air conditioner doesn't work at high temps

In Tucson at 108 degrees I can stay comfortable when I set the temp. at 77, this sets the fan speed at about medium, not at high speeds. The air at the vent feals cold. I would have your A/C sytem checked out, may be low on refridgerant.

 

I think you should have your air conditioning system checked out by your local Toyota dealer. It sounds like your car has a problem.

 

Thanks Patrick! I suppose I will have it checked out. It seems like it takes a good while to actually cool well (probably 20 minutes).

There is another issue where the car is squealing when going in reverse and when I use the shift lever from park to reverse it almost moves the car even though my foot is firmly pressed on the brake. It is still in the electric mode (no gasoline engine) and sometimes the car does an unusual shudder (seemingly randomly, although generally when stopped with just the electric motor on), and even shakes when it goes in reverse intermittently.

Do you think the two issues might be related?

 

I do not think the two issues are related. If you can demonstrate that squealing/shuddering to your dealer's service writer then maybe the tech can look at that problem.

 

I think the issue is normal. It makes a crackling/clicking noise when going from park to reverse, or park to drive, and vice versa. Was told by service adviser that the brakes will make a squeaky noise and it's normal. It did not happen before, but something can be cleaned.

Sometimes the noise sounds like a crackling of sparks when going into reverse from park or going into drive from park.

It's annoying, although I guess I understand that it might just be a defect in the brakes/changing gears in the car. At first I was afraid it was the transaxle, although I'm sure error codes would have arisen.

Also, I guess the A/C works, it just takes 10-15 minutes to actually start cooling it down. Didn't ask about that, although I'm guessing the car will throw an error code.

 

Gray is a indication of a vary hot over heating compressor, a little burning going on. After you have the A/C system discharged, pull out the dryer sock and the filter screen. on my look at the photo on my page, I show them removed. Your condenser is your first filter catching most of the metal, it gets stuck in there what gets by and through the condenser makes it to the dryer sock and the filter screen.

 

Gray is a indication of a vary hot over heating compressor, a little burning going on. After you have the A/C system discharged, pull out the dryer sock and the filter screen. on my look at the photo on my page, I show them removed. Your condenser is your first filter catching most of the metal, it gets stuck in there what gets by and through the condenser makes it to the dryer sock and the filter screen.

 

A/C pressure almost mean nothing but a guide on the electric compressor like the variable displacement compressor, compressors with no clutch. Old school pressure throw it out the window. it be nice if a car manufactures gave us a high side service port before and after the condenser. ( But that would be just to right.)

 

And no any shop who service A/c are far to wrong too often. It's sad there is so little training ( it cost ) and most are to cheap to buy the new tools and update. Were do you think I get most of my work??? it'S pathetic and sad to say from shop that do A/C .

 

And no any shop who service A/c are far to wrong too often. It's sad there is so little training ( it cost ) and most are to cheap to buy the new tools and update. Were do you think I get most of my work??? it'S pathetic and sad to say from shop that do A/C .

 

I know the service adviser claimed that the squealing was normal, I still question it. Sometimes when I am stopped the electric engine will only be on (or even sometimes the gas engine) and the car will jolt a little bit. It is not the transition between the gas and electric engine but when one or the other is on. I did tell another service adviser about this and he said it was probably some pump for the A/C. Sometimes I did not even have the A/C on and it still did it. And I do realize the normal Prius sounds, it is just these odd things in the car.

I do wonder if it just may be overfilled oil and nothing to worry about, because he said the car should throw codes. I am a little confused because I would figure that Toyota would be their own experts at the car. Although I realize that some parts would be hard to diagnose without codes in the car.

I will still have the dealership check on the A/C unit soon. I figure it is better to have them look at it and check them before any major issues with it occur. Do you think the dealership will give me trouble for this? Since I have a warranty, they aren't supposed to charge me to diagnose the A/C to my knowledge. (Unless of course I have to add coolant, instead of a warranty issue.)