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

Buzzing sound upon opening driver door

Discussion in 'Prius v Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by PanthersFan, Mar 29, 2016.

  1. PanthersFan

    PanthersFan Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2016
    55
    17
    0
    Location:
    South Florida
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Each time I open the driver door, when the car is off, I hear a buzzing coming from the front (left?) of the car. It sounds like something electrical. What is it and is it normal? Assuming it's normal, I like it because it's kind of like the Prius saying hi and it reminds me I now have a unique (and fun) car. But what is it? Am I wasting battery with something I've left configured?
     
    #1 PanthersFan, Mar 29, 2016
  2. Colin

    Colin Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2012
    33
    9
    1
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    That's the vacuum pump for the brakes. The car needs to have an electric pump so that the brake assist works when the engine is off.
     
    #2 Colin, Mar 29, 2016
    PanthersFan likes this.
  3. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,923
    3,145
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I don't think it's a vacuum pump, but it is a pump. ;) It's pressurizing the brake system.
     
    #3 xliderider, Mar 29, 2016
    Stacey2015 and PanthersFan like this.
  4. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    4,044
    1,112
    0
    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    ABS pressurization pump.
     
    #4 Air_Boss, Mar 30, 2016
    PanthersFan likes this.
  5. Stacey2015

    Stacey2015 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2018
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    San Francisco, CA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    The same noise occurs when I open my 2015 Prius car door. Is there any action I should take to fix this, or is it something I can leave be without worrying about?
     
    #5 Stacey2015, Aug 31, 2018
  6. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2012
    3,762
    1,682
    0
    Location:
    Sanford, NC
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    Ignore. Normal. Sometimes you hear it as you walk up to the car without even touching it. Sometimes several seconds after exiting the car.
     
    #6 mikefocke, Aug 31, 2018
    darylofearth likes this.
  7. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    24,936
    16,243
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    The only time to worry would be if you don't hear it.

    That's your brake accumulator pump, building up the brake fluid pressure for you so that you will be able to slow and stop the car at times of your choosing. They think of everything, these guys.

    -Chap
     
    #7 ChapmanF, Aug 31, 2018
    darylofearth likes this.
  8. Stacey2015

    Stacey2015 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2018
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    San Francisco, CA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Woohoo, thank you!

    Glad to hear it, thanks!
     
    #8 Stacey2015, Sep 6, 2018
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2018
  9. KngkCrls

    KngkCrls New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2020
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    II
    I also noticed that the buzzing sounds repeats itself every 30 sec or so while driving. Is it normal? Same pump?
     
    #9 KngkCrls, Sep 9, 2020
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,235
    50,089
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    yes and no

    it has to keep repressuizing, but increased frequency means the system is slowly failing
     
    #10 bisco, Sep 9, 2020
  11. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    4,044
    1,112
    0
    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Or you have an ABS system leak-down, whether in the pump or elsewhere.
     
    #11 Air_Boss, Sep 10, 2020
  12. KngkCrls

    KngkCrls New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2020
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    II

    Would I get a warning light because of that?
     
    #12 KngkCrls, Sep 14, 2020
  13. KngkCrls

    KngkCrls New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2020
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    II

    If there is a leak, I should see a spot where I park, no? That is not the case though. Would I get a warning light it that is the case?
     
    #13 KngkCrls, Sep 14, 2020
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,235
    50,089
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    it doesn't leak out. sometimes there is a warning, sometimes the brakes operate more like manual than power.
     
    #14 bisco, Sep 14, 2020
  15. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    4,044
    1,112
    0
    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    This would not be an external leak, it would be an internal leak past seals, a loss of pressurization that requires frequent re-pumping up to operating pressure parameters.
     
    #15 Air_Boss, Sep 15, 2020
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)