Mouse playin' a kazoo under my hood??? (LOL)............ - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

redgtxdi · 12-07-2005, 06:15 PM

On my '95 Prizm (1.6L, 3sp auto) lately when I've started it cold, as it warms up I hear what sounds like a freakin' mouse playin' a kazoo under the hood.

It goes up/down in octave as I up or drop the rpm's. It seems to be something off the motor as it does it standing still, but I can't tell what it is.

After it warms up a bit, it pretty much goes away, but if I listen reeeeeeally carefully I can sorta' make it out......(sometimes not). I thought it *might* have been radio whine, but it's not the radio.

Any ideas??

karugs · 12-07-2005, 07:07 PM

I've heard this before, search for "kazoo"

Raddman · 12-07-2005, 07:12 PM

Now all you need is a guitar playing chipmunk, a rabbit on drums and a beaver

for a lead singer

...lol...Sorry I have no idea but I couldn't resist...~Radd Guy~

redgtxdi · 12-08-2005, 12:58 AM

LOL........no kidding!!! That's hilarious that somebody else used 'kazoo' under the hood. I thought it was truly original........LOL!!

Another suspect in my thinking is that sometimes when I start the car I can hear a tone that *rises* until the motor gets warm.

I associated this with pressure building as heat rose within the cooling system.

Now that I'm thinking about it, they're both prominent during warmup so maybe that's what this is all about????

Water pumps usually sing or squeal before they go no?? So I'm wondering if it's the whole cooling system, then where could the noise be coming from???

It's not major so I'm not gonna get paranoid about it, but sure is weird.

burnt03 · 12-08-2005, 08:59 AM

I've got an OEM hamster-on-a-wheel for my powerplant, maybe someone replaced yours with a jobber mouse?

Nismo Convert · 12-08-2005, 11:00 AM

Why not try tightening the belts?

freakinbox · 12-08-2005, 11:32 AM

maybe his hampster got drunk :p. Did you spike the water again?

redgtxdi · 12-11-2005, 03:56 PM

Good answers for comedy..........I need it today!!!

Anyway as an update:

It seems as though it's either the PS pump or the belt for it. I need to check it out 'cuz it really made some noise this morning...........(but as Murphy's law dictates).........it goes away as soon as the car warms up.

It makes he noise on a first start/cold start for the day and when I tilt the wheel to & fro, it sings to me so tied in there somewhere.

I woke up sick as a dog this morning. Don't know WTF that's all about. I was great yesterday & feel some flu-like symptoms coming on. (Achey, weak, etc.)

Gonna stay outta the garage for at least a couple days 'cuz right now I'm feelin' the neeeeeeed to snooooooooooze!!!!

emiliorescigno · 12-11-2005, 07:12 PM

I have this exact problem too! If I drive my car without letting it warm for a few minutes, he's blaring away on his kazoo! Agh! Does anyone else have this problem other than redgtxdi and me?

Raddman · 12-11-2005, 09:28 PM

"I don't care who are, that's funny right there."...Larry The Cable Guy!...

Liter · 12-12-2005, 02:54 AM

check the belts on the underside and make usre they arent frayed or worn.

redgtxdi · 12-12-2005, 04:44 PM

OK........I think I've got mine figured out................LOW PS FLUID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There's fluid in there, but it's just a hair below the dipstick so dry as far as the dipstick's concerned.

I'm thinkin' this would also explain its progressively growing volume of sound.

Apparently, there's enough fluid in the reservoir to get things lubed up once it gets warmed up, but I need to fill her up tonight when I get home & see if that's all it is.

So if anybody's having this prob & haven't checked yet............check the PS reservoir & see if that dipstick's dry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!