1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Help with a funky smell

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by austingreen, Dec 31, 2009.

  1. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2009
    13,591
    4,132
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX, USA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    Today I smelt something bad coming from my prius for the second time. It smelt like something was burning, maybe electrical. Battery was at full charge and I was braking down hill. I have just a little over 1000 miles.

    Is this something to be concerned about, or just a normal burn in item? I would take it to the dealer to check it out, but since this is only the second time its happened I doubt its easy to recreate.
     
    #1 austingreen, Dec 31, 2009
  2. jim256

    jim256 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2009
    317
    69
    0
    Location:
    Eastern NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    It might be just undercoating applied at the port or dealer, although that's normally burnt off hot surfaces in the first miles. If you've had it on long drives before the smell occurred, I doubt it's that, so probably worth a trip to the dealer. If it's inside or outside smell, or both, may help the dealer advise you.
     
    #2 jim256, Dec 31, 2009
  3. Fstr911

    Fstr911 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2009
    235
    55
    3
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    III
    The odor you describe is very simular to heated or nearly overheated brake pads.
     
    #3 Fstr911, Dec 31, 2009
  4. a64pilot

    a64pilot Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2008
    771
    62
    0
    Location:
    Albany Ga.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    There aren't many big hills in Austin is there? I would think it would take a mountain to overheat brakes?
     
    #4 a64pilot, Jan 1, 2010
  5. Fstr911

    Fstr911 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2009
    235
    55
    3
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    III
    Yes, it would take a good size downhill, or a person that had the bad habit of riding the brakes, or maybe driving with the emergency brake on.

    Anyway, I think it's worth a trip to the dealer to check out the problem. One car fire could ruin your whole day.
     
    #5 Fstr911, Jan 1, 2010
  6. Bobsprius

    Bobsprius BobPrius

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2009
    679
    80
    0
    Location:
    Buffalo
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    There is another post about this, but it appears to be the Hybrid Battery Pack just heating up for the Regen of the brakes.

    I understand from all the postings this is a normal condition from the regen to the HV Battery. It should not be detrimental.

    Were you using B mode at all?

    It could be something of the brakes as well.
     
    #6 Bobsprius, Jan 1, 2010
  7. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2009
    13,591
    4,132
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX, USA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    I wasn't in B, and I believe I was mainly the regen portion of the brakes both times, the second time a little bit of friction. It didn't smell like conventional brakes.

    We have rolling hills not mountains, I was thinking it might be something with the regen/battery pack/ or inverter. I can easily go down some hills to charge the battery up if you think that will make it repeat. If it does, is there a way to check to confirm where the smell is coming from?

     
    #7 austingreen, Jan 2, 2010
  8. bramesh

    bramesh New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2009
    25
    2
    0
    Location:
    Singapore
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    #8 bramesh, Feb 22, 2010
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)