"cooling performance of the hybrid battery is low consult a dealer"

Start by getting a dealership diagnostic, should be around $100. If it is serious, post details of what's involved, their proposal and quote, and we go from there.

 

Pet hair has been known to clog the HV battery cooling fan.

 

Yes, obstructed ventilation is most common. A dead cooling fan would be next.

 

clean the cooling fan. cost? free. do you carry pets?

or it just maybe something blocking the inlet grille.

 

Cooling fan problem, probably. Clean it out, unclog it, and make sure it spins.

 

you're probably still under warranty.

 

I just got this error on my 2014 prius with 61k miles (like many of us it seems) Just called Keyes Totyota in L.A. where I bought it and their service department said the filter needs to be cleaned for $160. I asked if there was a fan in there and they did not know. I vacuumed all around it - do not have pets and looks very clean.
Any ideas?

 

I'm not clear: did you get down to your fan? If not, it's a fairly easy diy, an hour or two.

 

before I start digging I wanted to know if it is covered under regular hybrid warranty...

 

I suspect not, that it's comparable to something like cabin filter change: a service. Yeah check it out, and if you want to diy I can go into more detail.

 

If you have instructions would love to have a go at it and save $160 - I will also put the OBDII and app to see what is up... Thanks

 

Ok:

1. Get yourself looking at the grill in back seat back, and push a gap between the seat back and seat there, look in with a good light. There's a 12 mm (socket size) bolt holding down the small portion of seat back with the grill. Reach in with a long extension on a ratchet wrench (think I use a 6" and 3"), back out the bolt, and reach a hand in to grab it as it comes free, fish it out. You don't want to drop it, then you'd likely need to pull off seat, or do some fishing with magnet.

2. Release the seat back latch on that size, and partially tilt the seat back forward. Then start wiggling the seatback portion with grill, it'll come loose and lift off. There's some velcro too I think. You can just pull it sort of half off I believe.

3. Flip the seat backs completely down, both sides, go 'round back to the hatch opening, take out the removable portion of floor, and underfloor tray. Then pry off the floor piece directly behind the seat backs, atop the hybrid battery). It has numerous tenacious fasteners. Use pry tools gently, take your time. Also peal off velcro connection between that portion of hatch floor. And some where between seatback and the floor there is one more bolt, just look for it. At reinstall of this floor btw, I would leave off most of the fasteners. The floor will still be quite secure, just makes it easier for next time.

4. Now you you need to finish off pulling ductwork, to access the the fan. Going from memory, there's a few small bolts, and some "christmas tree" style fasteners, the latter just pull out, rely on friction to stay in place. Run a dusting wand through any ductwork you remove.

5. When you get down to the fan itself, I wouldn't bother to remove it: just clean it in situ. Q-Tips are ideal for cleaning between the blades. Then use some air (a wet dry vacuum on blow, for example), do a general blow-out of dust.

Install in opposite order.