Exhaust from other Cars Entering my Cabin (sigh)

I notice this with the Prius.

BUT unfortunately, I've noticed this with nearly every vehicle I've ever owned.

It comes down to I think recirculate IS your best choice here, BUT also recirculate doesn't mean "Air Tight" ...some exhaust is going to reach the cabin regardless. The worse the offender ahead, the worse the offending exhaust smell.

I don't find the Prius any better or worse in this regard.
If it is extremely bad? I suppose you could have a vent or switch problem.

PS.
"Maybe" The Prius seems to vent in odors a little more than other vehicles. Because I'll say this, The Prius is one of the few vehicles I've owned where when I use the front windshield wiper wash? I can smell the fluid. I buy a fluid that has a nice smell precisely because of this.

 

1. dont follow those stinkers too closely.
2. the recirc is not 100%, more like 80% or such.
3. you should be using the fan setting with filter icon, that 100% recirc but time limited, so you would not faint from lack of oxygen.

i assume FL doesn't have the emission inspections like most civilized states and lots of people get away with removing the cat converters?

 

Cabin filters with activated charcoal are available for a modest cost.

The OP hasn't mentioned how old the cabin filter is, though it probably was the first thing the dealer checked when investigating the reported problem.

 

I have to agree with Electric Me. I feel that smelling exhaust happens too often [and specifically in my case diesels!] and what does seem to work, is the 'filter' button.
yes the A/C then turns on, and of course i loose a little mileage, but the recirculate, and filter icon button... it seems to keep the cabin air cleaner.
I also buy carbon filters from amazon that work and fit well, but i've felt that for exhaust, carbon isn't enough...
good luck!

 

Thanks, but I kind of flip flopped on my opinion.

While I think every vehicle I have ever owned would let in exhaust fumes if I was behind them, after some thought I'd have to say perhaps The Prius is a little worse in this regard. Not horribly, but on a scale probably worse.

The Prius IS the only vehicle I can remember where I can smell the windshield wiper fluid if I use it.

 

Try a charcoal cabin filter.

 

LOL now that you mention it, i do think i've smelled the WW fluid.

My 'other' car [besides our priii] is a 1994 suburban i smell a LOT of stuff driving that thing!

 

i suppose that that's a possibility. replacement might prove expensive.

 

What's sad: you're driving around in a nice clean car, and meanwhile some joker's singlehandedly dumping 100 or more times the crap into the air. Same goes for recycling, water conservation, it sucks.

Yeah, we're the clean gang!

 

Just once, I saw something like what you describe. The air inlet servo had lost track of it's actual physical position and was not fully closing the air inlet door when the HVAC control recirc button was pushed.
Suggest that the tech perform an active test of the air inlet servo.
Using the Techstream, go to:
Body Electrical / Air Conditioner / Active Test / Air Inlet Damper Targ Pulse
Run the servo to min and max and visually verify that the recirc door fully opens and closes.
Repeatedly cycling the servo using Techstream restored normal operation on the one car that I saw with this issue.

 

yes change the servo

 

Are you able to get a decent angle (maybe with the glove box doors out) where you could capture some video of the flap and/or servo moving and post it?

I don't firsthand know the trick to pull heat/AC codes on a Gen 2, but if this post is right, it's just a matter of turning on the power while holding the brake and a couple buttons on the steering wheel. Any codes might help shed some light (I know my Gen 1 has codes allocated for servo problems, for example).

I recently cleaned up the air mix servo on mine, it was quite easy.

While I have no idea if this could be involved in your case, I remember seeing in the manual that the battery computer is empowered to command the heater from recirculate to fresh if it judges more battery airflow is needed.

-Chap

 

I'm having the same problem with a 2012 Prius. Had the Blend Door replaced at a cost of 1200 dollars but made no difference. Now I'm trying a charcoal filter. It's been very frustrating.

Have you solved your problem? If so what was the issue?

Thanks,
CHuck

 

do you have the filtration button on the '12?

 

This.

I have allergies, and I've lived on RECIRC since spring. I don't need the FILTER button as often as I was using it when it was using outside air, but it doesn't block 100 percent.

Also, by the time you can smell it, you're already too late. More is coming. You have to be more proactive to try and block it. You can use the Arm & Hammer brand of cabin air filter for better odor elimination and press the filter button (if you have it) as soon as you smell it.

More so, I have to use Febreeze on the Prius every now and then for stuff that gets through and settles on the seat cushions.

 

Yes

 

i always slow down and let others get behind the stinkers. i like a good 10-20 car cushion. it's amazing how many people will pass you to get behind a school bus or construction truck, if you leave enough space.