Radiator Fan noise when climate system is ON and engine OFF

[Davidas]

Hello,
I have a 07 Camry Hyrbid with 95,000km.
Since a couple of weeks, I am having this problem that I'll try to describe it at my best.

When the car is in READY mode, AND fan vent is ON or AC ON, AND engine is OFF, there is this noise/sound that comes from the engine compartment just in front of the steering wheel. The noise is like a high pitch noise similar to the radiator fan. And I think it come from just in front of the steering wheel in the engine area. I opened the hood and found out that each time the radiator fan starts kicks in when the engine is off and the climate system is on. But as soon as the engine kicks in, the radiator fan stops. All this happens only when I have the climate system ON.

What could it be? This is anormal as it did not act like that before.

I browsed this forum and there were pleople talking about faulty inverter coolant pump, could it be that? My coolant recervoir for the electric motor is at normal level, so I doubt it could be that.

Hope that somebody is having the same issue as me.
Thanks.

[WhiteSands]

Have a look at your pink coolant levels, one is next to the inverter The other is the water reservoir located near the passenger side fender well. It should be about half full after the engine has cooled off.

This is a special toyota coolant and is best to be brought up to specs at your toyota dealer.

[Davidas]

Originally Posted by WhiteSands

Have a look at your pink coolant levels, one is next to the inverter The other is the water reservoir located near the passenger side fender well. It should be about half full after the engine has cooled off.

This is a special toyota coolant and is best to be brought up to specs at your toyota dealer.

That is what i said the coolant reservoir near the electric engine the small one is ok.

[ukrkoz]

you need to elaborate on this:

found out that each time the radiator fan starts kicks in when the engine is off and the climate system is on.

I don't get. does it show "ready" on dashboard? if you dash turned on, which is equivalent to 2nd click on conventional key system, fans will work, if coolant temperature is too high, or cabin fan is turned on.
if coolant temperature is WNL, radiator fan should not work.

MOF, I just stepped out and pressed twice on start button on mine, without touching brake pedal. all dashboard lights came up, I turned AUTO on climate controls, 70 degrees, a/c light came up, as usual, CABIN FAN TURNED ON, but none of the radiator fans started.

[Davidas]

[QUOTE=ukrkoz;3713209]you need to elaborate on this:

found out that each time the radiator fan starts kicks in when the engine is off and the climate system is on.

The car is always in READY mode. I drive like i drive normally. I put the climate system ON. No sound if the combustion engine is running. At a stop light, the ICE stops. Then there is this noise like radiator fan running. The sound is not normal as i have this car for 4 years now. When light turns green i press on the throttle the the ICE kicks in. Then the weird soind disappears.

This only happens when the cabin fan is ON.

Hope it is clear.
Thanks

[ukrkoz]

a little bit. I assumed you did all the checks with car parked. if you try listening to all this sitting INSIDE - good luck. it's a large metal box, sound is carrying through from a place to a place easily.
so CLIMATE is on, which I assume, AUTO is on either, and a/c is on too? where is your fan direction selector? if it's on defrost in any position, a/c + a/c fan will kick in.
honestly, my ICE runs so quiet I can not tell sometimes if it's on or not, as there's no tachometer. But I can fairly judge off nav system energy display.
anyhow. DRIVING there is no telling where noise is coming from. try testing all this parked in quiet place. and do NOT become obsessed with this. not healthy.

[Davidas]

Yes, I check everything. When I say climate system is ON, I tested it on every mode, fan speed, AC on/off, etc. As soone as the system is turned off, the sound stops. I know it is anormal as I had this car for 4 years now.

The sound is likke a high pitch sound similar to the radiator fan whe it is working.

Why is the radiator fan stops right after the cabin fan is turned off? and kicks in whe the cabin fan is turned on. All that happens when the ICE is off. If the ICE runs, the radiator stops. All that in READY mode.

[ukrkoz]

davidas, are you referring to the faint humming noise coming from about where the speedometer is in the instrument cluster? sort of faint chirp, vzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz?
mine had it ever since I own it, I never really paid attention to it. there are 2 electrical motors in HSD if you draw straight line from your ears>speedometer>HSD. they always make all kinds of faint noises.

if you ever had a car with rubbing speedometer cable, and know the sound of that, that's what it sounds like. except that it most likely does not have speedometer cable.

as of the radiator fan... you sure it's coolant fan, not a/c fan? a/c fan is tied into a/c controls, and a/c is operated by Japanese climate control wisdom, that is unfathomable to me in this car.

[Davidas]

Like i said i know my noise is not normal. As it never did that for the last 4 years.