Traction Battery & Fan Vents Preventive Maintenance

I just bought a $1000 white beat-up 2010 Prius with 298,000 miles. A lot of work to be done. Great 65'F day outside for a 5hour fun filled day of maintenance to the traction battery & fan/vent. Electric drill and magnetic bits saved loads of time.

UPHOLSTERY TEARDOWN
- filthy upholstery
- cleaned out spare tirewell; 2x rubber plugs come out for easy hosing down of bay
- unplug both batteries: HV traction and 12V
- found $0.85 behind seat cushions

FAN/VENTS REMOVAL
- filthy/dusty vents; all went into the bath tub for a thorough washing
- fan was heavy with dog and human hair
- used bleach mix & q-tip buds to spray bottle clean fan. Best to hold fan facing down and to spray up into the fan; try your best not to get the motor wet. I've become efficient over the years--- down to <5min clean job

TRACTION BATTERY
- filthy battery terminals; brush down with plastic brush
- Electric drill and magnetic bits saved loads of time for removal.
- do not use drill to em-place nuts; damage fear of cross threading and overstress on module threads.
- sand down those brass copper bus bars; i use a 3M material akin to dishwashing pad
- i have at times replaced a few copper bus bars with zinc coated; but my engineer friends tell me copper is ~4 times a better conductor over zinc; but zinc corrodes less: tradeoffs.
- 2 part solution clean of vinegar, then stabilize with baking soda solution
- refit with dialectic grease 9mm socket; hand tighten

ROAD TEST
- good to go on first try; i must be getting a little better at this process. ; )
- i shall revisit this compartment at around ~400,000 miles.
- time for margaritaville!

 

Seafoam- 20 Minute Hot Soak @ 298k Miles | PriusChat
need a new EGR valve, coming in the mail...
but otherwise she's great on the highway

 

This EGR system fix will be content for another thread, but ...
there was evidence of HUGE oil burning; Im contemplating an Oil Catch Can
the entire EGR system was clogged; pipe clogged; valve stuck, cooler like concrete. I undid the cooler in 2 hours with chemicals, a drill and coat hanger; way too much work. Can drive prius on highway at 70mph, but still have some engine ping/misfires. Not out of the woods yet. EGR valve in the mail.

 

RTE,
I read a few points to that pressure washing online & on Priuschat, but just after I put 2hours into the cooler effort.
too bad i didnt see it before
but rest assured, i will pressure wash it next time I come across a concrete EGR cooler--- thanks.