Traction Battery Fan Cleaning & Brake Fluid

if you don't carry any shedding pets or the like, you don't need to clean the fan.

they're lying about the brake fluid, just follow the o/m maintenance intervals, dealer has a boat payment to make.

 

I was curious about the fan too. That screw releases a push-in pin that holds the vent cover in place. There actually a filter in there too. No need to remove the rear seat.

 

But if you want to remove the seat, there was a thread maybe 6 weeks ago about how to do it.

Brake fluid has normally a 2 year (or 3 in some cases) life in most car service schedules. As mentioned above, dealer must have a Yacht repayment due.

 

if nothing is available on the net, you can subscribe to the service manual online for $15./2 days subscription.

 

In regard to replacing the brake fluid. Here is my tip: Every year when I change the oil / oil filter, I siphon as much out of the brake fluid reservoir as possible with a syringe. The fluid will be yellowish. (If analyzed, it would be shown to contain water that it absorbs from the air.) I add new clear brake fluid to the FULL mark. This process is not as good as a complete flush, but if done every year will do the trick. Most manufacturers recommend a flush whenever the brake system is worked on. However, my 2004 Prius with 220,000 miles, it has never had the brake pads replaced.

 

Toyota Canada recommends tri-yearly or 48K kms, whichever comes first, for brake fluid changes.
Similarly, Honda Canada recommends tri-yearly, regardless of miles.
Toyota USA says nothing...

There like is an instruction in the Repair Manual, or the online-only rendition that's apparently all there is for fourth gen. I'll attach a third gen (non-Techstream) 3rd gen instruction, fwiw. Also watch @NutzAboutBolts video, pinned in 3rd gen maintenance forum.

Regarding the hybrid battery fan: I would just have a look at it yourself. It's a different gen, so couldn't tell you specifics, but it shouldn't be too hard. FWIW, team priuschat had the rear seat up and off at the Las Vegas reveal, in a matter of seconds.

 

The interesting thing is the manual says to just vacuum the outer grille. After removing the grille you can see a filter inside. There is no mention of cleaning or replacing it though. I think you might need too remove the lower rear seat.

 

Except that's GEN 3 - Gen 4, the Owner's Handbook says nothing, just check - ie, it's for life?

Cars.com (no idea who they are) say "... In contrast, on the Ford Escape, Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Camry and other models from those manufacturers, there are no recommendations for replacing the brake fluid, only instructions to inspect it periodically ..." . So it sounds like other manufacturers have ceased changing it regularly too.

I'd be hesitant to attack it myself - unlike an older car which is fairly straight forward, the PRIUS system has at least 13 valves and 4 sensors in the fluid lines to complicate matters.

 

Toyota says different things around the world. You know that from the oil weight specs, lol.

Toyota Canada "Owner's Manual Supplement" (booklet roughly equivalent to Toyota USA Warranty and Maintenance Guide) model year (all vehicles, including Prius):



And comparable 2016 model year. Now, they got "clever", no booklet schedule, at least not downloadable pdf format. The following is a pdf print from Toyota Canada maintenance page:



Link:

Maintenance Schedule - Toyota Canada

This is one reason I make spreadsheet tables of the schedules; they're such a moving target, it's like nailing jello to the wall. Maybe the dealerships like it that way.

 

Cliff Stoll had a good procedure for that, in case it's ever something you need to do.

 

You have to take small doses of that guy, lol.

 

Moisture in the brake fluid eventually settles out at the lowest point, which is normally the wheel cylinders. This leads to corroded parts, piston seizures, inefficient braking and leakages at the wheel. So it's pointless just changing the fluid in the reservoir. As Alan said above the Prius has many valves etc. in the system and corrosion in those could make a big hole in your pocket, IIRC the ABS pump was around £4,000 GBP ($5100 USD) fitted last I heard, that's equivalent to the cost of around 100 brake fluid changes at the dealers, so IMO DIY changes are a false economy.
To remove the clip on the fan cover, unscrew the screw about 3 or 4 turns, then prise out the bit it's screwed into (the push clip).