A/C cold

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Slair @ Jul 31 2007, 04:27 PM) [snapback]488370[/snapback]</div>

What temp did you have it set to?

Using the stearing wheel controls set to AC/AUTO and set the temp to where you are comfortable. If it is not cold enough just lower the temp.

Here is Tony Scheffers good blurb on AC operation.
Air conditioning, as a term, has been used by the auto industry for years to refer to the refirgeration of air. However the truth is that in most other parts of the world, and amongst those to do building HVAC for a living, air conditioning is both heating and cooling of air, along with air filtering and humidity control. True air conditioning indicates a fully controlled air environment.

Toyota's use of the term Air Conditioning in the Prius is technically correct, but many drivers confuse Toyota's use of the term with the common belief that Air Conditioning refers only to the cooling of cabin air.

The light on the dash indicates Auto A/C. If that light is on, the system will make all the decisions about air volume, air output, air source, compressor status and heat status based upon the temperature setpoint that is changed either at the steering wheel or on the MFD. The Prius system is fully automatic and behaves the same as nearly every other automatic climate control system I have ever used.

Now, with the light on, if you go into the MFD and start adjusting the system, the Auto A/C light will go off. That means that the system is not fully automatic anymore. Starting at Auto A/C, as soon as you manually adjust the fan speed, the system will not be able to adjust the fan speed automatically. That is why the Auto A/C light goes off. Not because the system is not going to run the A/C compressor, but because it is not fully automatic anymore. The same goes for air output, if you manually adjust that from the Auto A/C light, the system will not be able to choose the air output.

The temp setting does as it indicates. Its goal is to keep your cabin at the temp you indicate. It will heat as necessary and use the compressor as necessary to achieve these goals.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Slair @ Jul 31 2007, 06:55 PM) [snapback]488431[/snapback]</div>

Where do you park the car and how long is your average drive? If it is parked in the hot sun, it may take a few minutes and several miles for the system to overcome the overheated interior.

 

I have a 2007 Touring Edition with less than 3,000 miles, and the air conditioner slowly stopped cooling the air until all it was doing was sending outside temps through the system. Took it in to Toyota... seems like there is an "O-ring" fastener (Toyota tech's term) around something or other that seals something or other related to the air conditioner cooling's ability. There was a pin-prick sized crack in this "O-ring" thing that eventually caused all the freon to leak out. Toyota service seemed to know just what to look for, fixed it the same day, and I'm basking in Arctic air again.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(marshallmedia @ Aug 1 2007, 05:36 PM) [snapback]488908[/snapback]</div>

Based on your description, it sounded like what happened to my 2007 Touring as well, except the problem was discovered during the pre-delivery inspection. They found a very tiny leak in the compressor unit due to a faulty seal/gasket. They said this is the third Prius that has the same problem. The entire compressor unit had to be replaced and I was given a loaner Prius while waiting for the new compressor. I was told that there may be bad patch of supply of the gaskets.

 

marshallmedia is probably correct. It is just a simple o-ring replacement and coolant refill. Had a car in the past with this same issue too.

If it is still under the bumper-to-bumper warranty, they should fix this at no cost since it is an o-ring install mishap.

 

If your car has any sticker/decal in the lower lefthand corner of the driver's windshield, ensure that it does not cast a shadow on the dome-shaped button on the dash nearest that corner. My understanding is that the dome is a solar intensity sensor which is a part of the A/C system and it that plays a significant part in determining how fast the A/C compressor spins, thereby helping to conserve battery power during A/C operation.

Good luck!

Tim

 

Do these "leaks" that people have experienced all result in losing freon?
The reason I ask is that I've had A/C problems, too, with similar symptoms... no cooling (but only when it's very hot) no matter what the setting is. Yet, when I took the car in to be checked they couldn't find anything wrong even though 2 service advisors had observed it not working. They essentially didn't know what to do and did a "let's try" replacing the freon, but my freon level was full. They replaced the freon and it seems to be okay now but I haven't been able to really test it as the weather hasn't been hot.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TimCarlos @ Aug 2 2007, 09:50 PM) [snapback]489750[/snapback]</div>

Hi Tim..
That is a problem for us Texans, huh? I noticed that yesterday. What a stupid place to put the sensor. The dealer installed the two year inspection sticker on the mandated lower left corner and sure enough it is close to the solar sensor. So far it doesn't seem to affect anything but it isn't 100 degrees up here in Austin either..

John