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.
Car is too new for you to worry. Warranty will take care of it. The compressor is all electric and very expensive. The Prius has one of the most complex air conditioning systems I have ever encountered in a car. There are numerous computers that control everything. The compressor runs off the traction battery as I recall. The site glass is not always a good indicator. But if it has gone south recently then you probably either have a leak or the compressor and/or fans in the front are not working correctly. I experienced that when it first started up it blew cool air and then went down hill from there. It ended up being the compressor but I had 95,000 miles on my 2006. They can go earlier. The best advice is take it to the dealer and let them work it out. Do not try and add refrigerant or let anyone not familiar with this system. They could end up ruining it very easily. It takes a special oil that can handle the high voltage and if you use a normal oil and Freon combo you will ruin the unit. My 2 cents.
there is no belt, but they left the pulley for harmonic balancing i think. other than making sure you have all the right buttons pushed, looks like a trip to the dealer. like the doc ^ says, should be under warranty. all the best!
If you're not seeing any bubbles, ever, yeah: it's probably lost it's Freon. Should be warranty, don't start messing with it, they'll just blame you. Any damage visible on the front radiator? Thats the AC one.
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?)
It'll be the new-and-improved Freon. Trouble with the new stuff is it has an odd, alpha/numeric designation, so it's simpler to just continue to refer to it as Freon. Kinda like one of my sons: I notice he'll still talk about "taping", the hockey or whatever. I'd tread cautiously, using a non-Toyota mechanic. It may work out, but be careful: the Prius AC is a little unusual. I don't profess to know the first thing about, lol: just layman thoughts.
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.
it's the high voltage compressor motor, and accompanying accessories. takes a special oil too. heed menders advice, isn't there a closer dealer?
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! )
if it's an expensive part, ask them if they'll use a salvage. also, call toyota yourself about some warranty help. all the best!
From how the Canucks rumbled with the Ducks last season, a lot of tape was applied in the training rooms.
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 )
