A/C blows hot air ??

2013 PiP w/ 39,760 miles (oops, edited miles 6/29). 90º day this afternoon and for the first time ever it blew hot air.
- No codes via OBDll reader.
- Sight glass is completely clear, clean and empty. No apparent liquid present with A/C on or off.

I think the compressor runs of an electric motor, not the front drive pulley. Is there supposed to be a serpentine belt on the crank pulley (there is none)?
Screen on OBD ll does not light up AC in monitor area, so I guess it does not have monintor refrigeration.

I Googled to frustratingly not info on PIP A/C, so thought I'd try the trusted community for ideas.

Thanks for any ideas or help.

 

I was mistaken on the mileage! (it's my wife's car and I mis remembered).
The car has 39,759 miles! We purchased 10-30-13. One year & eight months, but over the 36,000 miles.

This appears to be a 3 year 36,000 mile warranty item.

The fan runs. I checked all related fuses (all good). It worked great, super cold at noon today when we got to the restaurant for lunch. After lunch it blew hot. That fast a change, seems weird and we drove about 5 mins to the retaurant on city streets. It did not discipate over hours or even days.

No obvious holes or crunches visible in the front lower A/C radiator.

Anyone have luck with dealers covering warranty items past 36k miles? We knew the GM as an aquaintence and used his name when we bought the car. I wonder if our salesman might look into this for us?

(Thanks for the quick responses. This community is the best!)

 

I just spoke to the dealership I bought the car at and they said at 39,000 miles it is out of warranty. But if the leak was caused by a road hazard, my auto insurance may cover it. I asked if freon had a color and he said no it was a clear gas ( I thought he said nitrogen??, what not freon?) and you would not see it in the sight glass. He said factory filling had no dye for leak testing. (

Since the dealer is a long way away, I guess I am stuck just finding a local A/C shop to test and repair. I do have a good friend who is a retired commercial HVAC tech. I wonder the value of going to him to check pressure and if zero, pull a vacuum to heck for leaks?

( I should have posted in repairs thread. Any way I can move it over there?)

 

Thanks. That tells me to at least ask specifically if they have worked on Prius A/C. Then ask what makes Prius different to see what he knows.

 

Made an appointment for tomorrow. My wife will drop off and get a shuttle to work. I asked the parts dept if they stocked the compressor and how much it was. No stock, but one day to get it. Cost is $2,094. I really hope it is NOT that. I do feel better taking it to where I bought it as they will be more likely to find something a non Toyota shop might not, knowing what to look for and and where to look!

Thanks for the advice. I'll let you know how easily we got of cost wise (positive thoughts, you know! )

 

It's A MIRACLE ! ! !
I got a call from my service writer at 4:00pm. He said that because it is a Hybrid and the failure was the high voltage electrical motor that drives the compressor, not from the compressor part failing, it is covered in California under the Calif. Emissions Control Warranty. He said the compressor was not actually listed , but that it is fully covered! I looked thru the Warranty book pages 21 - 30 in both Federal and Calif. emissions warranties and saw no mention of the A/C compressor... But who am I to argue!

What a surprise and a relief. Although I am surprised at their surprise 'because it is a Hybrid' statement. Well, maybe some PiP's are not Hybrids. LOL! Maybe getting my salesman involved and reminding him we kind of know the GM, got out the fine toothed Warranty comb with the factory. I wouldn't be surprised if they had not yet seen this part fail yet on any 2012, 13 or 14 PiP's. And it does seem a weird fit under the CA emissions warranty (+ eleven other states too.)

Thank you Baby Jesus!

 

That was my assumption when the service guy called and said that all would be covered under warranty AND it should be ready by 5:30PM.

Amen Brother! I just got a text from my wife that the dealer shuttle picked her up and is on the way to get the car. I'll tell her to snatch the keys and burn rubber outa there! (metaforicaly, of course )