Engine Sounds like a Blender Making Margaritas, Water Pump?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by stokesey, Jun 2, 2025.

  1. stokesey

    stokesey Junior Member

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    2015 Prius 260k

    Passenger side of engine has an intermittent but distinct rattle, sounds like ice being chopped up in a blender. I didn't order a margarita:unsure:. Noise only happens when ICE is running, but does occur at standstill. No codes yet. Not sure about engine temp as I can't find a temp gauge anywhere obvious on the instrument panel.

    Guessing it's the water pump but could use a second opinion. I do have a scan tool which may be able to actuate the pump. If others are interested, I can do a teardown on the part when I pull it. Also does anyone know the best source for Aisin pump? Thanks
     
    #1 stokesey, Jun 2, 2025
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    That would be my go-to resource. Have the car IG-ON but not READY, turn the pump on and off with the scan tool and see if that's the sound. Do that, and you can tell us the answer instead of asking us.
     
    #2 ChapmanF, Jun 2, 2025
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  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Is it the original water pump? If so I wouldn't hesitate to replace it, plus the thermostat and the inverter water pump. Access is a pain with the latter; inverter apparently HAS to come out.

    I'll probably use Amayama (If I ever get enough miles to warrant replacment), but I'm in Canada, options (other than dealership) are limited:

    Buy AISIN WPT190 Pump, Water. Prices, fast shipping, photos, weight - Amayama

    Last October you posted saying the car was freshly acquired, and rattling during cold-starts:

    2015 1.8L rattling at low rpm, head gasket? | PriusChat

    Also disclosed at that time the car had 270k miles, one of those a typo I guess. Still, goodly miles, just purchased, and rattling.
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, Jun 2, 2025
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2025
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  4. stokesey

    stokesey Junior Member

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    Thanks for remembering and/or stalking. Yep 270k. This rattle is not the engine shaking. Will try to record video of it when I hear it next. Clacking with seeming random intervals between clacks. Sounds rotational. Easier to hear with windows up.

    I got the inverter pump done accessing via the wheel well and jamming my arms down past the inverter. Pretty tight in there and I did remove a few inverter retaining bolts and raised it up a bit. Not fun, but I had no interest in pulling that inverter.

    [​IMG]

    Not a great shot, but I'm thinking the water pump has been done at least once.
     
    #4 stokesey, Jun 2, 2025
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  5. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    You should be able to put a mechanic stethoscope on that pump while engine is running or not and hear it . Usually impeller peeling
     
    #5 Tombukt2, Jun 2, 2025
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  6. stokesey

    stokesey Junior Member

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    Yeah, but that's WORK:). I thought maybe others have had a similar failure so I could throw parts at the problem. And this car must have the one of the easiest water pumps to replace of any car.

    I figured out the tool menus and got some good data. It's looking like the water pump is OK. Onward. For other forum members who were curious what speed the pump runs, it appears to be 3000rpm. And the ECU does seem to track the actual speed.

    [​IMG]
     
    #6 stokesey, Jun 2, 2025
  7. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    When you pop the water pump off and take the three bolts off the back or four and and pull plastic cover up see impeller issue sold on Amazon 34 bux .mag drive usually body is fine
     
    #7 Tombukt2, Jun 2, 2025
  8. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    The pump is variable speed and the ECM does change the RPM target in normal operation depending on conditions.

    3000 RPM is just the one fixed target speed you get when you turn it on from the scan tool.
     
    #8 ChapmanF, Jun 2, 2025
  9. themzlab

    themzlab Junior Member

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    I had that sound on my Prius this week and the next morning I had a C.E. light and a water pump code. Mine was a 3 year old Toyota part but it was not the original. I had kept the original so I put the old one in. I also have a scanner and I can track the pump RPM and do that output test. Unfortunately, I could not prove the old pump was bad; I just had the evidence of that crazy rattle type sound from the engine water pump area and the code. this could have been a 1-time thing. I drove the car a bunch with the old pump this week and all is good.

    In my case, this happened right after I had a coolant hose pop off the EGR cooler and the coolant steamed out the top. The hose clamp was mis-placed so that is why that happened. one thing I don't know is which thing came first. Did my pump fail and this caused increase pressure to finally pop that hose that had been that way for half a year? or did the hose randomly popping off cause some cavitation (boiling) and that made the pump fail? I'll never know.

    This is my go to for oem parts:

    https://parts.ourismantoyotaofrichmond.com
     
    #9 themzlab, Jun 5, 2025
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2025
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