Nasty Hybrid Cooling Fan Grill After 90k Miles (photos)

yes, go to the dealer ......

 

May need to check that out -- does the trim just pop off?

 

e u gross! what cause that? r u 2nd owner? that's disgusting, never seen anything like it.

otoh, nice to know they've added a sensor/warning.

 

Interesting to know if it resets itself after a few starts now that air flow has been restored.

 

agreed. or it may need a scan tool. try disconnecting the 12v for a minute.

 

Removing the 12V for a minute may reset the warning. However, the step you took may not have restored airflow. With that much gunk, I think you should take the cooling fan apart and clean it, because the fan itself may be clogged.

There's a do it yourself video in this thread:
Nutz About Bolts Prius Maintenance Videos | PriusChat

 

A number of warning messages will self-clear after a handful or so of ignition power cycles, if the cause of the warning has disappeared. I do not know whether or not this is one of the auto-clearing messages.

 

It's a shame Toyota didn't come up with an aftermarket air filter for the 2nd Generation Prius - even if it was something to stop various types of hair getting through.


iPhone ?

 

The dash photo showed around 80,000 miles and it looked like a Gen III, although I've never seen such a filter either. I'd still clean out the fan if so much clogging occurred. That cabin got subjected to a lot of dirt or hair.

 

looks like dryer lint, portable laundromat?

 

I put in a piece of window screen similar to OP's pic. Every once in a while I shine a light through the outer grill, check it's condition. And every 2~3 years dig down to the fan, dust it off. You can clean the fan without complete removal. All in all, it's a bit of a hassle, but not that hard.

After the first time pulling the hatch panel off the battery, I left the bulk of the fasteners off, just labelled and bagged them. They're very resistance to popping off, makes you you think you're going to break something. Makes it easier next time.

 

Go to home depot
Buy a furnace register filter
A dozen for a couple of bucks
Remove the outer grill
Cut several filters to fit into grill
Btw I hot glued 2 together and trimmed to replace cabin filter
Anyone have any clever aka cheap alternatives?

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Aluminum window screen:



A couple of thread loops secure it.

And digging down to the fan itself:



This is all the disassembly you have to do, to clean it.

 

Have you tried pressing the "Disp" button on the steering wheel?

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

What did you use to clean your fan.I was right there with open fan but didn't know how to clean?

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You *could* fully remove the fan unit, disassemble it and then spray it with solvent until it's sparking clean, but... it's only purpose is to cool. It's not like a fan that blows fresh air for you to breathe.

So if it's lightly coated with dirt? Do nothing. Or reach in with a Clorox wipe or Wet Wipe and clean as best as you can. But if there's a thick layer of hair or crud, you should disassemble and get all the hair-crud out and reassemble. You're only cleaning plastic; there are lots of ways to do it.

 

Q-Tip.

 

Our Prolong Battery System installation instructions have the step by step process for accessing the battery cooling fan to clean it. We have this for the Gen2 Prius, Gen3 Prius, Camry, Highlander, and more at this link:
Prolong™ Battery Charger Installation Instructions - Hybrid Automotive