Weird Sound From The Hood

[tilani]

Hi Guys,

My car is making some weird noise as soon as I open the door (without the engine on). The noise stays there when I start the car and goes away after I shut the car off, lock the doors, and wait 5-10 minutes.

I made a video of the sound

Video Summary : 0-10 Seconds, no sound. 10-25 sec, door is opened and sound starts. 25-31 sec, sound stops, door still open. 31-end, door is closed, locked, sound comes and goes. It gets louder in the video towards the end (I moved the phone closer).

It is comming from the hood, but I just took the video at night with a low battery cell phone so I didn't open the hood up and make a longer video. I am assuming its a battery problem but I don't think anything should happen by just opening the door. What do you guys think?

I think the best place to start is to figure out what turns on when opening the door. But, I have had 0 luck finding that information.

Thanks!

[RX400h]

Do you still have the original battery? Sometimes weird things happen when a car battery is getting weaker. However, a quick call to the service manager to request that he/she ask the mechanic may clear things up. Since the sound does stop after a while, I doubt that it is something that would necessitate bringing your car in right away but by all means have them check it out the next time you do bring it in.

[katzjamr]

doesnt that sound to you like the system that purges the vents the fuel lines? on the newer rx perhaps it is triggered by opening the door. i think that is one reason it starts and stops also, just a guess, you would often hear that system work right after turning the car off, however it will run at other times too.

[maxn99]

That's the same annoying noise I have on my 2006 RX 400h. It's the brake actuator. And yes, it will charge and discharge without the engine running. The dealer says it's normal (of course)

[cduluk]

Oh wow, mine makes the same sound! However the sound doesn't last longer than 2 seconds or so on mine...

[tilani]

That's the same annoying noise I have on my 2006 RX 400h. It's the brake actuator. And yes, it will charge and discharge without the engine running. The dealer says it's normal (of course)

Well now that is just lame if thats true. I just noticed that I actually can hear and feel it when driving as well, does that happen to you or is this just my own issue? I am going to go to the dealer later this week to have it checked out and will report back!

[Mmagic76]

Same sounds as mine when opening the door. 07 400h.

[maxn99]

That's the same annoying noise I have on my 2006 RX 400h. It's the brake actuator. And yes, it will charge and discharge without the engine running. The dealer says it's normal (of course)

Well now that is just lame if thats true. I just noticed that I actually can hear and feel it when driving as well, does that happen to you or is this just my own issue? I am going to go to the dealer later this week to have it checked out and will report back!

Tilani -

Did you visit the dealer yet? I'm curious to know what they said. Usually they can't duplicate (or hear) the issue. A good way to duplicate it for them is to turn the key to the 'on' position (don't start the car) and pump the brakes over and over.

I notice this noise all the time - and believe me others do too. It's especially noticeable on the 400h when in electric/battery mode cruising through the parking lot. People look at my car like 'what the hell is wrong with it?'. Try driving alongside a wall so you can hear the noise reflected back. It happens ~20% of the time when releasing the brake pedal.