Fan Noise From Rear Seat

TiogaJenny · 06-23-2006, 03:48 AM

I was driving my 2006 Barcelon Red, Pckg 3 Prius last weekend up at the Merced River near Yosemite. It was very hot-probably near 100 degrees. I had the air con on and a few minutes after I started up again after a long drive, I noticed a fan noise coming from the rear seat area where the vent/grill is to make sure the hybrid batteries don't overheat. That grill area was not blocked in any way. Anyway, I thought it might be the AC making the sound so I turned off the AC and the "fan" sound was still there. When I turned off the car, the noise went away. And then when I turned the car back on, the fan noise started again. It only made the noise for a few minutes, and I have not heard the noise since then.

I'm wondering if it was so hot outside and the batteries had worked hard since I had just driven it for 3 hours, that it might be a fan cooling the batteries down. I have not heard of this feature, though.

Any ideas of what the "fan" sound might be?

Thanks--and I LOVE PriusChat! I have learned so much from these forums!

Shelby

Wildkow · 06-23-2006, 04:00 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TiogaJenny @ Jun 23 2006, 12:48 AM) [snapback]275699[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I was driving my 2006 Barcelon Red, Pckg 3 Prius last weekend up at the Merced River near Yosemite. It was very hot-probably near 100 degrees. I had the air con on and a few minutes after I started up again after a long drive, I noticed a fan noise coming from the rear seat area where the vent/grill is to make sure the hybrid batteries don't overheat. That grill area was not blocked in any way. Anyway, I thought it might be the AC making the sound so I turned off the AC and the "fan" sound was still there. When I turned off the car, the noise went away. And then when I turned the car back on, the fan noise started again. It only made the noise for a few minutes, and I have not heard the noise since then.

I'm wondering if it was so hot outside and the batteries had worked hard since I had just driven it for 3 hours, that it might be a fan cooling the batteries down. I have not heard of this feature, though.

Any ideas of what the "fan" sound might be?

Thanks--and I LOVE PriusChat! I have learned so much from these forums!

Shelby
[/b]

The same exact thing happened to me in the valley near Fresno today! Today it was 105F tomorrow it will be 109F. As a Real Estate Appraiser I drive between 120-200 miles a day.

Wildkow

greg4wv · 06-23-2006, 04:18 AM

You are correct, it is a fan to cool down the batteries. I had it kick on last summer on a hot, sunny day that I had neglected to leave the windows "cracked" or put the sunshade up.

The fan is surprisingly loud, but once I got some air moving through the car it turned off pretty quickly. I am not sure how hot it was in the car, but I am sure it had to be close to 100 degrees F.

NuShrike · 06-23-2006, 05:51 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TiogaJenny @ Jun 23 2006, 12:48 AM) [snapback]275699[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I'm wondering if it was so hot outside and the batteries had worked hard since I had just driven it for 3 hours, that it might be a fan cooling the batteries down. I have not heard of this feature, though.

Any ideas of what the "fan" sound might be?[/b]

From our FAQ and your manual, yes.

jamarimutt · 06-23-2006, 06:04 AM

The fan will turn on occasionally and not necessarily due to high outside or inside air temperature. It may turn on after a long uphill climb under cool weather because the battery has "worked" extra hard.

seasalsa · 06-23-2006, 11:07 AM

[attachmentid=3890]Here is a view of the Main battery vent system.

tomdeimos · 06-23-2006, 04:00 PM

For those with fan noise is it always noisy? I've never heard mine, but I checked the vent with a piece of paper and the fan was clearly going some.

ScottY · 06-23-2006, 04:04 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tomdeimos @ Jun 23 2006, 04:00 PM) [snapback]275962[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

For those with fan noise is it always noisy? I've never heard mine, but I checked the vent with a piece of paper and the fan was clearly going some.
[/b]

Same here, I never heard the fan in the back. I even check the vent after a long drive, I can feel the wind, but no noise.

jamarimutt · 06-23-2006, 06:29 PM

I have heard it five times in 42,000 miles; twice on consecutive days after going to the same spot high up in the mountains. It sounds like a laptop computer fan but louder.

seasalsa · 06-23-2006, 09:29 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tomdeimos @ Jun 23 2006, 01:00 PM) [snapback]275962[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

For those with fan noise is it always noisy? I've never heard mine, but I checked the vent with a piece of paper and the fan was clearly going some.
[/b]

The fan speed is variable depending on battery and inside air temperature. Usually the only time we hear it in when it is on high speed due to heavy battery usage or high inside air temps.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Rear Seat Covers?	Ambusticated	Prius Main Forum	4	10-20-2007 10:38 AM
passenger seat noise	local_host	Prius Main Forum	5	05-27-2007 10:42 PM
Mystery noise, rear seat	Robert Fisher	Prius Main Forum	5	02-17-2007 01:48 AM
Hot Rear Seat? Is this Normal?	diode	Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting	4	11-30-2006 12:35 PM
how to remove rear seat ?	brian albert	Prius Modifications	3	11-28-2005 06:03 PM

06-23-2006, 03:48 AM	#1
TiogaJenny Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 6 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I was driving my 2006 Barcelon Red, Pckg 3 Prius last weekend up at the Merced River near Yosemite. It was very hot-probably near 100 degrees. I had the air con on and a few minutes after I started up again after a long drive, I noticed a fan noise coming from the rear seat area where the vent/grill is to make sure the hybrid batteries don't overheat. That grill area was not blocked in any way. Anyway, I thought it might be the AC making the sound so I turned off the AC and the "fan" sound was still there. When I turned off the car, the noise went away. And then when I turned the car back on, the fan noise started again. It only made the noise for a few minutes, and I have not heard the noise since then. I'm wondering if it was so hot outside and the batteries had worked hard since I had just driven it for 3 hours, that it might be a fan cooling the batteries down. I have not heard of this feature, though. Any ideas of what the "fan" sound might be? Thanks--and I LOVE PriusChat! I have learned so much from these forums! Shelby

06-23-2006, 04:18 AM	#3
greg4wv Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Fayetteville, WV Posts: 25 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	You are correct, it is a fan to cool down the batteries. I had it kick on last summer on a hot, sunny day that I had neglected to leave the windows "cracked" or put the sunshade up. The fan is surprisingly loud, but once I got some air moving through the car it turned off pretty quickly. I am not sure how hot it was in the car, but I am sure it had to be close to 100 degrees F.

06-23-2006, 06:04 AM	#5
jamarimutt Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 972 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	The fan will turn on occasionally and not necessarily due to high outside or inside air temperature. It may turn on after a long uphill climb under cool weather because the battery has "worked" extra hard.

06-23-2006, 11:07 AM	#6
seasalsa Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 1,199 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	[attachmentid=3890]Here is a view of the Main battery vent system.

06-23-2006, 04:00 PM	#7
tomdeimos Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lexington, MA Posts: 995 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	For those with fan noise is it always noisy? I've never heard mine, but I checked the vent with a piece of paper and the fan was clearly going some.

06-23-2006, 06:29 PM	#9
jamarimutt Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 972 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I have heard it five times in 42,000 miles; twice on consecutive days after going to the same spot high up in the mountains. It sounds like a laptop computer fan but louder.