am I right in what I hear?

A series of alternating high and low tones? That's no motor.

 

It occurs to me that maybe the limits are different on the PIP and regular models. I can see 12 mph on the regular ones.

 

Yep, since the PiP can do up to 62mph in EV, the noisemaker goes up to a higher speed.

 

I haven't noticed a noisemaker at above 15 mph I'll have to read the manual to see exactly when it stops

 

I drove on a road today where I could hear the noise pretty good. It went up to at least 37mph when I then had to back the speed down.

 

Maybe try unplugging the noise maker and see if it's still audible

 

If I unplug it, I know I won't hear it.

 

http://www.toyota.com/csrc/printable/9Smith.pdf

 

^^^Not sure what that video was getting at but my boys would be REALLY excited if I could make my Prius sound like a train!!!

 

One more comment after watching these videos. It seems that there are two sounds the car makes - these videos cover the 'whirring' sound that is intended to be 'automotive in nature'. The sound I'm hearing above 20mph is an alternating high-low tone 'bee-doop-bee-doop'.

Are these two different systems?

 

I have the Gene Vincent model, it goes "be bop a lula".

 

No, there were no other problems when I disconnected..just have electrical tape ready to tape up the open connection.

 

That's the electric motor