Air blower issue and un-tightened hose connection

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Jon Batchelor, Jun 12, 2026.

  1. Jon Batchelor

    Jon Batchelor Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2025
    21
    2
    0
    Location:
    FL
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Back with another issue, one that seems kind of familiar (ran into very similar issue last year, but so far same solution doesn't seem to work.)

    Car is blowing cold air, the AC portion is working, but it's blowing very little (ie the blower seems to be having issues.) If I lower the blower setting down to 1, then back up to 7, the blower will kick in, sometimes half-heartedly for ,a minute or two, sometimes only for a second or so. Then it goes back to doing almost nothing.

    Last year I replaced the filters, and things seemed to go perfectly back to normal. Today I replaced the filters again (not for the first time since last year, I don't think), but no improvement. Tomorrow I'll take off the cable from the 12 volt battery and leave it off for a half hour or so, to try and force a reboot of the system to see if that might fix things (hey, it's possible), but if that doesn't work, suggestions of possible issues?

    If I have to replace the blower motor, how difficult, involved, and expensive is that?

    ONE OTHER THING: While changing the engine air filter, I noticed something. They removed the filter and filter case while replacing the water pump back in March ... when they put it back together, they pushed the hose connection part back to the top of the filter case, but they didn't tighten the bolt on the little silver thing that tightens it down, so the connection is very loose? What kind of problems has this likely been causing me?

    Any info on these two matters would be much appreciated.
     
    #1 Jon Batchelor, Jun 12, 2026
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    28,551
    18,894
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I think it's relatively straightforward to DIY. You might want to test a prospective replacement on the bench before putting it in the car—or even test the one from the car on the bench after removing it, to confirm it or rule it out as the problem.

    Running it on the bench may take a little extra attention to the wiring connections, as it has a variable-speed motor controller built in. There are threads here with info on bench-testing it.

    If I remember right, that joint is downstream of the airflow sensor, so if it were loose enough to admit extra air the sensor had not measured, you could get rough running and a P0171 code. If you haven't been getting that, it's probably not that loose.

    I can understand the temptation to leave it that way, as the top cover kind of wants to pivot in that joint when you check the filter.
     
    #2 ChapmanF, Jun 12, 2026
    Jon Batchelor likes this.
  3. Jon Batchelor

    Jon Batchelor Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2025
    21
    2
    0
    Location:
    FL
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Haven't been having those problems (that I've noticed), and it DID make it easier to change the filter. ;)
     
    #3 Jon Batchelor, Jun 12, 2026
  4. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    4,784
    2,549
    33
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Had similar issue with my 2015. The blower is very easy to change on GEN III. Did it the parking lot of parts store...using their tools.
     
    #4 frodoz737, Jun 12, 2026
    Jon Batchelor likes this.
  5. Jon Batchelor

    Jon Batchelor Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2025
    21
    2
    0
    Location:
    FL
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Unfortunately I am in horrible physical shape, and cannot physically get on my knees to be able to get into the part of the passenger area to access it, so I will need to get help. But it being such a simple job means that help should not be hard to get.
     
    #5 Jon Batchelor, Jun 13, 2026
  6. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2014
    2,798
    1,231
    0
    Location:
    Northwestern S.C.
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yes, and you'd also get dirty air chewing on internal parts of the engine.
     
    #6 CR94, Jun 13, 2026
  7. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    4,784
    2,549
    33
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Don't feel bad I'm going on 68 and still a turn a wrench for a living. It really is an easy job though. Watch a little youtube. While lying on you back on the passenger side facing up is just a little uncomfortable...it's a hell of a lot better than paying a couple hundred bucks labor for 3 bolts, a screw and a plug. Word of advice...do not bend down the bracket/plug assy to the right to access the right hand bolt. There's just one phillips screw holding that assy up. On my 2015 the 3 bolts holding up the blower assy were 8mm if I remember right. You do not have to remove the lower glove box door either...just the lower cover panel.
     
    #7 frodoz737, Jun 13, 2026
    CR94 and Jon Batchelor like this.
  8. Jon Batchelor

    Jon Batchelor Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2025
    21
    2
    0
    Location:
    FL
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    So ignore the video that said just bend it down. OK. Wasn't really comfortable with that, anyway.

    Thank you!
     
    #8 Jon Batchelor, Jun 13, 2026
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)