Out of storage after 10 months, now AC isn't working

Hi Everyone,

I work overseas and this is the third year that we have stored/garaged our 2005 Prius during my 10 months out of the US. I should mention that while I am overseas, the car is regularly started every 2-3 weeks to keep everything lubed up (climate is set to max hot, to force the engine to run a bit longer than the usual cycling).

Yesterday, we returned to the US for my summer break, I fired up the Prius, everything looks good as usual, but the A/C isn't working. In reading other posts here, I have done a couple of tests trying to diagnose including: starting the car, letting it finish it's initial engine running cycle, then putting the AC on at Max Cold and having a look under the hood. When I do that, and have a look and listen to the compressor, I notice that the AC compressor is buzzing for 3-5 seconds, then stops. After about 20 seconds this repeats. Still no cold air.

Not looking forward to an expensive repair to replace the compressor and, as a teacher, I can hardly afford it.

Any good news here? I'm hoping for a recharge only, but I'm not sure why it would need one since it gets driven about 5000 miles a year and is stored for the better part of 10 months. The car has 41K on it. Not nearly enough for a compressor to go bad...I hope.

Thanks for the help in advance.

Chris

 

Thanks for the reply Patrick.

To update the situation...I just returned from the local Toyota dealership (Freeman Toyota, Santa Rosa, CA), where they told me that I need a new compressor to the tune of over $1400. This is in addition to the two hours labor at $240 they charged me to diagnosis it. Seems like highway robbery on all fronts. Really? Two hours to diagnosis a bad A/C compressor? Unbelievable.

The "service" folks at Freeman were unsympathetic, and could not explain why a compressor would go bad after only 41,000 miles om a 2005 Prius. When I asked how many compressors they have had to replaced in similar situations, they said "not many", which probably really means, "none". Freeman won't even credit the $240 towards the repair if I can gather the funds together to have it done.

Shame on Freeman Toyota. I will not go back.

I have since called Toyota's Customer Service 800 number and they are opening a case file to be reviewed. I am keeping my fingers crossed that Toyota will do right by me and by their reputation of making outstanding cars. It still seems highly unreasonable that a compressor would fail with such low miles. After all it is a Toyota...right?

Chris

 

Thanks for the reply and suggestion.

The story gets better. I now have the car back. In looking at the service notes from Freeman's Toyota: "A/C compressor will not turn on, B1476 A/C load system trouble code present. performed active test. A/C compressor does not come on. Cooling system fan operates. Evac'd cooling system. 0.8 lbs recovered. No Leaks detected. Recommend replacing A/C compressor."

Not sure what this all means so any help here would be great.

Since I still feel I was way overcharged for the simple diagnosis, I called the original dealer that I bought the car from in '05 and they confirm an A/C diagnosis would cost me 1 hour of labor (at $109). So Freeman's Toyota charging me 2 hours labor today (at $240) is dishonest at best and criminal at worst. I have filed a complaint with the BBB. And on top of that, they took my 0.8 lbs of freon. Who do these guys thing they are?

Chris

 

Great idea to contact the Regional Manager. Any idea how I can find out who that is?

Thanks!

Chris

 

Thanks again Patrick.

Now for the million dollar question....or in my case, the $1400 question...if Toyota USA does not make this right, can I replace a compressor myself, or it this a real pain? I am fairly mechanically inclined and I have seen plenty of compressors on ebay (with many more miles than mine) for several hundred dollars. A local Mom and Pop A/C shop said they could rebuild mine for $400.

That being said, I don't want to screw with is up if I do it myself. Reading about the special oil and I don't want to have a "shocking" experience. But I definitely won't be going back to the crooks at Freeman Toyota in Santa Rosa for any repairs.

Many thanks.

Chris