if your car is making this noise - its not normal but it could be a common problem, seeing as to it was an engineering/design issue. If anyone is having this problem and takes their car in and the technician can't figure out what it is my service manager said they can reference this claim number: 111570301, to see what my service dept. did to fix the problem.

Good Luck!