1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Gen 3 Prius air vent output is weak compared to Gen 2

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by priusroadtrip, Aug 5, 2020.

  1. priusroadtrip

    priusroadtrip New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2020
    7
    6
    0
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Hello-

    I recently purchased a 2011 Prius coming from a Gen 2 Prius and it seems that the car's air vent output is much less and not as efficient as the previous Gen 2 Prius I had. On the Gen 2, I used to run with just the vent open and maybe at the lowest setting and it heats and cools the car pretty efficiently. I feel like I have to have the air speed set at closest to the highest setting in the Gen 3 to have the same output. Any thoughts on this? Thanks!
     
    #1 priusroadtrip, Aug 5, 2020
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,132
    50,049
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    have you replaced the cabin filter/checked the fan?

    is it one vent or all?

    are you using eco, normal or power mode? gen 2 doesn't have this option which reduces hvac power usage
     
    #2 bisco, Aug 6, 2020
  3. priusroadtrip

    priusroadtrip New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2020
    7
    6
    0
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thanks bisco for the response. Yes I replaced the cabin air filter and there was no change. The air is coming out of all of the vents and it increases when I increase the speed but it just doesn't seem as efficient as the gen 2. Is there a way to check the fan.

    I've only run it in normal mode only.
     
    #3 priusroadtrip, Aug 6, 2020
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,132
    50,049
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    with the filter out, you can look at the fan with a mirror i think, and run through the speeds listening to the sound change.
    maybe you need to clean the intake, it's a bit complicated, under the ww wiper. there should be a thread here describing the dismantling.
    any difference between fresh air and recirc?
     
    #4 bisco, Aug 6, 2020
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)