Loud noise from back seat vent - clearly the cooling fan

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by mp3_e46, Apr 6, 2015.

  1. mp3_e46

    mp3_e46 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2011
    14
    7
    0
    Location:
    Atlanta
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    There are lots of threads on this but no resolution other than dirty fans.

    Our fan is pretty clean. Before re-assembly it will be blasted with ~100 psi from an air compressor. Driving around like this is fine for a while to help diagnostics.

    How noisy is normal? This is the first time I noticed the noise.

    We've owned this silver 2011 Gen 3 from new and it now has 37K miles after about 3.5 years. Today it's ~70F in Atlanta, so not hot compared to how it will be soon. We had the s/w recall done about six months ago and I've possibly not driven the car since (have a few cars).. my wife drives it most days and did not notice probably due to music but I felt it was very loud like there was hole in the side of the car (first thought was some vent to the outside became stuck open but the vent near the axillary battery is fine).

    Is there a way to read the fan speed via Android Torque and Bluetooth OBD?

    Should I disassemble the entire length of the venting? Might there be something inside there causing a blockage?

    The Auxiliary battery hooked is up to my CTEK charger now. It read 12.7V so is likely fine.

    [​IMG]
     
    #1 mp3_e46, Apr 6, 2015
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,600
    8,478
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    That fan should not be loud with so few miles on it. Do you have sensitive hearing? Too bad you're out of warranty to have it checked for free.

    Since you're not the main driver of this car and your wife doesn't notice it......it would just be best to leave it alone.
     
    #2 JC91006, Apr 6, 2015
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    111,169
    50,602
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    sounds like your hybrid battery may be going further south than atlanta. i hope not, but at least it's under warranty.
     
    #3 bisco, Apr 6, 2015
  4. alekska

    alekska Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2010
    435
    138
    0
    Location:
    Atl
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    If you blow powerful compressed air at the fan, and allow it to spin very fast, you can damage the electronics connected to the fan. The fan spun by compressed air generates high voltage.
    Alex
     
    #4 alekska, Apr 6, 2015
  5. mp3_e46

    mp3_e46 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2011
    14
    7
    0
    Location:
    Atlanta
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    OK.. driving around with all the covers off the fan only came on a few times. None as noisy as yesterday though it looked to be spinning fast at times.

    I am just going to dust it off with compressed air and re-assemble assuming it was normal behavior.

    The car can last for ages in slow moving traffic on just the traction battery so it's likely fine.
     
    #5 mp3_e46, Apr 7, 2015
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)