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Got oil change, now A/C fan is making noise?!?!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by ddiamondd, Jul 23, 2014.

  1. ddiamondd

    ddiamondd Junior Member

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    So, first things first, I hate going to dealerships. But the local one has a 3 oil change/tire rotation special for $150, so I couldn't say no. Anyway, I brought it there just a few hours ago, and before I paid, he said my air and cabin filters needed replacing. He showed them to me, and I agreed, but said I would do it myself (they wanted almost $80!). So I leave the dealer on the way to advance auto parts, and go to put the A/C on. I crank it up, as I usually do, and now there is a somewhat loud humming noise that is accompanying the usual air blowing sound. This only really is audible at the top of the fan speed range. Mid and low seem to be ok, but its still kind of there. Never heard this before, and I don't know what it is or why it happened. I replaced both the engine and cabin air filters, and its still there. Kind if sounds like its in the glove box area, but its hard to pinpoint. Has anyone else experienced this? Should I be worried? I need an alignment anyway, but am hesitant to complain to the dealer if its not their fault. Any info will be much appreciated!
     
    #1 ddiamondd, Jul 23, 2014
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    There is probably a leaf that fell into the blower fan while the Tech was checking your cabin air filter. Take your cabin filter out and see if you can find debris in the blower. This is the area right under the cabin air filter.
     
    #2 JC91006, Jul 23, 2014
    spiderman and ddiamondd like this.
  3. ddiamondd

    ddiamondd Junior Member

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    You, my friend, are a genius! I was looking around that area when replacing the filter, but didn't know what to look for, or if my hand could fit. It barely did, but there was a myriad of leaves and sticks. Seems to be fixed now! Thanks so much. I love this forum!
     
    #3 ddiamondd, Jul 23, 2014
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i would hesitate to let them change my oil or rotate my tyres.:eek:
     
    #4 bisco, Jul 23, 2014
    hybridbear likes this.
  5. Jon Hagen

    Jon Hagen Active Member

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    BTDT, only my blower vibration was of the tear itself out of the dash magnitude after the oil change / inspection service.
    We turned around and headed right back to the dealership to see if they knew what was up. The shop forman said"yeah, thats pretty common." He called the tec that did the oil change / inspection. The young guy immediatly pulled the cabin filter part way out, where he said" ooh, you have a mouse problem".
    I had been feeding the farm cat in the garage, and a little mouse had stacked a couple teaspoons of dry cat food stars on top of the cabin filter for next winter. When the tec pulled the filter partly out during his inspection, some of the cat food dropped into the blower wheel. I am sure he would not be paid for the extra 1/2 hour or more it would take him to vacuum all that out of the blower wheel, so he just slid the filter back in there and said nothing, hoping nothing would vibrate and no one would notice.
    I realized this was my fault for having an open dish of cat food in the garage near the car,so I took the car home and cobbled up a small 90 degree elbow tubing adapter for my shop vac hose and spent the next half hour with shop vac, flashlight and mirror, sucking out the cat food.. I quit feeding the cat in the garage and have had no more junk on the filter problems(3 years) :)
     
    #5 Jon Hagen, Jul 23, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2014
  6. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    You couldn't... why? That is pricey if you ask me.
     
    #6 spiderman, Jul 23, 2014
  7. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    I'd be rather upset if I paid for one thing and the mechanic ventured into a part of my car he was not paid to touch.

    How would he know the state of your filters from doing an oil change and tire rotation?
     
    #7 qdllc, Jul 24, 2014
  8. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    This usually happens in the form of free 40 point inspections. They find issues to fix for you.
     
    #8 JC91006, Jul 24, 2014
  9. ddiamondd

    ddiamondd Junior Member

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    I can't stand dealers, but the people here have been very helpful, aside from this. But the problem is fixed, lets hope I don't run into other issues...

    Really? I think $50 each for synthetic oil change, tire rotation, and mutli point inspection is a decent price. Especially when you factor in the convenience.

    It was part of the "multi point inspection". They check the air and cabin filters, lights, brakes, fluids, and so on. Glad they did too. Especially the cabin filter. Aside from the junk that fell into the fan, which was easy enough to remove.
     
    #9 ddiamondd, Jul 24, 2014
  10. MattPersman

    MattPersman Member

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    Yes that's a good price, my dealer charges 69.xx for just the oil change
     
    #10 MattPersman, Jul 25, 2014
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