Battery Vent Odor

As a new Prius owner I've discovered an odor in my 2008. I took it to a detail shop and was told that this is a normal Prius smell. However, this is not a normal car smell or a normal smell period. I did some searching and found the posts regarding the battery vent. My wife and I have confirmed that the vent is the source of the offending odor. I've done numerous internet searches and have not found a "fix" for removing this odor. What do you folks do to deal with this issue? Thanks,

 

It's the hybrid battery vent. This is a rather large vent on the outside of the rear passenger seat. I found where this is supposedly caused by the tubing that is plumbed from that vent to the hybrid battery but haven't seen any fixes. The smell is unusual and unpleasant. By the way, the car has 37,000 miles and performs flawlessly.

The 12 volt battery is a Toyota and is in proper order, it has all of the original wiring, etc. and is vented properly.

 

I also see where the vent is actually the intake so my terminology was incorrect. I see where it actually vents behind the rear passenger side wheel.

 

The post I saw did mention that some minor corrosion was found but the smell was from the vent tubes on top of the hybrid battery. There was no solution provided as the gentleman who did the research left it as is.

Battery smell solved! | PriusChat

 

To clarify my reference to the detail shop comment. He said "all Prius smell like this". It's not terribly strong but it's odd and I'd like to lessen or get rid of it. I'll pull the hybrid battery cover and take a look at the blower but the spare tire area, etc… is pristine.

 

Here's a post I found from another site.

How many of you own a Prius (raise your hand)? Now how many of you that own a Prius have a weird, funky smell in your car (raise your hand)? I only mention this because someone I know that works in an autobody shop for a living says that EVERY Prius that comes in has weird, funky smell to them and it's due to the battery pack. He thinks at some point down the road they are going to find out that the cars were health hazards. It's even a joke around the shop, "Oh smells like a Prius in here."

 

The Battery smell solved! thread is what I found earlier. There was no solution proposed only that he thought he found the source of the smell. His final comment on the smell portion of his report:

As tempting as it is to leave the silly tubes off entirely, I put them back in so they can continue stinking up the seat vent. At least now I know what the deal is.

 

I mostly thought it strange that the detail shop didn't try to sell me an ozone shock treatment because they said all Prius smell like this and they felt the treatment would have little or no impact. I'm not sensitive to smell but it's clearly evident to me. My wife on the other hand is extremely sensitive to smell and she can detect it standing next to the car with the windows open. I'll call the Toyota dealer to see if they are aware, I'll also call some other detail shops to confirm the Prius phenomena.

On a side note, we test drove two other Prius and noted odd smells in them. I can't say for sure it was the same as I didn't pay as much attention as I have to the one I purchased.

I've read numerous posts about mystery odors here and on other sites with many suggestions to look at the AC system or cabin filter. I've ruled those out as there is no odor from those areas.

Thanks for your comments. I'm suspect as the link in the Battery smell solved! post notes that it's the "rubber" type tubes on top of the traction battery off gassing in some fashion. In the next several days I'll pull the cover off the battery, check the blower and see if the tubes have the same odor. In the meantime, it's not so distracting that we won't drive the car but I'd love to get rid of it.