1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Does the Gen 4 produce an inverter whine and whirring sound?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by ernie1, Dec 29, 2016.

  1. Neohippy

    Neohippy Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2016
    220
    201
    0
    Location:
    Clearwater,Fl
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    I enjoy the sound my plugin makes. Sounds like a spaceship. It's much louder then my Gen 3
     
  2. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,044
    7,587
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Re the Hatch rattle - mine came without that.

    The other possibility for the OP's comment - could it be the tyre noise. If I had no tyre noise and no wind-noise, my PRIUS would be almost silent other than some relatively quiet wheezes, clicks, murmurs, whizzes, buzzes beeps and UFO sounds. The low rolling resistance tyres on mine aren't as quiet as the tyres on my last car (nor do they grip as well, but that's another story).
     
    RCO likes this.
  3. ernie1

    ernie1 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2008
    67
    7
    0
    Location:
    Sacto,Ca.
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Thanks everyone for your info. I now have the answer to my question.
     
    RCO likes this.
  4. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2006
    5,963
    1,985
    0
    Location:
    Edmonton Alberta
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Ernie, my post was just an attempt at humour, not being critical. You must have very good hearing. Young?
     
    alanclarkeau and Prodigyplace like this.
  5. greenmonster01

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2015
    106
    79
    0
    Location:
    Southeastern MA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Took me a bit to get used to the noises of the electic motor, inverter and brakes powering up.
     
    alanclarkeau likes this.
  6. ernie1

    ernie1 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2008
    67
    7
    0
    Location:
    Sacto,Ca.
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius

    No offense taken. I'm an extremely young 73 and my hearing is decent for my age but not great.
     
    alanclarkeau and RCO like this.
  7. Roger T

    Roger T Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2014
    198
    48
    0
    Location:
    MA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Love the whining noise when i am running on EV mode and regenerative braking. Sounds futuristic to me.

    I test drove the 2016 Prius at the dealership and i noticed the same sound.
     
    RCO and Prodigyplace like this.
  8. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2016
    2,267
    2,571
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Coast Highway
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    What "regenerative braking" sound are you guys talking about? What does it sound like, and when do you hear it?

    The ONLY thing I hear in my car is…
    Road noise!
    Cabin noise!
    Tire noise!
    Gas engine growl!

    I would welcome a little electrical whirring and spaceship sounds. But I can't hear it because of all the other noise going on. This is the noisiest car I have ever owned. Especially when driving higher speeds on the highway or freeway, you need earplugs!
     
    alanclarkeau likes this.
  9. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,799
    11,362
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    David, I think we found your whining in the cockpit... :LOL:

    Welcome back, Coast.
     
    RoadNoise and David Beale like this.
  10. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,044
    7,587
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Gentle "take-off" (with a warmed motor or in EV Mode) has a soft electrical whirring sound, though it could be a low-flying Flying Saucer.

    Tyre noise - yes, the Bridgestones aren't quiet (nor do I think their grip is real good either - but that could be the ECO aspect).

    But the engine sound is only occasionally obvious (hard acceleration which I don't do much) - but it's much quieter than my previous cars. There's no exhaust sound that I can detect.

    Roads are noisy - but it's noisier if I'm driving near other cars. Tunnels are noisier still.

    I haven't any cabin noise - no squeaks, rattles etc.
     
    kithmo and RCO like this.
  11. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2016
    2,267
    2,571
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Coast Highway
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Is there a specific sound that the regenerative brakes make when pressing the pedal?

    I don't hear anything unusual. What does it sound like?
     
  12. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2016
    2,267
    2,571
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Coast Highway
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    My gas engine comes on every time I press the pedal. And I'm not a lead foot, or a racer off the line. But that's OK, at least the engine growl reminds me that I'm driving a somewhat "normal" car. It keeps it interesting.

    When I referred to "cabin noise", I actually mean all the outside road noise that infiltrates the cabin. The sound insulation in my car must be made of tinfoil!
     
    RCO and alanclarkeau like this.
  13. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,799
    11,362
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    In Eco mode you can actually press the pedal and start in EV mode with out the engine.
    It is too cold here for that to happen here right now unless the engine is already warmed up.
     
    alanclarkeau likes this.
  14. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2016
    2,267
    2,571
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Coast Highway
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Thanks PP. Even when I was driving in the ECO mode, in warm weather, I still heard the gas engine. But that really doesn't bother me. I like hearing the growl.

    (The weather is cool here. Mid 40s in the morning, and about 55° in the middle of the day. That's not "cold" like where you good folks are at. For some odd reason, my gas mileage went back up to 61.4 MPG. :) I don't overfill the tank anymore, I pull the nozzle out at the first click off. And the gas mileage went up! :ROFLMAO: I don't have too much confidence or faith in that display on the dashboard. But anyway, it's nice to see the 60s again.)
     
    jerrymildred, RCO and alanclarkeau like this.
  15. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,799
    11,362
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    I just did a measurement comparison and my display appears to be about 10% high.

    Did you have such a good Christmas holiday you forgot about us here? :D
     
    RCO and alanclarkeau like this.
  16. Coast Cruiser

    Coast Cruiser Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2016
    2,267
    2,571
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Coast Highway
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I was sleeping..... :D ;)

    Happy new year to all the Prius Chat addicts! :)
     
    jerrymildred, RCO and alanclarkeau like this.
  17. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,799
    11,362
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    Rip Van Winkle, is that you??
     
    RCO likes this.
  18. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,044
    7,587
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    It's the climate control wanting to run the heater.

    If you wind down the temperature to whatever the minimum when you put it to bed the night before, and you're quick with the EV button after you power up, it'll go into EV even on cool days. Can't remember - you might have to turn the Climate control OFF too - it's a long time since it was cool here (95F now - uggh).
     
  19. sgpriusdriver

    sgpriusdriver New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2016
    22
    19
    0
    Location:
    Singapore
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I think there's another type of whining noise from the battery's twin fans located on the bottom sides of backseats. It seems to be increasing in noise levels with increasing car speed and with higher battery temperatures.

    Power mode also seems make the battery run hotter. I notice that if you sustain your pedal in the [PWR] range in the HSI for long periods, it will heat up the battery really quickly.

    You can feel the battery temperature by touching the bottom middle section of the passenger backseat.
     
  20. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2016
    3,709
    5,184
    0
    Location:
    Cornwall
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I get some whining from the passenger seat. However SWMBO reports almost constant whining from the driver's seat area. Now that's a real tricky fault to rectify!
     
    krmcg, kithmo and alanclarkeau like this.