Blowing From Back Vent(AC off)

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Spenny, Jul 30, 2015.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Spenny

    Spenny Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2013
    82
    25
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Hey,

    My vehicle is having an issue and luckily it's still under warranty. I know I could leave all the troubleshooting to Toyota but some of my dealer's mechanics do not seem to be that great at troubleshooting issues.

    For the past year I would ocassionally hear a wind noise from the backseat on the passenger's side. It seemed to coincide with acceleration so I figured that a seal had come loose. I took it by the dealership but they couldn't figure out what was wrong. A few days later, I heard the same noise but for the first time ever, it actually got louder when I was stopping so I figured out that it wasn't a seal. I was lucky enough for the issue to keep going even when I parked so I found out that it was air being forced out from the A/C system(from vent near the seat cushion).

    Any idea what would cause this? I almost might think something wasn't grounded properly. I had another weird issue like this(not air but intermittent) on my old Jeep and it ended up being a grounding issue.


    Any ideas?
     
    #1 Spenny, Jul 30, 2015
  2. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    4,124
    1,146
    0
    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Battery cooling fan. Check to see whether the inlet is jammed up with lint and the fan is interference free.
     
    #2 Air_Boss, Jul 30, 2015
  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,632
    8,492
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    it's the fan to cool your hv battery. Your car must've been hot? Or you've just gone downhill for 10 miles and overcharged the system
     
    #3 JC91006, Jul 30, 2015
  4. Spenny

    Spenny Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2013
    82
    25
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I actually did find a post about the HV fan. I'm just wondering if it's working correctly.

    The post I found seemed to indicate that it sucked air from inside the cabin to the battery. Is that true? I ask because it was blowing and it was blowing very hard. It was a really hot day but I had traveled less than 1 mile.
     
    #4 Spenny, Jul 30, 2015
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    58,435
    40,236
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Are you sure air's blowing OUT? And that's at the small grill at bottom-corner of rear seat back?

    Air should be sucking into that vent, not blowing. If it is actually blowing, that's the hybrid battery cooling fan, moving air in wrong direction.

    If it's in fact sucking air in, still could be a concern, indicating battery is running hot.
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Jul 30, 2015
  6. Spenny

    Spenny Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2013
    82
    25
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yeah, it was definitely blowing. I figured it was a regular air vent because it was blowing cool air.

    I wonder if there's a way the fan can be put in backwards? Maybe that would explain the blowing.
     
    #6 Spenny, Jul 30, 2015
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    111,575
    50,813
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i wouldn't drive it until you figure it out. do you carry any pets? how hot is it where?
     
    #7 bisco, Jul 30, 2015
  8. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2010
    3,524
    983
    8
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    no, check again.
     
    #8 Former Member 68813, Jul 30, 2015
  9. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    9,294
    5,664
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    I have seen the AC in normal mode (not recirculate) blow open window seals enough to make noise, particularly with a higher fan speed. Lowering the fan speed or placing the AC system in recirculate stops the noise.
     
    #9 rjparker, Jul 30, 2015
  10. Spenny

    Spenny Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2013
    82
    25
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I had my hand on the vent. It's possible it was back pressure but there was air blowing out toward the cabin.
     
    #10 Spenny, Jul 30, 2015
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    111,575
    50,813
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    yes, you can feel some air movement. put a tissue over it and see if it sticks or is blown off.
     
    #11 bisco, Jul 30, 2015
  12. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2009
    2,528
    1,803
    0
    Location:
    NEPA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    Assuming it's a DC blower motor, is it possible the leads were reversed? Did you get the car new or used? Was any sort of maintenance done on or around the traction battery or back seat? I know, so many questions...
     
    #12 RRxing, Jul 30, 2015
  13. Spenny

    Spenny Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2013
    82
    25
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I'm not sure what kind of motor but if so, that is a possibility. I did get my bumper replaced in back but I'm not sure what needs to be removed for it to be replaced.

    It was blowing. I felt the air come outwards. I know sucking will also cause a cooling effect but I know the difference.
     
    #13 Spenny, Jul 30, 2015
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    111,575
    50,813
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    perhaps the exit is blocked.
     
    #14 bisco, Jul 30, 2015
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  15. Spenny

    Spenny Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2013
    82
    25
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Any idea where the exit is located?

    I normally buy a Haynes on any car I buy but I haven't since it's still under warranty.
     
    #15 Spenny, Jul 30, 2015
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    111,575
    50,813
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    there are threads here with pics of the whole assembly, or google it for video's. it travels under the deck from the grille to the battery box, then exits in the 12v area, iirc.
     
    #16 bisco, Jul 30, 2015
  17. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2009
    2,528
    1,803
    0
    Location:
    NEPA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    Correct - then the air exits the vehicle through louvers on the left and right (12V battery) side:


    HV Battery Exhaust Vent.jpg
    It's possible that when the rear bumper was replaced the right side louvers were blocked or otherwise prevented from opening to let the air out, allowing it to back flow. In any case, the rear bumper replacement was our best clue... Good luck.

    NOTE: The louvers are not visible from outside the vehicle, they're behind the bumper...
     
    #17 RRxing, Jul 30, 2015
    Last edited: Jul 31, 2015
    bisco likes this.
  18. Spenny

    Spenny Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2013
    82
    25
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thanks. I'll have to figure out what to do next. I guess that's the most likely scenario since it's blowing into the cabin.

    Is there any case to made for damages? I worry that some of the components may have premature wear because they weren't cooled as designed.
     
    #18 Spenny, Aug 2, 2015
  19. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    4,124
    1,146
    0
    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Rhetorically, why does 'Is there a case to be made for damages' perennially come up among the first questions?
     
    #19 Air_Boss, Aug 2, 2015
  20. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    9,294
    5,664
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    If you did the tissue test to verify air flow, then go to dealer, do not pass go. No battery cooling could cause lots of damage so you need to "trust" the mechanics. They do know what they are doing, you are under warranty and you might have a tough timing proving anything tthree years from now when and if your expensive battery dies.
     
    #20 rjparker, Aug 2, 2015
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 2