Electrical smell from HVAC

Discussion in 'Prius c Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by curtis73, May 25, 2026 at 5:01 PM.

  1. curtis73

    curtis73 Junior Member

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    Location:
    Harrisburg PA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    2012 Prius C/2, 130k miles.

    Over the past few days, I've noticed an electrical/burning smell coming from the vents, usually worse at startup and getting less after 15 or 20 minutes.... although that could be my nose getting used to it. No smoke, it just smells kinda like hot brakes.

    Fan resistor? Fan? Something else?
     
    #1 curtis73, May 25, 2026 at 5:01 PM
  2. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Good time to replace your cabin air filter with a charcoal impregnated one... Let us know if the filter has the smell you're smelling which might let us know if the smell is upstream or downstream of the filter system.

    One time I thought an electrical smell was coming from the vents, but it turned out to be coming from HV battery pack behind the back seat.
     
    #2 PriusCamper, May 25, 2026 at 7:34 PM
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