Noise coming from the back seat speaker

Where was your microphone for the recording? I couldn't really work out which noise you were referring to.

The hybrid battery fan runs no matter what the temperature - my hearing isn't great, and I can only hear it if I try hard. I'm not certain, but I think the battery fan varies according to the hybrid battery temperature - not the ambient. The battery temperature will go up and down by being charged/discharged.

 

How close to the speaker is the microphone?

The hybrid fan is right next to that, on the corner below the seat itself - the LH arrow points to the main vent where the fan and filter are, the RH arrow - nobody really knows what it's there for

 

All I hear is what sounds like a fan running - which is normal.

Could it be the screen on that fan is getting caked up causing that fan to run faster than what your used to? I just cleaned mine and it was pretty dirty.

 

Try putting your microphone next to the grille and move it back to the speaker and back again - listening to the resulting recording might give you an idea of where it's coming from. Or use a makeshift stethoscope to listen.

I'm probably not a good candidate, suffering from Tinnitus, I don't tend to hear those sorts of sounds unless I strain to hear. Hopefully someone else will chime in with an answer.

But that's odd that it goes away when you open or close a door - again, hopefully someone else has an idea.

 

Hmm. There's a post almost deaf as me!

 

One sure way to confirm the source would be to remove the door panel. It's not very hard to do on most vehicles, doubt it'd be any different on a Prius.

 

I don't think that detracts from the fan theory at all.
With the cabin completely closed, there should be slightly more "drag" on the fan.
The same thing might happen if a window is just cracked open a bit.
And air pressure differences might explain the sound difference when going down the road too.

 

I thought that had been covered already.
YES when any fan runs faster it makes more noise.
But most owners here report that their fan noise is barely audible, no matter how fast it runs.

So.....you need to check yours out and at a minimum clean the screen and fan blades and check for obstructions.
It is also possible that the fan motor is going bad.

 

Mine is silent - but my 65 year old ears aren't perfect, particularly at higher frequencies. I can hear it if I put my ear to the grille after a long drive and leave the car "ON", but can't hear it from the driver's seat.

Yes, it will vary in speed - but technically it should be in relation to temperature of battery (which can vary considerably from ambient temperature), rather than speed. It could be worth asking your dealer again.

 

I've never heard that fan come on. But maybe it's because of all the other cabin noise. And I've never heard it when the car is stopped.

How do we clean the screen? I just use a powerful vacuum and place the suction over the vents back there. Do we have to remove the seat?

This picture is from another forum. Where is the fan and screen that needs to be cleaned?

 

deleted - mistakenly thought this was in the Prius C forum

 

That's not a Gen 4 - the vent isn't there on Gen 4 - it's more here:

 

That doesn't look like a Gen 4 either? The vent is on the wrong side.

 

Maybe I should have said intake rather than screen.
You have a 2 year old car. Unless it is WAY dirtier inside than normal......like from shedding pets......that should be fine for years to come.
Do try not to be paranoid.

 

my apologies - for some reason I thought "Prius C".

 

Thanks Sam. It's very clean, thankfully. I pick up the pizza crust. And I also meant to say "intake." I got 2 off them on each corner of the lower seat.

I has to edit this. I could have swore my car also had that long skinny vent as shown in the photo. It does not.