2015 Prius Hybrid Vent Cover Panel not Releasing.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by issjoe, Mar 12, 2024.

  1. issjoe

    issjoe Junior Member

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    I need to remove the vent filter from behind the vent cover panel. I'm going to use the vent cover that clips onto the outside of vent cover panel. I tried the in instructions that have you pull up from the bottom of vent panel. That is supposed to release a clip on the to of vent panel. When I pull up on the bottom of the vent panel, the clip on the top off the vent panel is not releasing.
     
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Well it will or it'll break one of the two It does come off I'll have to go out to my no longer used generation 3 and pull it off and see what I do and remember and tell you but you want to minimize sticking things over that grill filters and all that nonsense that slows down the air that the fan pulls through across the battery modules a pretty good amount And if you live where it's very hot etc you going to need all the flow you can get I'm not sure what's in your car that's getting pulled into the battery fan whether you're riding with animals stacking mulch or hay or what in the vehicle but maybe you need to clean the vehicle out after you do that and not just stuff filters over the fans inlet. That might prove to be not a good thing. I do a lot of hauling with all of my Prius and we don't have any covers over the inlets inside of the car on the right side passenger side of the vehicle in the back every time I disassemble or have the rear panel out of the car I look at the fan and it's never been gray or built up with dust or lint from the dogs or pieces of mulch or hay or anything else so there's always that after I haul mulch hay dogs anything like that I generally vacuum the vehicle Just takes a second my Shop-Vac stays plugged in under the carport there's no excuse. But I'll pull it off in a little while and I'll either make you a little ditty with the camera or tell you exactly what has to happen I guess.
     
  3. amarino

    amarino Active Member

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    Did you remove the bolt from the bottom first?

    2024-03-12_063158.jpg
     
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  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    To get at aforementioned bolt it’s handy to have on a headlamp, and a ratchet wrench with long extension. I believe bolt head is 12mm? Anyway, push apart seat bottom and back and reach through. Take care not to drop it.
     
  5. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    It is 12 mm
     
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  6. issjoe

    issjoe Junior Member

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    No, I didn't remove the bolt. I can see the bolt. I looks like I would need to remove the seat base to get to it. Do you have directions for removing the seat base?
     
  7. issjoe

    issjoe Junior Member

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  8. issjoe

    issjoe Junior Member

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    I can see the bolt. It would be easy to remove, but looks almosst impossible to tighten back up without dropping the bolt. Once dropped it gone.
     
  9. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    No one's dropped it is not gone your magnet will pick it up it tries to roll under the bottom seat pan the part you rear end actually goes on that just lifts up and withdraws forward and comes out of the car no tooling pops up with a scraper when you take it out once and you see the little pop in holders . No further explanation is necessary your bare hands can usually pull the seat bottom out very quickly they also make sockets that will hold the bolt a little better than just balancing it in your hand I just pulled the bolt out yesterday without taking the seat bottom out just for the heck of it I even put it back in It took longer to type this then to remove and replace the bolt.
     
  10. amarino

    amarino Active Member

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    You can use an extension on your socket wrench and push the bottom seat cushion out of the way to get to the bolt.

    Not necessary, but if you want to remove the bottom seat cushion just lift up from the left and right seat middle where it hooks in. Installation is the reverse of removal.

    2024-03-13_070626.jpg
     
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    It's not that hard. IIRC you can get two hands through there at the same time, to hold the bolt on the socket while reaching through. Then headlamp really helps. Or put a small bit of masking tape in the socket, to jam the bolt head more securely.

    I'd definitely go that route, not pulling the seat. I believe the seat retaining points are prone to break, and then you've got a can-o-worms.
     
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  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    It’s been a while, so had a look:

    If you’re kneeling outside of car, reaching in, pushing seat bottom cushion down and away, the bolt is not that hard to get to, and recoverable if you lose your grip on it.

    IMG_3595.jpeg
     
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