This is my 3rd time changing out the 12v battery and the first time I dropped the screw that mounts the hybrid venting to the ‘dryer style’ vent flap. I wasn’t lucky enough for it to fall into the 12v battery well .. it dropped through the flaps of wall vent. (Attempted to upload photo of the wall vent.. wasn’t successful) Anyone know where that wall vent vents out to? Are there any dangers to leaving the screw wherever it landed? Is there a reasonable way to retrieve the screw? Any idea what type/style/size the screw was - if I need to replace it? BTW - first time finding the battery well full of water. None in spare tire well. Thanks to PriusChat I found lots of info here on this issue and will figure out where the water is coming from using suggestions found here. Thanks in advance for helping out with this issue.
It goes nowhere there's a space in between the outer fender skin and that inner wall that you're blowing the air into Little wind up down in the lower edge of the fender won't bother a thing you won't even hear it so basically you just leave it put a new one that just locates the blower output to keep it where it will actually move the flaps and get the air out I even tape up that opening on the bottom of that piece of duct that looks like it blows right on top of the battery if you will I use zip tape and close that up so now the duct is taking all the heat to the flaps in the spare tire well when the battery is out I take my drill and if you feel your hand around and there you'll feel a couple of small circular indentions I used to quarter inch drill bit or close to it and poke a few holes in the battery tray area and that eliminates any standing water so it passes through which most Toyotas used to have tubes for pass through water but that was another time so I add my own in the spare tire well the rubber plug closest to the battery I remove and just lay in that spare tire well the rubber plug so water can get in the spare tire well and get out or pass through That's what you want water to do pass through on its way to the ground not stagnate and stay in the car that's a no-no.
Will not stress about the lost screw. While trying to figure out where the vent vented I was surprised to find a very large amount of mud/dirt buildup in the area I believe you described as the space between the fender skin and inner wall. This would be the space just behind the wheel well. There are drain holes in the bottom of that area that were packed and clogged with the mud. Positive effect is the added weight while driving on ice.. Negative is if this where the vent vents.. it had no way of blowing through this space. No idea if this would cause any overheating anywhere… so I removed as much as I could and now have some air flow through there. Thanks for you replies!
Gen2 Prius salvaged parts are generally available from Steve at www.autobeyours.com at reasonable prices. JeffD
When you open the hatch of a gen 2, each piece of side trim has a 10mm hex head screw holding it in place (look just above the small light and toward the hatch on the driverside and you should see one of these screws) They are practically identical to the screw holding the duct you speak of.
