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A/C Troubles?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by russia22, Jul 2, 2012.

  1. russia22

    russia22 Junior Member

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    OK, I know it is hot. Here on the East Coast we have had several 95-100 degree days. However, is it me, or is the wimpy little vent in the back seat useless? I had my kids back there yesterday and while my wife and I were cooling off in the front, hardly any air came out the back and the kids were complaining. Wish Toyota could have made the vent come out by the front center armrest (I'm sure there is a good design reason they couldn't).

    Any way to get more air back there other than maxing out the fan?
     
    #1 russia22, Jul 2, 2012
  2. gmcneil05

    gmcneil05 Member

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    That is a cooling vent for the battery. Nothing to do with the AC system.
     
    #2 gmcneil05, Jul 2, 2012
  3. russia22

    russia22 Junior Member

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    Thanks. Kind of stinks that Toyota would not put rear AC vents in a car that costs this much. Most modern cars seem to have them. Maybe they should test drive them once in a while in hot and cold conditions and seek feedback.
     
    #3 russia22, Jul 2, 2012
  4. macman408

    macman408 Electron Guidance Counselor

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    I think there are vents under the front seats for the back, but yes, they won't do much. When I have back seat passengers, I usually point the center two vents straight back towards the back seat. That works fairly well to keep everybody comfortable.
     
    #4 macman408, Jul 3, 2012
  5. GasperG

    GasperG Senior Member

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    I think that vents under the front seats are suction vents, just like battery vents.
     
    #5 GasperG, Jul 3, 2012
  6. PriusInParadise

    PriusInParadise Member

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    The vents under the front seats are heater outlets for your rear seat passengers' feet.
    I agree that pointing the two center dash vents straight back is most effective.
    You could try using Bi-Level mode (face and floor) and see how your rear passengers like it.
     
    #6 PriusInParadise, Jul 3, 2012
  7. GasperG

    GasperG Senior Member

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    Air must circulate, if the car is airtight, your front blower wont be blowing any air, where do you think all the air goes? Thru the battery? I don't think so.
     
    #7 GasperG, Jul 4, 2012
  8. PriusInParadise

    PriusInParadise Member

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    You are right, air will not circulate if the car is air tight.
    Luckily, the car is not air tight.
    Air enters through the cowl vent at the base of the windshield, into the HVAC blower unit.
    The air is then distributed out of the various outlets: face vents, front and rear heater outlets, and front defroster outlets.
    The bulk of the air does go through the HV battery cooling ducts, and ends up near the spare tire, under the rear cargo floor.
    The air is expelled through two flapper valves, located low on the left and right rear quarter panels, nearly at the rearmost corners. These valves are hidden by the rear bumper cover. The right side valve can be seen outboard of the 12v auxiliary battery, the left vent is behind the small cargo tray.
     
    #8 PriusInParadise, Jul 4, 2012
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