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Noise coming from back seat battery vent

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by 'E', Jul 26, 2014.

  1. engerysaver

    engerysaver Real Senior Member

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    o_OSomething WRONG somewhere!!:(
    I hope the dealer can find it?:unsure:
     
  2. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    Wait, you didn't use AC before that?
    I found out myself, that if I don't use AC in temps over 75 F (even if it's still comfortable to me to drive with widows down), the battery temps goes too high.
     
  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    This should be a heat related symptom. It's so hot in Las Vegas, the car takes a while to cool itself down. The battery fan will kick on when you first start driving because the battery pack is already overheated from sitting in 100 degree heat. Cranking the AC for 15 minutes gave the car ample time to cool off the interior where the battery temperature came back down to normal.
     
  4. 'E'

    'E' Erik

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    I use the a/c all the time. I just don't blast it to frigid. I haven't changed the way I use the a/c since the last few summers so I don't know why it would behave differently now. So far the only difference we can put are thumbs on is the recall update.
     
  5. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    What's your definition of frigit expressed in degrees?
     
  6. 'E'

    'E' Erik

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    Hard to say but I keep it on low at the third or fourth fan speed. Once it cools off enough for me.

    I'm not going to stress over it. They've done a thorough check on everything. I do believe it's temp related and perhaps a bit more sensitive since the update. If it stops once the summer temps cool off a bit we'll know for sure.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    annoying is the least of your problems, i hope it's just a software issue.
     
  8. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Did you say what colour the car was? Is it black or dark blue? How do you run your a/c? Do you have it on Auto or do you keep it on recirc all the time? Do you keep items in the trunk all the time?
     
  9. 'E'

    'E' Erik

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    My car is silver with a gray interior. The a/c is on the lowest temp and I run it at full until I'm comfortable and then back it down to speed three or four. It's always on recirc and my trunk is empty almost all the time.
     
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    This might seem counterintuitive, but give it a try:

    Set the system on Auto, with AC on, then maybe just change the Mode to High/Low (arrows at feet and face). Don't override fan speed.

    Raise the temperature 'till the fan speed settles down, no more than half way up. This might be somewhere around 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

    As the AC starts to take hold, and the fan speed drops a bit, take the temperature down, but not a lot. Try to settle around 75 degrees. Just aim for something that's comfortably cool.
     
  11. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    If this continues onto the cooler months, it might indicate the battery might be weakening and getting hotter than normal. But the good thing is...... you are still under warranty.
     
  12. 'E'

    'E' Erik

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    Thanks for all the tips and suggestions so far , guys. I'll give everything a shot and will definitely bring the car back to the dealer if this is still happening once it cools off. Thanks again!
     
  13. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    I'm hoping others will comment here but I'm sure I've read that always using recirc doesn't allow the cold air to flow through the car. Normally this is a good thing as it keeps the interior cold, but not in a Prius as the flow of cold air through the car is also used to cool the HV battery. The HV battery is also the thing used to power the a/c so a double whammy.

    As others have said, try the a/c on Auto adjusting the temp as required. In Auto the car will use recirc at first to cool the interior and then will switch to normal allowing the air to be taken from the outside to flow through the car (and through the HV battery).

    Just it a try and see if the battery fan noise reduces or stops. And let us all know.
     
    Roland1555 likes this.
  14. 'E'

    'E' Erik

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    I did try all the suggestions and the fan was still crazy loud. It won't really be a problem anymore since I traded it for a new Prius Advanced Plug-in -- and the fan has been quiet as a church mouse so far. The fan issues didn't drive me to the trade, I've had my eye on a new one for a while. It might have given me a good nudge, though!
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    congrats, all the best with your new pip!(y)
     
    'E' likes this.
  16. Kronos316

    Kronos316 Junior Member

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    This just started happening to our Prius on the way home tonight. EXACTLY as this gentleman had. When I stop the sounds stops, when I go it starts going. I will add this, I recently had the update done to the car that deals with the full throttle voltage thing and it just so happens that tonight I had the car running full throtle floored quite alot, at least more than any other time since this update. ( was in a hurry :)
    Any ideas? I think we've found a new computer glitch.
     
  17. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

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    I had a 2011 Prius Two for 3 years. During that time the Hybrid vent fan was hardly noticeable when it was running. I just traded it in on a 2014 Avalon Hybrid XLE Touring. The vent fan is noisy in it. When I hit a bump it makes a rattling noise. I took it in to the Toyota dealer two times. Both times they said they could hear nothing and they could find nothing wrong. The last time they told me the vent fan in the Avalon is somewhat noisy. I don't think they wanted to be bothered with it. I have the service receipt that I had it in for that reason. I also called Toyota Customer Service and got a case number so I will just keep driving it. Hopefully if I have a problem with it when my warranty runs out that I will be covered---- MAYBE. There are just some things that a dealer does not want to admit exists and the customer is just stuck with it. That has always been my experience.
     
  18. Prius_Boriqua

    Prius_Boriqua Junior Member

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  19. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    What about installing it inside the air vent area? That way it doesn't look so unsightly and less likely to be bumped?
     
  20. Prius_Boriqua

    Prius_Boriqua Junior Member

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    Hi Grumpy

    That's how I have it now. Mounting it outside was a temporary thing. Right now its in the air vent tunnel. All the cables run under the seat, into the side rails, under the carpet, into the center armrest were I made a small hole to pass the cable in to the compartment. Its 100% out of sight.
     
    GrumpyCabbie likes this.