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AC blowing warm air

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Lone_Cricket212, Jul 5, 2024.

  1. Lone_Cricket212

    Lone_Cricket212 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2023
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    Location:
    New York
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    II
    So last week my AC stopped blowing cold air and started blowing warm air.
    Not sure if relevant: That morning I checked our cabin air filter. It had a lot of leaves and stuff. I shook it out and put it back in since I didn't have a new one.
    Sight glass looks full. No big air bubbles. I saw some small ones but not consistent.
    I have code B1442 (Air Inlet Damper Control Servo Motor Circuit). I looked through where the cabin air filter was and it looks like the door that opens and closes the cabin is working fine.
    I don't have a way to check the pressure on the refrigerant lines.
    The condenser also makes the noise in the video attached.
    https://youtube.com/shorts/_LllmVv2UNw?si=JbbewaG_fs21IZgI

    Current plan: I'm thinking of renting the tool to measure the high and low pressures. I'd also like to add dye to see if there's a leak somewhere.
    If no leak is found then I plan on removing all the refrigerant to see how much is in there. Then I plan on adding the right amount of 134-a without additives. If the issue isn't resolved then I'll look into replacing the compressor.

    Anything I'm missing or forgetting?
     
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    10,373
    1,792
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    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Just plug up one of those silly cans that you buy at the store put it on the only fitting it will fit on which will be marked l with a gray cap with the car off nothing happening what does that gauge do when you put the fitting onto the line does it bury the needle past it's full number which will be like 80 lb because it's a low side gauge might be a hundred It buries the gauge That's good now have someone start the car put the air on low l o fan speed on high fresh air selected and select the air conditioning button The minute the compressor kicks on look at the sight glass You see bubbles move across the sight glass and then it starts to clear up Yes your charge is about as correct as it's going to get when all that just happened now that low side fat line should be starting to get cold You squeeze it with your hand and it's getting cold now the same part inside the car called the evaporator is getting cold because it's not coming out of the vents is completely different than not making cold so it's making cold and you're not getting it to your feet or face maybe something to do with the code you have at least you're not getting heat there's really no need to take Freon out measure it and then put back whatever these cars hold about a can and one or two shots out of the second can and that's it I don't care if you measure it weigh it squirt it in with the appropriate insertion tool doesn't really matter these things make cold air without any problem generally speaking unless you have in this system usually an evaporator leak which is inside the car You may smell it you may not and then you're looking at a hell of a repair I just retired that car to fall and winter and spring use.
     
  3. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    24,904
    16,213
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    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV