, and I have been quoted nearly a thousand pounds to fix it. The problem is a leak in the condenser, which needs to be replaced. I've tried to source one myself, but there is some confusion over whether or not the condenser and the coolant radiators are combined, there is a vast difference in online prices, ranging from £70.00 to £700.00. has anyone else had this problem.
Owch! The AC and engine cooling loops are both in the same radiator assembly making it expensive. There is a separate, transaxle/inverter coolant radiator mounted in front but it has nothing to do with the AC. Bob Wilson
"The heat exchange has been improved through use of a sub-cool condenser, the condenser is intergral with the radiator to minimize space in the engine compartment." The top 2/3rd are the condenser taking in gaseous refrigerant and the bottom 1/3 is a super-cooling which I guess takes the liquid condensed refrigerant. It appears it is built into the radiator, so you only have a radiator and the half size inverter coolant radiator.
Thanks for the info, I wonder how it is that some suppliers quote the radiator only for around £80.00 and Toyota want over £600.00 for the combined unit. Unless I can find it cheaper, I'll have to go without A/C
BTW, OP, do you have a NHW11 or NHW10? The NHW10 was JDM only (we never got it in the US), was left-hand drive only, has a D-cell based battery pack, color LCD which wasn't a touchscreen (had buttons underneath) and I'd imagine all the UI and markings are all in Japanese. Since they were LHD only, some used ones got exported to other LHD drive countries like the UK and Australia. The first ones the US got were NHW11. Side note: From what I've seen, it seems the model year numbering is a bit odd/different in the UK vs. that of the US.
Hi my Prius is a uk spec NHW11, maybe the was a version without aircon, that would explain why there appears to be two types of radiator.
You sure about that? The NHW11 was sold officially in the UK from 2001 onwards whereas your profile states a year 2000 model (possibly NHW10 in disguise?). That is also why Toyota UK celecrated the 10th aniversary of the Prius with a special model last year. The Prius always came with a/c but I'm wondering if there is a difference in part for rhd and lhd cars? The gen1 Prius was never a big seller in the UK with only about 1,500 ever sold in 3 years and that's probably why parts are so expensive. If you have the JDM NHW10 then parts are almost impossible to source new, though many are now finding their way to the scrapyard in the sky. (cwerdna, the jdm & UK Prius are RHD in that the steering wheel is on the right side when looking from the back seat)
You might consider joining some of the Yahoo groups that are Prius associated and ask if anyone in the EU might have a lead on a Prius radiator. Sometimes the Yahoo groups have a separate list of members and I'm thinking of Stefan, a German owner of an NHW11. A wild-card, you might see if an Echo radiator could substitute. It has the same, 1.5L engine block and more likely to be found in a salvage yard. But this is pure speculation. Bob Wilson
Just been checking my paperwork, and I made a mistake, my Prius is a 2001, and one of the first uk spec cars.
I've always been confused by what constitutes RHD vs. LHD. When I was responding, I quickly looked at Which side of the road do they drive on? « Brian Lucas and decided to use LHD to refer to the UK. As someone who has visited Japan 4x, Australia and the UK, all I know is that you guys drive on the "wrong" side of the road.
RHT (traffic) means drive on the right side of the road. RHD (drive) means steering wheel on the right side of vehicle. Japan, India, Australia and UK are RHD. Obviously most LHD countries are RHT, and RHD is LHT. Some crazy countries are RHT & RHD even (meaning the driver is closest to the sidewalk).
By the above, US Virgin Islands is LHT and LHD. It was very strange when I visited. From the URL I mentioned:
Italy is LHD RHT and has been since the 1920's but Lancia still made their cars in RHD form only right up into the 1950's and some trucks/hgv's are still RHD in RHT Northern Italy. The reason for this interesting fact? Because when they're on narrow roads up in the Alps they can see how close they are to the edge! I prefer RHD in that it's much more natural for right handed people to slouch their right arm on the window and hold the steering wheel with their left, though I guess in LHD cars you hold the steering wheel with your left and put your right arm around your hunni?
In the US it is because it is easier to send txt and type on smartphone and eat a burger and shift gears all at the same time with your right hand. Also I don't think my left hand would be able to change radio stations...
