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Air vent under passenger seat- What is it?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by davekro, Dec 1, 2013.

  1. davekro

    davekro Member

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    I like to keep a plastic box in the unused space below the passenger seat*. Is this vent related to battery (or other system) cooling? If it is simply an air vent for rear passengers, I will not be concerned with blocking it.

    * I keep my tire repair kit in it (small air compressor, tire plug kit, pliers). [I have a Plug In Prius w/o a spare tire and the OEM compressor w/ goo ruins the air pressure sensor.]
     
  2. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

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    Not wise to block a vent in a Prius.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    does it face the rear? turn the heat on and see if it's rear passenger heating.
     
  4. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    It's for main battery vent system. If you are talking the left rear passenger seat vent.

    From the manual

    Hybrid battery (traction battery) air vents
    There are air intake vents on the
    side of the rear right seatback
    and on the front corner of the left
    rear seat cushion for the purpose
    of cooling the hybrid battery
    (traction battery). If the vents
    become blocked, the hybrid battery
    (traction battery) may overheat,
    leading to a reduction in
    hybrid battery (traction battery)
    output.
     
  5. davekro

    davekro Member

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    Yes it faces rear. It is underneath the front of the front passenger seat. Duh (tks), it does blow air from the ventilation system and changes with the fan speed from the cabin temperature control. It is not related to the traction battery's cooling vents located at the lower left of the backseat bench and at the far right backseat seatback next to the right rear door.
     
  6. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

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    How about a picture so we know what you're talking about? As you have described, it is probably the rear seat area HVAC register. Blocking it would diminish the amount of forced air into the rear seating area. Bear in mind that your traction battery air inlet is in the back seating area.
     
  7. B. Roberts

    B. Roberts Hypah Milah! Ayuh.

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    The grate between the right seat back and the right door... that's the traction battery cooling air intake... never block that one.

    The other vent under the seat is HVAC... block that one all you want... if need be. Shouldn't compromise anything.
     
  8. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    That's the vent that will keep your tools warm or cold depending upon what temp you have the heat or AC set for [​IMG]

    Mike [​IMG]
     
  9. energyandair

    energyandair Active Member

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    I've not heard of a cooling vent at the lower left of the backseat bench and can't see it in my 2010.

    Can you describe it further or add a photo?

     
  10. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

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    The "cool air inlet" is at the left side of the rear seat (if you're facing it) or upper right of the rear seat (driver's perspective).

    [​IMG]

    Photo credit to jayman.
     
  11. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    I do not know were to get a photo of it. You can read a bit from my 2012 plug-in manual. see post #4.
    You will not have this in your 2010, I am not positive but I believe it was new in 2012 plug-in and may be only in plug-in it may be the only ones to have it, I'm not sure.
     
  12. davekro

    davekro Member

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    I am sorry for the confusion. Mine is a 2013 Plug In Prius. So this 'extra' vent (as mentioned above) is just for PIP's. On the PIP, besides the (as you are sitting in the back seat) right side vent we all are familiar with, the PIP also has a vent on the lower seat cushion on left side. If you were sitting behind the driver, it would behind your left calf/ lower leg. I assume this is an additional air intake due to the additional lithium (traction) battery located where regular Gen III Prius' have their spare tire (PIP's don't have a spare tire).

    Again, sorry for creating confusion. I posted in the regular Prius thread because in most ways the PIP is identical to the regular Gen III.
     
  13. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    Photo added of left rear seat vent by floor.
    2012 prius vent 001.JPG
     
    AZPriusdriver and 32kcolors like this.
  14. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

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    A picture is...
     
  15. davekro

    davekro Member

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    Oh, I KNOW this one...
    .
    .
    .
    .
    uh, purdy? ;)
     
  16. Feri

    Feri Active Member

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    It came standard in Australian 2010 Prius. Cools or heats rear passenger feet. Of course ours is on the left.;)
     
  17. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    Pretty sure ours is an extra battery vent.
     
  18. davekro

    davekro Member

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    I believe our mate is referring here to the AC/ heating vent under front passenger seat, which was the vent that was inquired about in the original post. Our mate's passenger seat seems to have come from the factory installed on the 'wrong side'. ;)

    This vent refers to the 'extra' battery vent on the left side backseat bottom, near left door (only on the PIP).
     
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    pretty funny how a perfect description of the 'vent under the passenger seat facing the rear' can be misconstrued as the cooling vent(s) for the battery.:p
     
  20. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    That was my fault!
    I just assumed that OP was talking about the extra vent on the rear seat left cushion in our plug-in's.
    The reason I assumed that is because the rear heat / Air cond.ducts have been under the front passenger seat for Many Years...... and the Plug-in's vent in the rear cushion was new with the plug-in. My Bad! Sorry for the confusion! :(