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

Noisy heater fan in EV Mode

Discussion in 'Prime Technical Discussion' started by Ken Smith, Nov 30, 2018.

  1. Ken Smith

    Ken Smith New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2018
    2
    1
    0
    Location:
    Salisbury, Maryland
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Premium
    The past week it has been in the 30s to 40s in the evening as I have been driving home from work. Given that my daily commute is 14 miles, I am able to drive solely in EV mode. I have noticed in pulling into my garage that the heater motor seems rather loud under the hood. That is, it is noticeably louder on my 17 Prime that it was in my 14 Prius 3. Has anyone else experienced this rather noisy heater sound? (Perhaps it is emblematic of the Prime's heat pump?)
     
    #1 Ken Smith, Nov 30, 2018
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,129
    50,046
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    probably, cause it's just the a/c compressor running in reverse
     
    #2 bisco, Nov 30, 2018
  3. Ken Smith

    Ken Smith New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2018
    2
    1
    0
    Location:
    Salisbury, Maryland
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Premium
    Thank you for the insight.
     
    #3 Ken Smith, Dec 1, 2018
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,129
    50,046
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    pleasure
     
    #4 bisco, Dec 1, 2018
  5. burnout8488

    burnout8488 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 18, 2018
    124
    81
    0
    Location:
    Endwell, NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    Heat pump = basically an A/C compressor but driven by electricity. The colder the ambient temperature is, the louder it will be at first. It's variable, so when your cabin is warmed up say, in a warm garage.... the pump doesn't spin as fast.
     
    #5 burnout8488, Dec 2, 2018
  6. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    May 11, 2004
    14,816
    2,498
    66
    Location:
    Far-North Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Mine’s very loud also.
    I understand what it is and what it does but does it have to be so loud? Kind of really kills the mood of driving an EV.
     
    #6 TonyPSchaefer, Dec 4, 2018
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,129
    50,046
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    interesting, i don't recall reading many complaints. would love to hear more experiences.

    is it louder than a/c? or a/c in past generations?
     
    #7 bisco, Dec 5, 2018
  8. My first EV

    My first EV Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2018
    38
    16
    0
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Base
    I find it loud when I have to turn on front window defogger； it sounds like a fan blowing in high speed, of course, very annoying!
     
    #8 My first EV, Dec 5, 2018
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,129
    50,046
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    isn't that the fan blowing at high speed?
     
    #9 bisco, Dec 5, 2018
  10. My first EV

    My first EV Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2018
    38
    16
    0
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Base
    I don’t even know there is control to the speed, just see the on or off button. And inside cabin air condition mode or heat mode is not loud though !
     
    #10 My first EV, Dec 5, 2018
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,129
    50,046
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    there is a fan speed button somewhere on the many thousands of screens. after hitting front defrost, you can turn it down a bit after getting enough defrost to see, if you can find the buttons
     
    #11 bisco, Dec 5, 2018
  12. My first EV

    My first EV Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2018
    38
    16
    0
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Base
    Ha ha! So embarrassed—-yes, there’s a button that control the fan speed, I always thought it was some kind of button art! Now problem solved.
    Thank you for hinting there’s a button/ control !
     
    #12 My first EV, Dec 5, 2018
    bisco likes this.
  13. My first EV

    My first EV Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2018
    38
    16
    0
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Base
    Update to this: when the front windshield defogger/heater is on, the fan speed is “default” at high, I think maybe it expects you want foggy windshield to clear faster! Someone design it think one step ahead!
     
    #13 My first EV, Dec 7, 2018
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,129
    50,046
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    ingenius!
     
    #14 bisco, Dec 8, 2018
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)