Vent in the Back Seat

[Devil's Advocate]

After nearly eight weeks of ownership I just noticed a vent that is on the passenger side of the back seat.

What is this thing?

The only thing that I can figure is that it is an air intake for the battery pack but not sure. Its just weird that this is the FIRST time that i've noticed it. I've really got start paying attention.

"Looks like I picked the wrong month to stop sniffing glue!"

[galaxee]

Yep. Battery vent. Don't block it or ther will be trouble, that's about all I know.

They really make it blend in, don't they? I looked every centimeter of the car over when I got it so I noticed it while poking around the backseat.

[propking]

Yes, you are correct. The vent/intake is for the main battery bank cooling inlet. Remember, the only stupid question is the one you don't ask. I know I have asked alot since I took ownership of mine.

[Sufferin' Prius Envy]

Of course the secondary purpose is that of being a back seat passenger fart fan. ops:

Unfortunately the occupants don’t have control of when the fan comes on. :mrgreen:

[Devil's Advocate]

You'd think Toyota would have some waring about the vent, seeing that you don't notice it easily and if it gets blocked, say with a towel or seat cover or dog, it would be bad. it could be worded something like this:

"I'm fuzzy on the whole Good Bad thing.

Imagine time as you know it stopping and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.

total protonic reversal.

alright, important safety tip."

[raybon]

I read about it in the manual when I first bought the car. Have been thinking about putting some kind of warning by it because I know my wife will never remember not to block it.

Glenn

[NuShrike]

It's mentioned many times in the owner's manual. It even mentions, if you block it, the batteries "may" overheat and then car performance would be "impeded" or suffer.

No permanent damage mentioned though.

[xevious]

There have been a lot of questions of late that could have easily been answered by simply reading the manual.

I wonder, is Toyota no longer including manuals as standard equipment?

[jeepien]

Yeah, sometimes I think I must have gotten one of the last ones with mine. I hope it becomes a collector's item.

[seeh2o]

FYI, when the weather gets really warm in the summer there is a fan that comes on behind that vent. I live in Los Angeles and it only happened to me once on a really hot day last summer, but it FREAKED ME OUT when it happened. I didn't realize there was a fan behind the vent. Forewarned is forearmed (instead of freaked out)!