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Purpose of rear seat vents?

Discussion in 'Prime Technical Discussion' started by PiPLosAngeles, Sep 15, 2022.

  1. PiPLosAngeles

    PiPLosAngeles Senior Member

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    What is the purpose of the upper vents on the driver and passenger side in the rear seats - the ones that would be next to a passenger's shoulder? When the car is charging the cooling fan is going 100 miles per hour and the plastic trim below the bench seat is hot (the jack storage compartment and the jack itself are really hot), but there is no sign of any airflow from either vent.
     
    #1 PiPLosAngeles, Sep 15, 2022
  2. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

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    Check the filter on the right side of the rear seats down low.
     
    #2 schja01, Sep 15, 2022
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  3. Marine Ray

    Marine Ray Senior Member

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    The upper vents are air intake for the two cooling fans in the rear to air cool the traction battery.

    The two intake and outlet vents below the rear seat are to air cool the charging equipment under the rear seat.

    Unless you have very high ambient temps your description of whats happening are concerning. I'd have Toyota take a look.
     
    #3 Marine Ray, Sep 15, 2022
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  4. PiPLosAngeles

    PiPLosAngeles Senior Member

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    The filter below the seat appears brand new. There's no dust on it. You can plainly feel the air being sucked in from the passenger side vent below the seat. It is also being sucked in through the vent below the seat in the center. There is no clear exit. There is no vent on the driver side. There is no perceptible air flow from either shoulder-level vent.
     
    #4 PiPLosAngeles, Sep 16, 2022
  5. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Battery cooling air exits the car, through vents concealed by the rear bumper cover.
     
    #5 ChapmanF, Sep 16, 2022
  6. PiPLosAngeles

    PiPLosAngeles Senior Member

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    I wonder why the plastic trim below the seat gets so warm, and the jack itself even though there is clear air flow?
     
    #6 PiPLosAngeles, Sep 16, 2022
  7. Louis19

    Louis19 Active Member

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    If you want to know all about traction battery cooling and charger cooling here is an interresting link that could answer your questions. ....very detailed info p.s popcorn will help you viewing this video:)

    in a nutshell the traction battery vents ouside the car, the charger vents inside the car
    2017-2022 Prius Prime - Retrait de la batterie de 8,79 kWh - YouTube
     
    #7 Louis19, Sep 17, 2022
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2022
    KMO likes this.
  8. road2cycle

    road2cycle Active Member

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    This is from the owners manual.

    D6F91227-A138-440A-956F-C1A95A41F980.png D31804D7-6D5D-4056-AAB1-6BDD5790767B.png 85B58612-0391-4AFE-A356-9F60437FA071.png
     
    #8 road2cycle, Sep 18, 2022
    Tideland Prius, Louis19 and Zythryn like this.
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