A/C system blowing warm air

No but: certainly get an opinion from a second dealer or independent shop. There's some chance that you don't need a new compressor. Of course don't use the system until it's fixed; running it will only do more harm.

If you go non-dealer note that *only* the correct type of Toyota AC oil must be used. Anything else risks long-term damage to the compressor wiring.

 

The condenser is vulnerable to road debris, even a small rock kicked out by a semi tire can hit the condenser header just right to cause a pinhole. I took photos of my 2004 Prius condenser, back in 2005, when I put the grille guard on the front.

IMHO some sort of fine mesh grille guard is mandatory to ensure long condenser life. A guard can be as simple as that plastic gutter guard stuff to keep leaves out of the eavestrough





Not sure why they want to replace the compressor. Run a compressor low on refrigerant, it will make noise, as will being overcharged. There should be low-limit and high-limit sensors to protect the compressor from running in the event of a problem

I can see replacing the condenser, though given the age of the car it's possible to try a repair first. You might be able to find somebody who can weld aluminum, a lot cheaper than replacing parts

 

I'm having the same problem, it's really ticking me off since I was planning to go to Cedar Point with some friends.

 

Hello tpmello:

You're in luck. Luscious garage in San Francisco can put in a salvaged compressor for you. Here's a link that PC member Dogfriend had put in another post (my apologies if you've already received this information):

Luscious Garage | Blog | 270k Mile Prius: Dead A/C Compressor

Best wishes,

 

THAT RAT-BASTARD OF A DEALER SHOULD BE PUT UP ON FRAUD CHARGES. It's S.O.B.'s like that that make us all remember (Caveat Emptor -- Buyer Beware) just who's side Government is really on.

Thor

 

That's a happy diagnosis but it may well be incorrect. If there is no leak, why did it need a recharge? The refrigerant had to go somewhere. The Prius AC system is closed, there are no rotating seals to leak. Be prepared to pay for fixing a leak in the near future.

 

I'd look for a pinhole in the condenser, especially along the headers on either side. Although one may expect very slow migration of coolant over a period of many years, for it to quit is unusual - implies a leak

How much 410A did the Prius need? Did the independent guy use the correct oil? The electric A/C uses a special compressor oil

 

During a routine A/C EVAC, vacuum and recharge, you usually do not need to do an oil inject.

I just recharged the A/C in one of my cars two weeks ago. I used a SPX/Robinair machine. No oil was recovered during the evacuation or the vacuum process. I just evacuated the refrigerant, pulled a vacuum to boil away any moisture and charged with the correct amount of refrigerant.

 

Hello TP:

I agree with Richard on this. AC refridgerant doesn't just disappear over time, it usually is leaking somewhere if the level has dropped. Sort of like fuses. They almost never blow on their own accord.

 

True. I just recharged the A/C system on one of my cars for the first time in 14 years. This particular system held 1.5 lbs and after 14 years, it was only 1/2 lb low. A three year old A/C system that is already in need of a charge definitely has a leak somewhere.

 

What I was worried about, is whether the "tech" used one of those cans that claim to have a small amount of oil already in them. Like those DIY cans you can buy

 

I doubt it, as shops use a SPX/RobinAir machine (or equivalent) and those machines will only allow you to load refrigerant from a bulk container. When you purchase bulk containers of R134A, they are only filled with 134A and nothing else.

 

I would like to think so. However, there are enough horror stories out there, unless I personally witnessed them using the Robinair on the car, I'd have my doubts

 

I wonder if the guard affects air flow. The opening does look adequate I guess. Years ago we had some perforated sheet metal as fan guards that surprised us by stopping the air flow completely.

 

I hadn't noticed any problems, but I don't live in a super hot climate either. Window screen will absolutely keep rocks and bugs off the rad/condenser, but will also block airflow so badly you'll probably have overheat issues

 

I took photos of the condenser before I put the gutter guard on my Prius. At the time, my '04 was about a year old and had some surprisingly large dings on the condenser header, and fin rows





It doesn't take much of a ding in the right spot to result in a pinhole

 

Thanks for the nice pics! Did you take them through the grill? Would a point and shoot camera work?

I just looked at my about 100 day old condenser and sure enough there were quite a few bugs sticking on it and there were also a few dings on the fins. It's definitely in need of some guards.

The thin flat metal supporting the fins is not hollow (does not contain liquid), right?

I will try screen door screens since I already have some.

How do you clean the bugs off?

 

Yep, through the grille. Used a Fuji Finepix E500 that I got on closeout for $55, seems to work just fine.

Wrong, the refrigerant flows through the rows, the fins help dissipate heat . Doesn't take much of a ding to cause a leak

At highway speed, the window screen would be the same as blocking the grille. You may have overheat issues. On an old pickup I had a window screen on the front, but that truck had a custom 5 row rad that *never* overheated

You can carefully aim a garden hose in the grille. Don't use a pressure washer, they're strong enough to actually collapse the fins

I sprayed with a commercial product called NuCalgon TriPowr HD

Nu-Calgon: Products: Coil Cleaners and Sprayers

Used it straight, as it's safe for aluminum, plastics, etc. Let it soak in for 15 minutes, and what remained of the bugs very easily rinsed off.

I then applied the gutter guard to the exterior of the grille