Air vent under passenger seat- What is it?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by davekro, Dec 1, 2013.

Page 1 of 2
  1. davekro

    davekro Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2013
    493
    68
    0
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, East Bay
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I like to keep a plastic box in the unused space below the passenger seat*. Is this vent related to battery (or other system) cooling? If it is simply an air vent for rear passengers, I will not be concerned with blocking it.

    * I keep my tire repair kit in it (small air compressor, tire plug kit, pliers). [I have a Plug In Prius w/o a spare tire and the OEM compressor w/ goo ruins the air pressure sensor.]
     
    #1 davekro, Dec 1, 2013
  2. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2012
    3,779
    1,282
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Not wise to block a vent in a Prius.
     
    #2 JMD, Dec 1, 2013
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    111,166
    50,601
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    does it face the rear? turn the heat on and see if it's rear passenger heating.
     
    #3 bisco, Dec 1, 2013
  4. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2011
    2,652
    625
    15
    Location:
    Eau Claire, Wi.
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    It's for main battery vent system. If you are talking the left rear passenger seat vent.

    From the manual

    Hybrid battery (traction battery) air vents
    There are air intake vents on the
    side of the rear right seatback
    and on the front corner of the left
    rear seat cushion for the purpose
    of cooling the hybrid battery
    (traction battery). If the vents
    become blocked, the hybrid battery
    (traction battery) may overheat,
    leading to a reduction in
    hybrid battery (traction battery)
    output.
     
    #4 retired4999, Dec 1, 2013
  5. davekro

    davekro Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2013
    493
    68
    0
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, East Bay
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Yes it faces rear. It is underneath the front of the front passenger seat. Duh (tks), it does blow air from the ventilation system and changes with the fan speed from the cabin temperature control. It is not related to the traction battery's cooling vents located at the lower left of the backseat bench and at the far right backseat seatback next to the right rear door.
     
    #5 davekro, Dec 1, 2013
  6. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    1,607
    877
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    How about a picture so we know what you're talking about? As you have described, it is probably the rear seat area HVAC register. Blocking it would diminish the amount of forced air into the rear seating area. Bear in mind that your traction battery air inlet is in the back seating area.
     
    #6 BZzap!, Dec 1, 2013
  7. B. Roberts

    B. Roberts Hypah Milah! Ayuh.

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2005
    691
    212
    0
    Location:
    used to be "Glacial" Maine and now FL
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    The grate between the right seat back and the right door... that's the traction battery cooling air intake... never block that one.

    The other vent under the seat is HVAC... block that one all you want... if need be. Shouldn't compromise anything.
     
    #7 B. Roberts, Dec 1, 2013
  8. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2010
    3,247
    528
    0
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    That's the vent that will keep your tools warm or cold depending upon what temp you have the heat or AC set for [​IMG]

    Mike [​IMG]
     
    #8 WE0H, Dec 1, 2013
  9. energyandair

    energyandair Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2009
    905
    339
    0
    Location:
    Victoria BC Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    I've not heard of a cooling vent at the lower left of the backseat bench and can't see it in my 2010.

    Can you describe it further or add a photo?

     
    #9 energyandair, Dec 2, 2013
  10. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    5,683
    953
    124
    Location:
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    The "cool air inlet" is at the left side of the rear seat (if you're facing it) or upper right of the rear seat (driver's perspective).

    [​IMG]

    Photo credit to jayman.
     
    #10 32kcolors, Dec 2, 2013
  11. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2011
    2,652
    625
    15
    Location:
    Eau Claire, Wi.
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I do not know were to get a photo of it. You can read a bit from my 2012 plug-in manual. see post #4.
    You will not have this in your 2010, I am not positive but I believe it was new in 2012 plug-in and may be only in plug-in it may be the only ones to have it, I'm not sure.
     
    #11 retired4999, Dec 2, 2013
  12. davekro

    davekro Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2013
    493
    68
    0
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, East Bay
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I am sorry for the confusion. Mine is a 2013 Plug In Prius. So this 'extra' vent (as mentioned above) is just for PIP's. On the PIP, besides the (as you are sitting in the back seat) right side vent we all are familiar with, the PIP also has a vent on the lower seat cushion on left side. If you were sitting behind the driver, it would behind your left calf/ lower leg. I assume this is an additional air intake due to the additional lithium (traction) battery located where regular Gen III Prius' have their spare tire (PIP's don't have a spare tire).

    Again, sorry for creating confusion. I posted in the regular Prius thread because in most ways the PIP is identical to the regular Gen III.
     
    #12 davekro, Dec 2, 2013
  13. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2011
    2,652
    625
    15
    Location:
    Eau Claire, Wi.
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Photo added of left rear seat vent by floor.
    2012 prius vent 001.JPG
     
    #13 retired4999, Dec 2, 2013
    AZPriusdriver and 32kcolors like this.
  14. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    1,607
    877
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    A picture is...
     
    #14 BZzap!, Dec 2, 2013
  15. davekro

    davekro Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2013
    493
    68
    0
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, East Bay
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Oh, I KNOW this one...
    .
    .
    .
    .
    uh, purdy? ;)
     
    #15 davekro, Dec 2, 2013
  16. Feri

    Feri Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2011
    761
    144
    0
    Location:
    Maldon Victoria Australia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III

    It came standard in Australian 2010 Prius. Cools or heats rear passenger feet. Of course ours is on the left.;)
     
    #16 Feri, Dec 3, 2013
  17. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2012
    5,084
    1,782
    1
    Location:
    Nebraska
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    Pretty sure ours is an extra battery vent.
     
    #17 markabele, Dec 3, 2013
  18. davekro

    davekro Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2013
    493
    68
    0
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, East Bay
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I believe our mate is referring here to the AC/ heating vent under front passenger seat, which was the vent that was inquired about in the original post. Our mate's passenger seat seems to have come from the factory installed on the 'wrong side'. ;)

    This vent refers to the 'extra' battery vent on the left side backseat bottom, near left door (only on the PIP).​
     
    #18 davekro, Dec 3, 2013
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    111,166
    50,601
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    pretty funny how a perfect description of the 'vent under the passenger seat facing the rear' can be misconstrued as the cooling vent(s) for the battery.:p
     
    #19 bisco, Dec 3, 2013
  20. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2011
    2,652
    625
    15
    Location:
    Eau Claire, Wi.
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    That was my fault!
    I just assumed that OP was talking about the extra vent on the rear seat left cushion in our plug-in's.
    The reason I assumed that is because the rear heat / Air cond.ducts have been under the front passenger seat for Many Years...... and the Plug-in's vent in the rear cushion was new with the plug-in. My Bad! Sorry for the confusion! :(
     
    #20 retired4999, Dec 3, 2013
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 2