1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Prius Prime heater always on even without fan on or AC on

Discussion in 'Prime Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by priusway, Dec 10, 2022.

  1. priusway

    priusway Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2016
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    Orange County
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    My Prime heater is always on even with the fan turned off on the display panel. I can feel some heat coming out on the vent even with no fan on. If I turn on the fan, set temp to lowest temp, 58 degree F, I still have hot air coming out of the vent. If I turn on AC, I still have hot air out. I have to turn off the air fan, turn on Recycle mode in order to block all air to stop hot air from coming out of the vent. I brought it to dealer and they diagnosed the heater box needs to be replaced at a cost of $6000. They said they need to take out the entire instrumentation display to do the repair. I wonder if anyone has a similar problem and how did they fix it. Thanks in advance!
     
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,674
    38,218
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Maybe they can give you the part number? I see this, not sure:

    8705047410

    ^ around $500 something CDN.

    I appreciate the dash has to be torn apart (assuming replacement is needed) but over five grand USD for labour, rivals engine swap??

    Check with a second dealership? Or just tell them you’re going to do that, see what happens?

    I’ve heard, when they basically don’t want to take on a job, they’ll give you a preposterous quote.
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Dec 11, 2022
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2022
  3. priusway

    priusway Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2016
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    Orange County
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    This is per the dealer:

    " Found codes B1441 & B1448. Cleared codes, performed A/C initialization. Codes came back. Inspected servo motors for mechanical damage. Was unable to find damage. Require tear down to further inspect. Rec replace A/C heater box. Part# 87050-47400. "

    My further findings about the hot air coming out of the vents is that when the car is in EV mode, the AC works properly, cold air comes out. As I slowly cranked up the temp, warmer air comes out of vents. When the car has used up the battery in EV mode and the engine kicks in, that's when only hot air comes out of vents regardless of AC/temp setting. I also noticed there is no air comes out on the front passenger vent even when the driver-only vent mode is turned off (this is an Econ mode in Prius Prime where hot/cold air comes out of the driver side vent ONLY to save energy).

    Also, all ventilation settings are gone after the car is turned off for an hour or so. When I turn the engine back on, I have to set up the temperature, how much air flow, air vent mode (top, middle, bottom to the feet), Econ mode, etc. The settings are kept if I turn off the engine then back on after a few minutes. If I turn on the engine an hour or two later, the previous settings are gone.
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,674
    38,218
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
  5. priusway

    priusway Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2016
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    Orange County
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    From what I have described, do you think the dealer has diagnosed the correct problem that the entire AC box needs to be replaced? Thanks Mendel!
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,674
    38,218
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I’m definitely not an expert, wouldn’t venture an opinion on that. Run it by a second dealership, see if they have same diagnosis?