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Battery Temperatures & Reliability

Discussion in 'Prius c Technical Discussion' started by priusCpilot, Jul 29, 2015.

  1. priusCpilot

    priusCpilot Active Member

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    I have been seeing temps here in So Cal in the summer hitting 118f. This was after parking for a few hours from a drive but in shade.

    What temps you guys get when ambient is 90f+

    I wounder if the rear self in the trunk with the seats up keep to much heat back there for the battery vent?
     
  2. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    Shade does help. I've seen inverter coolant in the low 130's. Expect OAT + 20F.
     
  3. priusCpilot

    priusCpilot Active Member

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    Oddly I removed the rear shelve so the rear cargo area was open and temps DIDN'T change ?

    I also put the batter fan to full power and still nothing? Even 10mins on full blast didn't bring the temp down?

    I us AC and put the AC vent to the bottom arrow and that may have helped bring it down slowly? ?
     
    #3 priusCpilot, Jul 31, 2015
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2015
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you definitely want the a/c on, and recirq. make sure your vent grille and fan are clean, and the outlet louvers.
     
  5. Motov8r

    Motov8r Member

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    I drive in 90-100 degree weather with the windows down no a/c. My commute is 12 miles. The battery fan rarely comes on and I check it frequently. Not sure what the temp is but its not high enough to trigger the fan. I do have excellent ceramic tint and don't open the windows on the sunny side of the car.


    iPhone ?
     
  6. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

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    My A/C is pretty much on every time I drive, summer or winter......:(
     
  7. priusCpilot

    priusCpilot Active Member

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    Can the fan be dirty at 63k miles?

    Nothing obstructing it and no pets.
     
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Take a look.

    FWIW, parked after a drive is when I see highest temps. Usage raises the temp, then sitting, fan off, hot weather in particular, seems bad. Highest I've seen is maybe 46C. In regular use more like 35C~38C.

    Also, I'm thinking the theory that AC cooling of the cabin will keep the battery temp down is urban legend: monitoring battery temp, starting with no AC, then switching it on and running for say 1/2 hour, I see no temp drop.
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that's interesting, i wonder why cooler air doesn't reduce the temp?

    maybe it would if the battery was hotter and the fan speed higher?
    Merged."...
    probably not. don't think i've heard of a clog without pets.
     
    #9 bisco, Aug 1, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 13, 2015
  10. priusCpilot

    priusCpilot Active Member

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    I had the battery fan at speed 6 with my ScanGauge and didn't do much. Even with AC

    So I guess it doesn't matter??
    Merged...
    So is heat OK then? This is how it needs to operate or inherent with no liquid cooling but shorter life as a side effect?
     
    #10 priusCpilot, Aug 2, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 13, 2015
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    well, there has to be a reason, otherwise toyota would save the money on the fan and ductwork.
    Merged......
    heat is not okay, but the system is designed to provide longevity even with some heat.

    if your question is, how much is too much? you may have surpassed the combined brainpower of these forums.:cool:

    i think all we really know is, the less the better. but cold isn't good either. there's a comfort range.
     
    #11 bisco, Aug 2, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 13, 2015
  12. mertechperformance

    mertechperformance Active Member

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    How are you controlling battery fan speed/power?
     
  13. priusCpilot

    priusCpilot Active Member

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    Mertechperformance I used a Scan Gauge 2. Check it out online and If you get one you can the codes for a Prius C here. A member figured them out and made a PDF which I have if you need it.
     
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I don't think he's controlling fan speed with ScanGauge, just monitoring it. I could be wrong, lol.
     
  15. mertechperformance

    mertechperformance Active Member

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    I hated scan gauge, I used to have an ultra gauge and loved it but it was stolen when my xB was vandalized. I'm using a bluetooth code reader now.

    SM-N910T ?
     
  16. priusCpilot

    priusCpilot Active Member

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    I used the Scan Gauge to put the fan speed to 6 which is full speed. It didn't lower the temps with it on for 10mins at speed 6. MPG went down a lot maybe due to going to speed 6 which shuts down use of the battery by default protection built in?
     
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  17. vinnie97

    vinnie97 Whatever Works

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    Oh, found a more appropriate thread for my issue here. Definitely getting myself an OBD2 scanner now to monitor the batt temp since I started hearing the fan for the first time on this hot summer day (I was also idling for nearly an hour waiting for somebody at a doctor appointment, the longest time I've sat idle in the vehicle).
     
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Scangauge out of the box won't show either fan speed or battery temp. But Xgauge programs can be entered to add those If and when you need info, just ask. There's a YouTube video explaining the (not that intuitive) data entry, and there's a massive spreadsheet listing all or most of the xgauges.
     
  19. vinnie97

    vinnie97 Whatever Works

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    Figures, but I'm planning on using an Android app with the aforementioned ODB2 adapter to observe these parameters. Perhaps I'll be settling for less functionality than I hoped. Would be open to recommendations on the best app for this purpose.
     
  20. breakfast

    breakfast Active Member

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    You may not have seen a temp drop, but isn't it possible that the temp would have risen further if the AC was not switched on?
     
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