Ok i've had my prius for 3 days now and love it! I know that there are certain sounds or noises that sometimes come from the ICE or electric engine when just starting or shutting down. I've read that they're normal. But could someone explain what each of the different noises or sounds mean? I read it somewhere on the Yahoo forum way way back, but cant seem to find it now. I just need to explain it better to my wife so she wont worry about it. Manual says it'll be from the coolant system, hybrid battery, brakes... but they dont specifically say what kind of sound.

Thanks!

 

It's hard to describe the sounds the car makes. When it starts up for the first time in a while, the engine often revvs for a second or two after acceleration, but has no affect on the performance. This assists in emissions control. When the car is turned off, engine fluids are pumped for about 10 seconds. It's a sound you'll get quite used to whenever you step out of the car. Besides a soft vibration as the engine kicks on and off while driving, those are about the only noises I've noticed.