Weird Noise Behind Dashboard?

Hello all. I recently purchased a 2007 Prius Touring that has an intermittent noise that seems to originate behind the display panel with speedometer, odometer, etc. It's fairly quiet usually, but sometimes louder; I often have to listen for it to hear it. I think it is the same sound people in other forums have described as sounding like coffee brewing or a CD trying to load. I originally thought it sounded like mice in the dash chewing on things and then like light rain drops. I checked, and no coffee, CDs, mice, or rain in there. When I had a multi-point inspection done at Toyota dealership, he moved an A/C hose, but of course that did nothing. I don't think they realized what I was describing in retrospect. Any ideas?

 

I never heard this sound in my other 2007 Prius, and it's not in the 2008 Prius. I haven't noticed it being timed with anything. It is non-stop when it is making the sound, which is most of the time, sometimes louder than others.

 

This is what sounded like my sound on the other site: "The crackle or coffee brewing noise started. He got under the dash on passenger side and asked me to make the noise happen over and over so I would start up the ac and fan full blast then press the power button to the whole climate control system. Then one last time he said try it again. Long behold no noise. I asked him what he did and he said he disconnected the other actuator that was on the passenger side under dash but towards center console. I was very happy and quite an easy diagnosis. So they actually changed the one in the dash yesterday because it was making noise when they checked it and one below on passenger side today."

 

Thanks - I will check it out. It's a very annoying sound, and of course I don't want to neglect anything that needs to be fixed.

 

Yikes, and no warranty. Is it something someone other than dealer could do? How do I check codes?

 

That's great to know. Thanks so much!

 

Well, I am having a hard time identifying the proper mini VCI cable with techstream. It is looking like they only work with Windows XP or older. This one indicates Windows 10 as well. Do you think it would work? 2016 Cheapest MINI VCI for TOYOTA Single Cable Supports Toyota TIS OEM Diagnostic Software

 

While looking into this, it seems iffy whether these types of things can be used with Windows 10 without going through quite a lot to get it to work. It looks like there are a lot of other options as well, but it's unclear if they work for a Gen II Prius (or any hybrid cars). Anyone have any recommendations with regard to any of these? I'm talking about things like Carista. I definitely want to get one of these, but I want it to work with my computer and/or phone I guess, and of course for my car? But I don't know what I'm doing in choosing one. Here's an example and the "may not" work for hybrids statement. Thanks so much for help already.

 

I looked under the hood for crusty pink stuff and did not see anything. Someone with a Honda told me she had a similar intermittent noise that didn't throw any codes that turned out to be the water pump. I could not hear the sound with the hood up except from within the car.

 

So this should work with a 2007 and 2008 Prius? 2016 Cheapest MINI VCI for TOYOTA Single Cable Supports Toyota TIS OEM Diagnostic Software