Sucking noise from back of car

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by msoengineer, May 18, 2008.

  1. msoengineer

    msoengineer Junior Member

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    I have a strange noise coming from the back of the vehicle. It sounds as though it's a fan/intake sucking air in, but it's loud enough to be heard coming from the outside of the car. It only occurs during acceleration and when the car is under a load. I cannot re-create the noise with the car in park and revving the engine, what little it does in park. I can begin to hear the noise slightly if i place the car drive, keep on the brakes, and rev the engine.

    I had a passenger intentionally sit in the back seat on the right to listen if the sound was coming from the intake vent for the HV battery and they confirmed it was not coming from the vent. It was further in the back somewhere on the right.

    I was thinking it may be something in the exhaust, but that would impact the performance of the car, which it has not. It may be an exhaust leak somewhere too since it sounds as though the noise is coming from the outside in.

    Regardless, I will be visiting the dealer early tomorrow morning to see what's up.


    Any Ideas?
     
    #1 msoengineer, May 18, 2008
  2. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Uhh... I would have said the battery vent. Let us know what the dealer finds.

    How long have you had the car?
     
    #2 richard schumacher, May 19, 2008
  3. msoengineer

    msoengineer Junior Member

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    Just a little over a year...I'll post the dealer findings
     
    #3 msoengineer, May 19, 2008
  4. msoengineer

    msoengineer Junior Member

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    I guess being the treasurer of the condo board has its benefits...people sticking rocks into the tail pipe.:mad:
     
    #4 msoengineer, May 19, 2008
  5. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    What? There were rocks in the tail pipe? Sheesh.
     
    #5 richard schumacher, May 19, 2008
  6. Nords

    Nords Member

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    I'm impressed by a mechanic who can translate "sucking noise from the back" into "rocks in the tailpipe"... I don't think that's exactly #23 on Toyota's "strange noises" checklist.
     
    #6 Nords, May 19, 2008
  7. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Evidently it can be hard to distinguish sucking from blowing :_>
     
    #7 richard schumacher, May 19, 2008
  8. Jack66

    Jack66 Kinda Jovial Member

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    I guess it was those people in unit 213 that didn't like how the board voted on the landscaping but are too lazy to come to a COA meeting.:)
     
    #8 Jack66, May 19, 2008
  9. cyberprius

    cyberprius Mtn Bikes don't need foglights

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    Was Paris Hilton back there???
     
    #9 cyberprius, May 19, 2008
  10. pewd

    pewd Clarinet Dude

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    lol @ cyber ;)
     
    #10 pewd, May 19, 2008
  11. PA Prius

    PA Prius Active Member

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    "Little" or not, how do you do that? I've told people that is one thing you can not do in a Prius-- rev the engine.

    PA P
     
    #11 PA Prius, May 19, 2008
  12. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    If in Park, just depress the accelerator. Maximum engine RPM is ~2,500.
    If in D, press the brake pedal with your left foot and press the accelerator with your right foot. This is the way to force-charge the traction battery. As the traction battery SOC approaches 8 green bars, the engine RPM will slow down to avoid overcharging the battery. BTW this is not a recommended practice due to the possibility of overheating the transaxle.
     
    #12 Patrick Wong, May 19, 2008
  13. PA Prius

    PA Prius Active Member

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    Really!?! I will try that this evening when my wife is home with the car.

    The other thing I've told people you can not do with a Prius is spin the wheels-- due to not being able to rev the engine and TC. Are you going to tell me that is possible too-- revving it in N and then flicking it to D?

    PA P
     
    #13 PA Prius, May 19, 2008
  14. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Nope, or at least not very much. As soon as the wheels begin to slip the anti-slip will engage to prevent damage to the drive motors.

    By The Way, the only reason to force-charge the traction battery is to maximize acceleration from a standing start. Along with the possibility of damage, it reduces, not increases, fuel economy.
     
    #14 richard schumacher, May 19, 2008
  15. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    If you shift to N, the engine will be off. At that point, you will not be able to rev it, because the MGs are disconnected. Hence MG1 will not receive power to spin the ICE so that the ICE will start up.

    It is possible to disable the traction control by putting the Prius into inspection mode, which normally would be invoked for a smog test. However it is highly discouraged to drive the car in that condition since the transaxle can be damaged if the wheels spin.
     
    #15 Patrick Wong, May 19, 2008
  16. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    Is unit 213 part of or attached to your own building? Could it
    conveniently catch fire without endangering your own property?
    .
    _H*
     
    #16 hobbit, May 19, 2008
  17. jamesl

    jamesl New Member

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    At least they didn't stick a potato in yah tail pipe :twitch:
     
    #17 jamesl, May 20, 2008
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