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What are those vents in the back seat?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by quixotequest, Jul 25, 2007.

  1. quixotequest

    quixotequest New Member

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    When we picked up our Prius I thought those vents on the side of the back seats were A/C vents. But nothing seems to come out of them. What function do they serve?
     
    #1 quixotequest, Jul 25, 2007
  2. PriusTouring07

    PriusTouring07 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(quixotequest @ Jul 25 2007, 06:50 PM) [snapback]485087[/snapback]</div>

    I thought the same! It would've been nice, but no it's for ventilation of the electric battery located on the back. I think sometimes you'll hear a fan coming from back there, that's if the battery gets too hot. That's what I've heard at least. Hasn't happened to me yet.
     
    #2 PriusTouring07, Jul 25, 2007
  3. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(quixotequest @ Jul 25 2007, 07:50 PM) [snapback]485087[/snapback]</div>
    Intake vent for the battery. Keep the cabin comfy & the battery stays comfy. I start the AC out at 79 or 80 and may drop it to 77. No negative impact on mpg. I don't ride in the back seat so don't know about passenger comfort back there.
     
    #3 JimN, Jul 25, 2007
  4. Danny Hamilton

    Danny Hamilton Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Jul 25 2007, 07:02 PM) [snapback]485101[/snapback]</div>
    Are there vents for the back seat passengers under the drivers and passengers seats? I haven't looked yet, but the Owners Manual seems to indicate this.

    As for the vent next to the seat back in the rear, I read somewhere (owner's manual?) that you shouldn't put anything in front of this (like bokes or clothing). I originally assumed there was risk of overheating the battery, but I suspect the computer protects it from that in most cases. More than likely I'd guess you'd just suffer decreased MPG, and reduced acceleration, as the computer avoids recharging and drawing power from the batteries when they overheat.
     
    #4 Danny Hamilton, Jul 25, 2007
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    We don't have rear "A/C vents", just heating ducts under the front seats.
     
    #5 Tideland Prius, Jul 25, 2007
  6. removeum

    removeum Member

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    B) The vents under allows the a/c to cool the back when it is set for a/c.
     
    #6 removeum, Jul 25, 2007
  7. Danny Hamilton

    Danny Hamilton Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Jul 25 2007, 08:46 PM) [snapback]485165[/snapback]</div>
    Am I missing something here? Does the Prius somehow block the flow through these ducts when the A/C is used? Are these ducts somehow not connected to the same air flow as the dash ducts? Or are we just splitting hairs on the meaning of duct vs. vent?
     
    #7 Danny Hamilton, Jul 25, 2007
  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Danny Hamilton @ Jul 25 2007, 08:37 PM) [snapback]485246[/snapback]</div>
    ummm... well they're called different names because they function slightly different.

    They're called "rear seat heating ducts" cause in the winter, when the Auto A/C blows, it blows to the feet to warm your feet up so the rear seat heating ducts only function when the mode is on "Floor" or "Floor/Head" or "Defroster/Floor". (i.e they function like the ducts above the pedals on the driver's side and below the glovebox on the passenger side)


    Rear vents (or rear A/C vents) will have air coming out when the mode of the climate control is at the "Head" (i.e. the function the same as the dashboard vents).
     
    #8 Tideland Prius, Jul 26, 2007
  9. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Danny Hamilton @ Jul 25 2007, 07:37 PM) [snapback]485123[/snapback]</div>
    I just wanted to quote Danny on this because it's a very important tip. You should never block the battery vent. Ever. This is where the Prius draws air to cool the battery. Covering that vent would be akin to placing a box fan in a window to cool a room and then boarding up the window. All in all, a bad thing.

    Your car's not going to explode, your battery's not going to fall out, you're not going to lose your hair (any more than normal). But if that's the imagery you need to remind you to not cover the vents, go for it.
     
    #9 TonyPSchaefer, Jul 26, 2007
  10. christob

    christob Member

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    I'm familiar with the battery air vent/intake/duct/grille/shaft for future lost pennies/blowhole that must not be blocked. (ie, located next to the back, passenger-side door.)

    And I saw in the manual, the "airflow arrows" showing air coming from below the 2 front seats, to the rear passengers footwells...

    Tideland, are you saying there are also "traditional" AC vents (like front dash has) in the back somewhere, for those passengers? because I've certainly never found them, if so! ;)
     
    #10 christob, Jul 26, 2007
  11. Danny Hamilton

    Danny Hamilton Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ChristoB @ Jul 26 2007, 08:08 AM) [snapback]485335[/snapback]</div>
    No, just the heating ducts that apparently can be used to send cold air to the rear passenger's feet depending on how you configure the climate control settings.
     
    #11 Danny Hamilton, Jul 26, 2007
  12. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jul 26 2007, 09:05 AM) [snapback]485334[/snapback]</div>
    Look what happened to me when I blocked the battery vent. :eek:
     
    #12 JimN, Jul 26, 2007
  13. dkit

    dkit Junior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(quixotequest @ Jul 25 2007, 06:50 PM) [snapback]485087[/snapback]</div>
    RTFM
     
    #13 dkit, Jul 27, 2007
  14. Stringmike

    Stringmike New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(quixotequest @ Jul 25 2007, 07:50 PM) [snapback]485087[/snapback]</div>
    They let the smoke out when the batteries overheat :)

    Mike
     
    #14 Stringmike, Jul 27, 2007
  15. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Stringmike @ Jul 27 2007, 01:31 AM) [snapback]485983[/snapback]</div>
    :D :D
     
    #15 JimN, Jul 28, 2007
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