The above link should open a sound file. This is from my 2009 GenII. It is in ready mode. A/C off. ICE engine not running. Sound comes from left side engine under the fuse box as close as I can tell, and that is where the recording was done. I do not feel any vibration on the inverter, or anywhere else. I notice this sound when stopped or idling. Sometimes the rhythm is slower or changing, but nothing I do seems to have any effect on rhythm or sound, such as braking, revving engine, steering etc. It may do it all the time, but any amount of road noise will be louder than this noise. To me, sounds like a pump or electric motor. Never noticed this when new, but has been doing it for maybe a year. Seems to slowly get louder, or maybe I'm just tuned into it more now.
Thats the ac fresh air/recirc input door motor. My car does the same thing. It comes and goes.It wont hurt anything. Its deep under the dash. Many many posts about it. Not sure what to call it to search for it. But never had to as I see posts about it now and then.
You are not alone, that noise is the Coolant Control Valve not working correctly. It tries to set in one position or another and it doesn't set, so continuously keeps trying. See this thread Cooling System Noise (mp3 included) post #1 and #7, particularly. They don't conclude that thread with what was done to fix it, though. Assume they replaced the CCV. Do you have any lights on the dash, may be the MIL (aka check engine light)?
Thanks for the thread reference. Seems to be the same issue. No related trouble codes. (I did have Po101 and PO172 indicating rich fuel mix and MAF sensor. I cleaned MAF and cleared codes. ) iPad ?
The noise is the HVAC Servo motor as I stated earlier: Small motor noise behind steering wheel dash | Page 2 | PriusChat
To follow up on this, I took the car in to be diagnosed and repaired. It was the coolant control valve. The part was replaced and now no noise. I also notice that when the engine shuts off the coolant temperature holds higher. Before the temp dropped rapidly when the ICE was not running. It will probably get a bit more fuel mileage due to the more consistent temperatures. iPad ?
So the moral is, those two things can make similar sounds (probably very similar underlying causes too, electrical noise in the position feedback), so it's worth extra effort to pin down which is which. The coolant control valve should be easier to hear outside the car, under the hood or near the wheel well. The HVAC servo should be easier to hear inside the car, head under the dash. If you duck under the dash you can also see it wiggling, as in the video I posted here. -Chap
That's right Chap, I'm sure the sound is very similar. The recording I posted was taken from the engine compartment, drivers side firewall area. Also a note, my scanguage 2 was giving me code P0000, which is an invalid code. On further research, we found codes C1249 and P1121. I'll assume the scanguage cannot properly read those codes, so throws the P0000. One of those codes indicates the brake light switch. Confused on that one, but it was checked and the voltage is fine.
Yes, there was a check engine light. Sorry for the confusion. When this first started, no CEL, then became intermittent as the problem developed. iPad ?
As mentioned back in post #6, the coolant control valve is sticking. P1121 confirms this diagnosis. DTC No. Detection Item Trouble Area MIL Memory 1 P1121 Coolant Flow Control Valve Position Sensor Circuit Stuck Water valve (coolant flow control valve) Cooling system (clogging) Come on DTC Stored Attached is the diagnostic info for P1121. Hope that helps.