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

Prius C owners: clean the fan of hybrid battery ASAP

Discussion in 'Prius c Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Harry Le, Apr 9, 2020.

  1. Harry Le

    Harry Le New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2020
    19
    12
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    One
    Hello!
    Just checked the hybrid battery fan of my car (2017 Prius C 35,000 miles). Very surprise. So dirty. I used brush teeth to remove dirt from sieve and now it was cleaned.
    I am not professional to maintenance the car but this is what I can do to prevent the issue of battery.
    Just want to share with you guy.
     
    rjdriver, dubit, iceman13 and 2 others like this.
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    thank you!

    any idea where all the dirt came from?
     
  3. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    9,083
    5,795
    0
    Location:
    Undisclosed Location
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Yeah, I guess my question is did you buy it used, or do you regularly transport dogs/animals?
    I think checking and cleaning the hybrid battery fan is always a good maintenance idea.
    Just somewhat surprised that a Prius with only 35,000 miles on it, and less than 3 years service would be in that bad a shape without extenuating circumstance.
     
  4. Harry Le

    Harry Le New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2020
    19
    12
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    One
    I think like in the house, when we change the air filter, we can see dirt. Same thing in the car, dirt can came from the air ( outside and inside).
     
    bisco likes this.
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    yeah, cali air is bad. i'm still on the 8 year old engine air filter
     
  6. Harry Le

    Harry Le New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2020
    19
    12
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    One
    No, this car I bought the new car and no animal/dog in my car.
     
  7. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    9,083
    5,795
    0
    Location:
    Undisclosed Location
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    You're last name wouldn't happen to be Talbot and you wouldn't black out during full moons?

    I believe you that your fan must of been dirty.
    But it is a little strange that it would be in such evidently dire need of cleaning with relatively low miles and few years.

    Whatever the case, it's always a good idea to check your fan, and clean.

    Edit:
    I see now...California Air....
    Makes me glad I'm in the Pacific Northwest.
     
    Harry Le likes this.
  8. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2014
    1,612
    1,144
    0
    Location:
    Franklin TN
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Ive heard of a surprisingly high amount of Prius C battery failures due to the fans getting clogged with dust and dirt. Even a good friend of mine had his C battery go bad. It’s a shame because most people don’t, and probably won’t know to clean it before it’s too late!
     
  9. iceman13

    iceman13 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2017
    134
    102
    0
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    Could it be that the fan intake is mounted so low compared to other models? . I check it regularly, it’s always clean because I always use the A/C and don’t carry people or items in the back seat.
     
  10. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2014
    1,612
    1,144
    0
    Location:
    Franklin TN
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    See that’s what I thought too.

    unfortunately the gen4 is now low mounted just like the C.
     
  11. Harry Le

    Harry Le New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2020
    19
    12
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    One
    Totally agree. I think the the fan were mounted too low. Just has a little bit higher than the floor mat. I don’t like this design.
     
  12. dig4dirt

    dig4dirt MoonGlow

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2012
    1,150
    741
    0
    Location:
    Lancaster Co PA
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Remember there is also a little filter that you can clean too

     
    Harry Le and Aaron Vitolins like this.
  13. dubit

    dubit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2016
    850
    538
    23
    Location:
    Indiana
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    The C's battery is half the size of the regular Prius' battery so it gets worked a little harder than all the others. Which probably doesn't help.. But to help it out there is also a vent directly under your drivers seat that will blow cold air directly at that fan intake when you run the Air Conditioner. Just keep that fan clean and you'll be fine.

    Though to be honest, that's something they could have included in the owners manual. It's not like it takes 10 minutes to do anyways. :)
     
    mayfly likes this.
  14. iceman13

    iceman13 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2017
    134
    102
    0
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    Wow, really? Tomorrow I’m looking for that vent, good to know.