Battery Fan Cleaning

1) cleaning, unless the fan has actually failed
2) you might be charged 1-2 labor hours.

 

Here's a link to that original post by Rondodog:
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...-fur-dirt-causing-major-battery-problems.html

 

Here is a post I created with text instructions... Haven't done the job to our other Prius yet, so no pictures...

Clean HV fan when changing 12 Volt | PriusChat

 

Thanks for this writeup, Eclipse. I find this more helpful than the pdf, which is... crazy.

 

I installed a filter over mine after I cleaned the fan blades. Got a doggie.

Btw, since you have the fan out you can lube the fan also like any other fan. Just remove the sticker on the back of the fan axle body and that exposes the end bearing. Apply some 10 weight oil there and let soak in. Fan will turn much easier. Lowes sells a 3 in 1 little bottle of Electric Motor oil. 10 weight. Same oil you use to lubricate the fan on your home outside compressor.

This stuff only the 10 weight version:
Shop 3-IN-ONE 3-oz 3-in-1 Electric Motor Oil at Lowes.com

I bought some thin white filter media there also. Cut it to to fit the outside fan grill. Applied a picture frame of double sided tape around perimeter of fan grill. Cut thin filter media to that frame size and stuck on. Holds very well.

Jack approves!

 

Just cleaned out my blower fan on Sunday. My car has about 103k miles on it, and it wasn't as clogged as some photos I've seen but it was good to clean it out nonetheless. Pics attached. Took my buddy and I probably 1.5 hours in total.

Dirty:


Cleaned with compressed air:


Cleaned again with contact cleaner:

 

Good job Bgilly! You just saved yourself some battery life and expensive repairs down the road

Im at 94,500 miles now and my black lab often enjoys hanging out the back seat passenger side window. Methinks its time to check my fan too.

 

Has anyone had this service done in LA area for the ($60-90) reasonable price? I'll go for it myself if not. Santa Monica dealership quote on this is $489. HI-larious.

 

Just did this over the weekend on my 2006 Gen II at 170K miles. Easy as described in forum notes (used PDF) and took about 1 1/2 hours from start to finish for a relatively dirty fan. Also rinsed the two filters in the larger vent duct and let them dry before re-installing (couldn't remove them because of plastic/metal rivets).

 

I've cleaned the fan a couple of times now, and (currently have a piece of fine mesh screen (the type used for insect screens on residential windows) fastened on the inside of the inlet grill.

Toyota should make this a regular, albeit longish interval, maintenance item*. And make the fan more readily accessible. And add an even more readily accessible filter on the inlet.

* With a shorter "severe service" interval, for owners transporting shedding pets, dusty areas and so on.

 

Good plan! How did you get the grill and associated plastic trim piece off? I contemplated doing the same. I tried pushing, pulling, and prying from various angles as hard as I dared, but it didn't budge.

 

There's a bolt, holding the slim segment of seat back with the grill. Push down on the back edge of seat cushion right there, and shine a light: you'll see it in behind. It's 12 mm socket size I believe. You'll need a ratchet wrench and 6" extension.

Once you get it close to off, reach in and get your fingers on it, you don't want to drop it, end up fishing for it.

Once that bolt is off, you just kinda yoink up and out on that whole segment to remove. There's a Velcro attachment at the bottom you leave connected, or you can peel it off, take it right off.

It kinda helps to unlock and tilt the seat back forward a bit.



Here's the screen installed. The aluminum screen material has a strong concave bow as shown, and the stock grill has a mild convex bow, at the back. So just a couple of black thread loops have been added, to pull the screen taut against back of grill. I think you can just spot them if you zoom the pic.

 

Thank you, sir! I'd never find that well-hidden bolt unless I someday take the seat out for an unrelated reason. This fixes an oversight by Toyota. I took the thing off already, and will install some sort of screen or filter on it tomorrow. There's surprisingly little dirt and junk in the duct, at least as far as I can see or reach.

 

To check the fan you have to pull the hatch floor off of the hybrid battery. The first time I did that I was sure I was gonna break something, they resist. Use trim pry tools, take it easy, it's doable. There's also one bolt, near the seat back. Once I got that floor off I left all those fasteners off; there's still locking tangs and the bolt.

Then to get at the fan you need to pull off a few plastic fasteners (with Christmas tree style ribs, just pull up on them) and pull off ductwork.

I've yet to remove the fan, you can clean it when exposed but still in situ.

 

What did you use to clean the fan? Just water?

 

compressed air and contact cleaner.

 

A Q-Tip (dry or moistened) works good with the close spaced fins of the fan barrel. Then one of those boa dusters for the ductwork, as much as you can reach. Then blow everything out, with compressed air, a wet/dry vacuum, leaf blower or what have you.

 

How to Clean the Battery-Cooling Fan in a 2004–2009 Toyota Prius | AxleAddict