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News on battery rubber vent smell

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Battery driven, May 29, 2015.

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  1. Battery driven

    Battery driven Junior Member

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    The well known ammonia smell is one of the couple problems with our Gen 2 Prius.
    Prius battery exploration

    I've read the forum and few other blogs regarding this issue, however no one has come back with confirmed or rather tested solution. The smell is nasty and when hot gets worse. Whole interior is soaked with the smell and so the clothing. Sometimes is so unbearable that we need to drive with open windows.

    Before buying those expensive rubber tubes, I need to know if they'll solve the issue permanently or it is just a temporary fix.
     
    #1 Battery driven, May 29, 2015
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    this is the first I've heard of this. What rubber tubes? I guess having rubber in the car is like putting a tire in your car while it's 100 degrees out.
     
    #2 JC91006, May 29, 2015
  3. Battery driven

    Battery driven Junior Member

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    I've added a link in the original post which explains and locate the tubes...
     
    #3 Battery driven, May 29, 2015
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    This must be a UK problem
     
    #4 JC91006, May 29, 2015
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    no, a number of u.s. owners have reported it here.pretty sure replacing them solves the problem, but i don't recall anyone describing the smell as bad as you have.
     
    #5 bisco, May 29, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 9, 2015
  6. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Is it possible there is a dead rat in the OP's passenger cabin? :cool:
     
    #6 Patrick Wong, May 29, 2015
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  7. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    decomposing smell.......yeah, that'll be unbearable.
     
    #7 JC91006, May 29, 2015
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that's why i use traps instead of poison.;)
     
    #8 bisco, May 29, 2015
  9. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    I don't recall anything about ammonia smell, maybe a rare post on HV batt odor.
    Ammonia can cause stress cracking of brass parts (if any brass around) so that would not be a good thing.
     
    #9 wjtracy, May 29, 2015
  10. Battery driven

    Battery driven Junior Member

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    #10 Battery driven, May 30, 2015
  11. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    ...some good threads there.
    Sounds like a small but significant number of Gen2 Prii have had this issue.
    Sorry you have the problem...
     
    #11 wjtracy, May 30, 2015
  12. GMAccord

    GMAccord Junior Member

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    The smell is real! It is especially noticeable if you switch between driving a prius and a non-prius. I had to switch between my prius and my honda (my honda has a towing attached which I need sometimes). Once you start driving prius you get sort of used to it and is not noticable anymore.
     
    #12 GMAccord, May 31, 2015
  13. Battery driven

    Battery driven Junior Member

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    This! Exactly.
    I left a jacket in the car over night. Took it out next day and I couldn't believe how badly it stunk.
    There are days where you just get used, there are others when it can be unbearable.
    The most what worries me is the health aspect. Is this just unharmful odor or are there serious concerns.
    Toyota service doesn't want to know about it and claims it only affected gen l.
     
    #13 Battery driven, May 31, 2015
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Sounds bad. Maybe they (quietly) changed the rubber spec for 3rd gen? I've noticed nothing.
     
    #14 Mendel Leisk, May 31, 2015
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    could it be carcinogenic?
     
    #15 bisco, May 31, 2015
  16. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    I recommend you check the cabin air filter before you go to the trouble of opening up the traction battery case to replace the rubber vent hoses. My 2004 has 196K miles and there are no noticeable odors.
     
    #16 Patrick Wong, May 31, 2015
  17. Battery driven

    Battery driven Junior Member

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    I really hope it's not.

    Cabin filter is replaced every year. It's a minor cost and easy job. No rodents rats etc...and the smell would be very different. Air con evaporator has been cleaned with the spray kit. Hasn't made any difference just masked the smell. I need to solve this and another issue which will soon discuss it in a new thread.
     
    #17 Battery driven, May 31, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 9, 2015
  18. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I actually think this is something that's caused by water collecting by the rear battery. There have been many people that have issues with water collecting there.
     
    #18 JC91006, May 31, 2015
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  19. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    We have no smell whatsoever.
    If we knew the type of plastic we could perhaps look up decomposition products and causes.
     
    #19 wjtracy, Jun 1, 2015
  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    since hobbit says the smell went away without the tubes, can we assume that that is the solution? how much do these tubes cost?
     
    #20 bisco, Jun 1, 2015
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