Battery Fan (Traction Battery Fan) Filter Sound

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by eelnij, Oct 7, 2022.

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  1. eelnij

    eelnij New Member

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    So I have driven the 2020 Corolla Hybrid for ~2.5 years now with a mileage of about 40k km. I am posting on this forum as I know the technology used for Corolla Hybrid and Prius are almost the same.

    I recently discovered that the hybrid battery fan located under the passenger rear seat needs to be regularly checked and cleaned.

    From my understanding, you are not supposed to be able to hear the sound of the fan running at any time except for when it is extremely hot.

    But I am able to hear it at (P) park. It almost sounds like the AC running at the lowest setting, but it is definitely coming from the back and my car does not have rear seat AC. I am not sure whether the sound is louder or not when I am driving as this car is not the most soundproof car out there and the road noises are louder than the battery fan itself.

    I am planning to take it to the dealer and get the fan cleaned and the filter replaced soon but I am just worried that the sound will not go away even after replacing the filter. I briefly explained the situation over the phone to the dealer after making an appointment and he told me that the fan running sound is completely normal for hybrids, but I am a bit skeptical.

    Is it supposed to be like this? Are the other Toyota hybrid owners out there able to hear the battery fan even at park?
     
    #1 eelnij, Oct 7, 2022
  2. priusman09

    priusman09 I used to be a TDI

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    Here is how to check yours. It has a filter to clean-
     
    #2 priusman09, Oct 7, 2022
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    ask how much before taking it to the dealer, some are a ripoff

    i wouldn't say that you shouldn't hear it, some do and some don't.

    do you carry shedding dogs or the like?
     
    #3 bisco, Oct 7, 2022
  4. eelnij

    eelnij New Member

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    I do have a shedding dog and he gets on my car probably once every other week or so. I do vacuum and clean the car afterwards each time though, but I guess there is still a chance the filter can get dusty?
    I did find some hair on the filter and removed it but the low AC sound is still there when I put the gear on P.
     
    #4 eelnij, Oct 7, 2022
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  5. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Active Member

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    You live in Canada. Probably never seen a hot summer day so you shouldn't hear the fan come on.

    Like bisco asked, do you have shedding dogs or keep the car's interior dirty?

    Last time I was in a Prius and could hear the fan, the battery was getting ready to die.
     
    #5 CooCooCaChoo, Oct 7, 2022
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Patron saint of newly poured sidewalks

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    Depends on your situation, how often it “needs” cleaning. If your miles are relatively low, and you’re not regularly transporting shedding pet*, it’ll take a while. Checking for yourself at least once and you’ll know better, and likely save a boat-payment of $’s.

    hearing the fan is concerning, at least: I’ve NEVER heard ours (3rd gen), though Scangauge reported it running, at various speeds.

    * We do do semi-regularly have a Shiba Inu in the back footwell area, a moderate shedder, even so haven’t had appreciable build up on the fan, albeit still under 100k kms.
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Oct 8, 2022
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2022
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  7. Doug McC

    Doug McC Active Member

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    The fan noise and the filter cleaning are a couple of things that are related to you and your personal situation. Some people can hear the noise easier than others. Unless it is excessively loud to you I wouldn’t worry about it.
    Cleaning the filter (and even vacuuming out the fan) is pretty simple and straightforward. As to how often you need to do it is more related to what you carry, how often you drive with the windows open, how dusty of an area you live in, etc. It is kind of like asking how often to vacuum your house: only correct answer is “depends”.
     
    #7 Doug McC, Oct 8, 2022
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  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Patron saint of newly poured sidewalks

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    Gonna call BS on that lol. FWIW, we haven't appreciable rain since mid-June, on the west coast. Last summer we were into the low 40's (centigrade), on the coast, off-and-on. In the BC interior it was insane. This summer high 30's was happening often. High today (October 08) predicted to be 27C, and similar sunny weather for the next 10 days.

    Article from last year:

    The Weather Network - B.C. village scores hottest temperature hat trick no Canadian wants
    (About a day later Lytton went up in flames.)

    Article from this year:

    https://globalnews.ca/news/9184596/how-drought-is-taking-its-toll-on-canadas-normally-wet-coast/
     
    #8 Mendel Leisk, Oct 8, 2022
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2022
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  9. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Active Member

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    You gotta give me those temps in FREEDOM UNITS, Mendel!
     
    #9 CooCooCaChoo, Oct 9, 2022
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