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What's that noise?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Frankie, Feb 15, 2006.

  1. Frankie

    Frankie New Member

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    OK, I've been wanting to get an answer to this question since we bought our 2005 Prius over a year ago: What the devil is that whining noise coming from the engine compartment after we shut off the car and get ready to step out? It lasts maybe 10 seconds and stops. I'm sure it's normal. I'm just curious to know what's going on under there. Our 2002 Prius doesn't do it.
     
    #1 Frankie, Feb 15, 2006
  2. joelparks

    joelparks New Member

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    It's the pump moving coolant into the thermos bottle, so there's some hope of having lower emissions when the ICE kicks in next time you turn the car on
     
    #2 joelparks, Feb 15, 2006
  3. Frankie

    Frankie New Member

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    OK, here's where I display my utter ignorance of what's under the hood.... I assume the coolant you refer to is the regular engine coolant. But what is ICE, and what does it have to do with emissions control? And what does pumping it into the "thermos" do for it? Keep it warm? Or cool?
     
    #3 Frankie, Feb 15, 2006
  4. sanguis

    sanguis Member

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    ICE Internal Combustion Engine

    it has to do with emissions control because it burns fuel to move the car. There are better emissions when the engine is hotter than when it is colder.

    pumping the fluid into the thermos keeps it warm.

    Cheers!
     
    #4 sanguis, Feb 15, 2006
  5. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    much of this is actually in the owners manual...
    .
    _H*
     
    #5 hobbit, Feb 15, 2006
  6. Canuck

    Canuck Member

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    Frankie, not meaning to be rude but I suggest you do a search of all the great information by looking through the forums and other various nooks and crannies on this wonderful Priuschat web site. All this stuff is carefully explained for those of us who are mechanically challenged. Some of this would require paragraphs to explain.
    respectfully
    Gary
     
    #6 Canuck, Feb 15, 2006
  7. Frankie

    Frankie New Member

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    Once you speak the language, it all makes perfect sense. I always thought it sounded like the gyros in a small plane winding down after landing. Kinda liked that. But it's another bit of brilliant engineering. Thanks for your patience. Glad I asked.
     
    #7 Frankie, Feb 15, 2006
  8. Frankie

    Frankie New Member

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    Good advice. But I just discovered this site tonight and haven't had time yet to do much exploration. And I thought I'd break in by asking the one question that's been bugging me for a year. My apologies if I've lowered the level of discourse here.
     
    #8 Frankie, Feb 15, 2006
  9. Charles Suitt

    Charles Suitt Senior Member

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    :rolleyes: SIGH... Amazing how many Prius drivers don't seem to be able to read.

    There's a world of information in the Manual.
     
    #9 Charles Suitt, Feb 16, 2006
  10. flareak

    flareak Fleet Captain

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    i dont want to read what looks to be a 300 page book
     
    #10 flareak, Feb 16, 2006
  11. Excellerator

    Excellerator New Member

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    Call me weird but I like to read car manuals. :) I've always been that way. Heck, I still read the Camry's manual just because I think it's fun.
     
    #11 Excellerator, Feb 16, 2006
  12. San_Carlos_Jeff

    San_Carlos_Jeff Active Member

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    That made me LOL. This site has been going through some growing pains lately and there is almost no way you could have lowered the level of discourse.

    Once you start poking around you'll find it to be a great resource.
     
    #12 San_Carlos_Jeff, Feb 16, 2006
  13. San_Carlos_Jeff

    San_Carlos_Jeff Active Member

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    You're weird.





    BTW - I also enjoy reading car manuals :p
     
    #13 San_Carlos_Jeff, Feb 16, 2006
  14. flareak

    flareak Fleet Captain

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    i was thinking, they should make the manuals story like, humorous and imaginative. then i would read it!

    for example: Curious George was rear-ended by a mean ugly Hummer! The 12 volt battery was hit and George wondered what the curious tasting liquid was... George grabbed a bottle and told the Hummer driver to taste it. Warning: Don't drive Hummers into Prius. or Don't drive Hummers period. George lived happily ever after THE END!!!
     
    #14 flareak, Feb 16, 2006
  15. Frank Hudon

    Frank Hudon Senior Member

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    there is also a secondary noise that sometimes comes from the engine compartment and has sort of a pulsing motor noise. It's the hydraulic pump for the brake booster as it recharges the accumulator where is provides the power assist on the brakes.
     
    #15 Frank Hudon, Feb 16, 2006
  16. hdrygas

    hdrygas New Member

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    OK it pumps it in to the stainless steel thermos bottle then out when you put the car in ready position but not just anywhere in the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) but specifically in the headers to preheat the intake on first start! After that it goes through the rest of the ICE. Temps drop, but the job is done. The ICE is on and making heat. Not only heating the ICE but the catalytic converters to reduce emissions. Finally the hot coolant is placed in the thermos for the next time. We be fast and they be slow!
     
    #16 hdrygas, Feb 16, 2006
  17. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    warm car= more efficient. the thermos helps kick up the efficiency of a cold engine. just one more reason to love your prius :D
     
    #17 galaxee, Feb 17, 2006
  18. jeromep

    jeromep Member

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    Oh, no worries. I kind of felt sorry for you becasue you have been given so much grief about reading the manual and searching the site.

    However, at times the discourse around here gets pretty low. And at times it is pretty high. Don't worry about the discourse. Life goes on. :D
     
    #18 jeromep, Feb 17, 2006
  19. Cully

    Cully New Member

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    If you take out all the repeat warnings and Info boxes the manual comes out to about 15 pages. So it's really not that hard to read.

    Matt
    Denver
     
    #19 Cully, Feb 17, 2006
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