Sonata Hybrid Engine Noise When In Ev Mode

mham437 · 05-10-2011, 03:21 AM

I have put a little over a thousand miles on my Sonata Hybrid. I've been quite happy with everything about this car so far. Today when I pulled into my garage in EV (electric) mode as I've done almost every day for the past three weeks, I noticed a loud steady hum coming from the engine compartment. It wasn't a sound that I've noticed in the past. The gas engine was clearly off, along with all the interior accessories such as the climate control fan (climate control fan is loud). After coming to a complete stop and placing my car in park, the loud steady hum continued. Again, this was not something I've noticed before with my car. In the past, I would pull into the garage and the only sound I would hear was the sound of the brake pads rubbing on the disks. That's how quiet this hybrid had been.

Keeping the car on, I opened the hood. The engine was off but the loud hum was extremely noticeable and appeared to be coming from the area around or below the air intake box. The engine cooling fan was off so that wasn't the issue.

A couple things to add... I'm aware of the delay this hybrid faced regarding the EPA's new "noise makers" to mimic the sound of an engine when the car was traveling at slow speeds. However, prior to today, I never noticed this sound coming from my car and "had been" amazed at how quiet it was in the past. Also, thinking that it may have been an internal electric fan of some kind, I went back out to my car two hours later to turn it on and the sound continued.

Question: For those of you who actualy own the Sonata Hybrid: Is your hybrid completely silent when at a stop and in EV mode? For the life of me, I swore that in the past my sonata was absolutely dead quiet when it was at a complete stop.

Dashtrash78 · 05-10-2011, 11:42 AM

Mine is completely silent.

mham437 · 05-10-2011, 12:45 PM

QUOTE (Dashtrash78 @ May 10 2011, 08:42 AM)

Quote:

Mine is completely silent.

That's what I thought would be normal. I sure hope the dealership where I bought my car knows the ins and outs of the new hybrid.

Dashtrash78 · 05-10-2011, 06:46 PM

QUOTE (Sonata437 @ May 10 2011, 11:45 AM)

Quote:

That's what I thought would be normal. I sure hope the dealership where I bought my car knows the ins and outs of the new hybrid.

My dealership doesn't. The service rep started and shutoff my car 4 times in a row today and then asked, "How long does it usually take to start?"

I told him it was running and I got the 'Deer in the headlights' look.

mham437 · 05-10-2011, 07:28 PM

QUOTE (Dashtrash78 @ May 10 2011, 03:46 PM)

Quote:

My dealership doesn't. The service rep started and shutoff my car 4 times in a row today and then asked, "How long does it usually take to start?"

I told him it was running and I got the 'Deer in the headlights' look.

That's exactly what I'm afraid is going to happen when I bring my hybrid into my dealership. I'll know more about the car then they do. So trying to work through a strange noise will probably be an up hill battle...

rickp · 05-10-2011, 09:25 PM

mine is quiet . every dealer ship should have atleast one tech trained on hybrid
ask for the tech to see your car instead of the service advisor .

young-nyc · 05-11-2011, 09:13 AM

QUOTE (Dashtrash78 @ May 10 2011, 06:46 PM)

Quote:

My dealership doesn't. The service rep started and shutoff my car 4 times in a row today and then asked, "How long does it usually take to start?"

I told him it was running and I got the 'Deer in the headlights' look.

haha i must admit this gave me a good laugh this morning.

but in all seriousness, please update us on your status with the engine noise

Eric1r · 05-11-2011, 02:54 PM

Mine makes that noise occasionally. Just figured it was the "simulated engine noise" maker at first but it doesn't come on consistently. Most of the time it's whisper quiet. I've even jogged along side of it while my girlfriend drives and I can't hear anything but tire noise when in EV. Could be the AC compressor or aux water pump as those both run on electric?

There's what looks like small motorcycle horn mounted on the right (passenger) fender under the hood. Does anyone know if that is the SEN (simulated engine noise) device?

young-nyc · 05-12-2011, 09:20 AM

just curious, can anyone describe how the virtual engine sound, actually sounds like?
I read that it comes comes on at low speeds...so when does it come on? below 10mph? thx

Eric1r · 05-12-2011, 10:13 AM

I changed the program in mine to sound like an old V12 Ferrari. LOL

05-11-2011, 02:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
Eric1r Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Mid Michigan 2011 Sonata Hybrid Premium 1997 GMC Sierra 4x4 2002 Honda VTX1800 Bagger 1993 Honda CR250 Posts: 455	Mine makes that noise occasionally. Just figured it was the "simulated engine noise" maker at first but it doesn't come on consistently. Most of the time it's whisper quiet. I've even jogged along side of it while my girlfriend drives and I can't hear anything but tire noise when in EV. Could be the AC compressor or aux water pump as those both run on electric? There's what looks like small motorcycle horn mounted on the right (passenger) fender under the hood. Does anyone know if that is the SEN (simulated engine noise) device? __________________

05-12-2011, 10:13 AM	#10 (permalink)
Eric1r Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Mid Michigan 2011 Sonata Hybrid Premium 1997 GMC Sierra 4x4 2002 Honda VTX1800 Bagger 1993 Honda CR250 Posts: 455	I changed the program in mine to sound like an old V12 Ferrari. LOL __________________

05-10-2011, 03:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
mham437 Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 36	I have put a little over a thousand miles on my Sonata Hybrid. I've been quite happy with everything about this car so far. Today when I pulled into my garage in EV (electric) mode as I've done almost every day for the past three weeks, I noticed a loud steady hum coming from the engine compartment. It wasn't a sound that I've noticed in the past. The gas engine was clearly off, along with all the interior accessories such as the climate control fan (climate control fan is loud). After coming to a complete stop and placing my car in park, the loud steady hum continued. Again, this was not something I've noticed before with my car. In the past, I would pull into the garage and the only sound I would hear was the sound of the brake pads rubbing on the disks. That's how quiet this hybrid had been. Keeping the car on, I opened the hood. The engine was off but the loud hum was extremely noticeable and appeared to be coming from the area around or below the air intake box. The engine cooling fan was off so that wasn't the issue. A couple things to add... I'm aware of the delay this hybrid faced regarding the EPA's new "noise makers" to mimic the sound of an engine when the car was traveling at slow speeds. However, prior to today, I never noticed this sound coming from my car and "had been" amazed at how quiet it was in the past. Also, thinking that it may have been an internal electric fan of some kind, I went back out to my car two hours later to turn it on and the sound continued. Question: For those of you who actualy own the Sonata Hybrid: Is your hybrid completely silent when at a stop and in EV mode? For the life of me, I swore that in the past my sonata was absolutely dead quiet when it was at a complete stop.

05-10-2011, 11:42 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dashtrash78 Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 72	Mine is completely silent.

05-10-2011, 09:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
rickp Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: ontario 2011 sonata hybrid 2012 elentra gls 2013 sf 2.0 t awd Posts: 202	mine is quiet . every dealer ship should have atleast one tech trained on hybrid ask for the tech to see your car instead of the service advisor .

05-12-2011, 09:20 AM	#9 (permalink)
young-nyc Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 81	just curious, can anyone describe how the virtual engine sound, actually sounds like? I read that it comes comes on at low speeds...so when does it come on? below 10mph? thx

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