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Dealership recommending HV battery fan service for Prime

Discussion in 'Prime Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Tony Zenmaster, Apr 8, 2020.

  1. Tony Zenmaster

    Tony Zenmaster Junior Member

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    Hi everyone,

    I was recently at Elmore Toyota in Westminster, bringing in my 2017 Prime for a routine maintenance & oil change service. Before my car was taken in for maintenance, the service advisor looks at my car's records and says they recommend a hv battery fan & some other coolant flush service. I respectfully declined before they took my car in. After about an hour, the tech finished my car. The service advisor says the tech saw my hv cooling fans were dirty and that i need inverter coolant exchange.

    How can I check myself if my Prime really does need this? I honestly feel like the service advisor is trying to squeeze more revenue since the dealership and service department was like a ghost town when i went during this Covid-19 stuff. I don't know how the tech can know if the hv fan is dirty since he needs to take apart the whole back seat I believe which i'm pretty sure he didn't do. I have items in the back seat area and they were pretty much in the same place when I took my car back. Any advice or instructions on how I can check these service recommendations myself will be greatly appreciated.

    Stay safe everyone.
     
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    What's the miles on it?
     
  3. Tony Zenmaster

    Tony Zenmaster Junior Member

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  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    You should be able to check your hybrid battery fan yourself. Not sure of the details, other Prime owners will hopefully have tips.

    A dealership recommending to change coolant on a 2017 with 60k miles should be avoided. And reported to Toyota.

    Check your Warranty and Maintenance Booklet for what maintenance is due, and when.
     
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  5. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Piece of cake! Pull out the cargo mat. Take out the lid on the little cable storage bin by the hatch latch. Remove a few plastid fasteners and lift the deck out. It takes about three minutes if the cargo area isn't loaded with stuff like mine. The fans will be staring you in the face.
     
  6. dig4dirt

    dig4dirt MoonGlow

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    If you want to continue with the same dealership, just decline all services they suggest.

    Look your manual to see what is technically needed/necessary.
     
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  7. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    While some of us here disagree on proper service and maintenance for vehicles...the SA was just trying to pad your bill because he makes a cut/commision doing so. I guarantee the Mechanic/Tech said NOTHING about your fan needing cleaning. They just read the W/O and do the job assigned. Period. They are already to busy to go fishing for more work.
     
  8. tedjohnson

    tedjohnson Member

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    What's the trick to removing those 4 plastic fasteners? One of mine is missing all together. They look like buttons. Need a special tool? Thanks. Ted
     
  9. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    Just a slot head screw driver will do. Even a butter knive (an old one the wife won't miss)
     
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  10. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Small screwdriver. Two, one on each side is easier. Easiest is a paint can opener.
    paint can opener.jpg

    Just use whichever tool to pop the center part up an then the whole thing comes out. Just like the panels under the car or the ones under the hood.
     
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  11. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    And I forgot to mention that I totally stole this idea from @Mendel Leisk. :LOL:
     
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  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah where's my royalty check :whistle:
     
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  13. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I'd be suspicious of this service center.
    Funny how these extra services, beyond routine maintenance always seem to manifest sometime after the end of the Toyotacare period.

    I think in situations like this, your gut feeling isn't too bad to follow.
    I think I'd just be looking for a different service center for future maintenance.
     
  14. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    I bet it's in the mail:p.
     
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  15. tedjohnson

    tedjohnson Member

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    Thanks...
     
  16. tedjohnson

    tedjohnson Member

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    No cooling fans there just 1 big battery pack, how did you get to the cooling fans to check them out? Thanks
     
  17. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Did you take off the panels at the right and left sides? It'll also help to take out the cable storage bin that's between the bumper and the battery. It will need a 10mm socket.

    IMG_1758.jpg
    Right side


    IMG_1759.jpg

    Left side.
     
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  18. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    @tedjohnson you also need to remove the plastic compartment just inside the hatch to see the fan and ducting. The plastic compartment where the EVSE-charger cable and the tire lug tools were stored from the factory. The fan is under that plastic piece. Just pull it up gently after removing the other pieces mentioned above.
    And when removing the cargo area floor just on top of the traction pack make sure to pull it straight back towards the bumper an inch or two before trying to lift it out of the cargo area.
     
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  19. droplet

    droplet Junior Member

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    Found a 2020 TSB for HV Battery Cooling System Maintenance at NHTSA (attached below).

    For the Prime just check/clean the fan filters next to the rear passenger seat.
     

    Attached Files:

  20. thomassster

    thomassster Member

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    your filter should help you determine whether your fan can be getting dirty. The filter should be extremely easy to check. Although if you are receiving the vehicle second-hand, that is a different situation, since someone could have cleaned out the filter and not the fan.