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Hot Rear Seat? Is this Normal?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by diode, Nov 29, 2006.

  1. diode

    diode New Member

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    I've called Toyota about this and they said it shouldn't be doing that, and asked me to bring the car to the dealer for service.

    I have a 2003 Prius with about 40K miles on it. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area.

    We decided to drive to Disnelyland for a vacation. On the way there on I5, you have to go over Tejon pass which is about 4000 to 5000 feet altitude.

    To keep the car going 65, my gas pedal was literally floored the entire trip up the mountain, which amounts to about 20 miles or so.

    My wife and son were in the back seat. My wife complained that the back seat is getting hot. I thought maybe the battery was warming up because of the rapid discharging needed to keep the car running.

    I felt it and it was pretty hot.

    Has anyone experienced this before?
     
    #1 diode, Nov 29, 2006
  2. mojo

    mojo Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(diode @ Nov 29 2006, 07:04 PM) [snapback]355443[/snapback]</div>
    Is it possible that something or someone was covering the battery cooling air vent ?Its on the passenger side next to the rear seat back.
     
    #2 mojo, Nov 29, 2006
  3. diode

    diode New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mojo @ Nov 29 2006, 04:41 PM) [snapback]355466[/snapback]</div>
    I don't see any vents inside the vehicle. It looks like on the outside, there is a black vent behind the drivers side rear passenger window. It isn't covered. I hear a gurgleing sound every once in a while coming out of it.
     
    #3 diode, Nov 29, 2006
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Diode has an 03. The 03 battery vent is outside the vehicle. There shouldn't be a gurgling sound. Could it be someone poured some liquid inside the vent?

    Also, there isn't a package 9 for 2003.
     
    #4 Tideland Prius, Nov 29, 2006
  5. donee

    donee New Member

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    Hi Diode,

    You should be hearing a blower sound (like a hair-dryer, but not as loud) at the vent and inside the car when the Battery is hot. This would keep the seat cool. It sounds like your blower is jammed up with foriegn matter, or its bearings are worn out. Would this account for the sound you heard?
     
    #5 donee, Nov 30, 2006
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