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Unusual AC aound accompanied by fluctuating airflow.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Austin Longenecker, Jul 24, 2020.

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  1. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    The foreshadow.
     
    #41 Grit, Jul 27, 2020
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  2. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    They have a CVT. Continuously Variable Transmission.
    Check out this article:
    Continuously Variable Transmission

    I don't understand why they would change their LIFETIME fluid?? :)
    But it's best to change it.
     
    #42 ASRDogman, Jul 27, 2020
  3. Austin Longenecker

    Austin Longenecker Member

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    Probably. I've already had one of those horror stories at a standard mechanic. Trying something different this time.
     
    #43 Austin Longenecker, Jul 27, 2020
  4. Austin Longenecker

    Austin Longenecker Member

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    Another update. Its warm again outside (80° F but black car in the sun, even 60° F feels hot in the sun) and AC has completely gone. No noise. No air. No fan. Nothing. Looks like I'm about to have my first expensive repair. (Except that time I had to pay for repairs on damage done by mechanic).
     
    #44 Austin Longenecker, Jul 27, 2020
  5. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Sometimes when there are that many 'no's in the problem description, the repair can turn out to be simple and inexpensive. But still takes a multimeter and some gumshoe work.
     
    #45 ChapmanF, Jul 27, 2020
  6. Austin Longenecker

    Austin Longenecker Member

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    That's true. After messing around with it and giving it the good old turn off and back on again ( full car, not just AC, and after waiting 10 minutes), air is blowing again. Just not very cold. Cool enough to be tolerable for the drive to the dealership tomorrow, but not cool enough to be desirable. I'll give another update when I hear back from the dealership sometime tomorrow.
     
    #46 Austin Longenecker, Jul 27, 2020
  7. Austin Longenecker

    Austin Longenecker Member

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    Just got it back from the dealership and everyone except . . . Well, you know who . . . Were right. It is the compressor failing. When I was told that replacing the compressor was the solution, the man helping me got very confused as it quoted me $5.4K (As if. I could buy a new used car for that) He immediately went to talk to the technician and got it down to $1.9K. Obviously that original quote was so unreasonable that even Toyota wouldn't charge it, and that $1.9K is not much more expensive than Google says it should cost. What do y'all think though? Does that sound reasonable? Could running the compressor till it dies lead to any collateral damage?
     
    #47 Austin Longenecker, Jul 28, 2020
  8. lech auto air conditionin

    lech auto air conditionin Senior Member

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    It depends on what parts are in the quote and what is left out. It depends on the type of compressor failure if it came apart in tiny little pieces of metal filings and dust that is spread throughout the system. Then the recommended minimum would be obviously a compressor adding a condenser that expansion valve really should be replaced and all the other components flushed through and blown through to remove small particular and burnt oil out of.

    Then there is the lucky instant burn out or break a clean snap or electrical failure of a compressor where there’s no debris and no burning of oil no particulate matter in bedded inside the condenser.

    In the second scenario the minimum less cheapest trying to cut corners replace the compressor and a desiccant sock bag located inside that round tube connected to the condenser.

    The above two methods have two different levels of expense of both parts and labor
     
    #48 lech auto air conditionin, Jul 28, 2020
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  9. Austin Longenecker

    Austin Longenecker Member

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    I was quoted for the compressor alone. Currently compressor hasn't failed yet but the sound sounds like friction which means dust is likely somewhere.
     
    #49 Austin Longenecker, Jul 28, 2020
  10. lech auto air conditionin

    lech auto air conditionin Senior Member

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    Then just throwing on a good compressor on a bad system will just destroy another good compressor.

    The only 100% sure way to find out how much damage and debris is in the system.
    Is by removing the compressor fill it with a little break clean or parts cleaner some sort of solvent shake it around poured out in a white cup or a clear clean glass and look for the tiny silvery flakes of metal.
    If you see this there is a lot more in the condenser which means it needs to be replaced to.

    Then there is the expansion valve that is highly recommended some people don’t replace it and get by some people don’t replace it and are forced to purchase another compressor and another condenser.
    And if there’s tiny metal flakes don’t forget all the lines need to be flushed out.

    Start budgeting and saving up for this repair.
     
    #50 lech auto air conditionin, Jul 28, 2020
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  11. Austin Longenecker

    Austin Longenecker Member

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    I'll talk to the mechanic when I go back on Thursday. I've already have savings for large repairs, but I will start saving up to replenish that immediately.

    Also, I appreciate all your input into this. Thank you.
     
    #51 Austin Longenecker, Jul 28, 2020
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  12. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    I never said that it could not be a bad compressor.
    I did say that you should not guess and throw a big chunk of money at it.
    I am glad that you got a professional analysis.
     
    #52 sam spade 2, Jul 29, 2020
  13. Austin Longenecker

    Austin Longenecker Member

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    Oh you're right, I also forgot about the alien death ray I keep in my back seats.
     
    #53 Austin Longenecker, Jul 29, 2020
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  14. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Hey, does that one have a long scratch along the underside on the right? Somebody swiped mine a year or two ago.
     
    #54 ChapmanF, Jul 29, 2020
  15. Austin Longenecker

    Austin Longenecker Member

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    Ummmmmmmmm nooooo *walks away nervously*
     
    #55 Austin Longenecker, Jul 29, 2020
  16. Austin Longenecker

    Austin Longenecker Member

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    Well. I have some bad news. Things went well for my AC for almost a week after the compressor was replaced. But today I heard a new clicking sound from the same are as the old noise. Well it was more of a muffled, quiet, high rpm "thumpa-thumpa" sound. I pulled over to check things out, turned the vehicle of for a few minutes, then when I get back in, AC is gone. Won't blow air. No sound of the compressor even trying to turn on.

    After turning the car off again, but this time for several minutes, ac will come back online, but giving me that old sputtering airflow, with that clicking sound.

    Sound and air sputtering only occurs when AC is on. Turning the temp up so it uses the heater, pushing the ac button sonits fan only, or turning the system off will get rid of the sound and air problems.
     
    #56 Austin Longenecker, Aug 3, 2020
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2020
  17. lech auto air conditionin

    lech auto air conditionin Senior Member

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    Does it do this at idle sitting in your driveway. Lol use the term at idle on a Prius just doesn’t sound right.

    Well sitting in your driveway with air-conditioning on, continuously spray the front of your condenser with cold water from your garden hose with a sprayer from left to right up and down all over.
    Report back does this get your air conditioning to stay on longer the compressor has a longer on runtime?
     
    #57 lech auto air conditionin, Aug 3, 2020
  18. Austin Longenecker

    Austin Longenecker Member

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    Yes. The sound continues when in idle. I just moved into an apartment for college so no garden hose is available. The good news is its not hat metallic whine as before, nor as loud. The ac doesnt stop while driving. What I noticed is that if I turn the car off when the ticking is louder, the ac won't come back on unless I leave the car off for a few minutes. If the ac is running, it'll keep running until I turn the car off.

    I'm going to check the cabin air filter and blower motor tomorrow when I have sunlight. Just for the sake of checking. Based on the sound, and the fact that the compressor is brand new now, I think this noise is something else located near the compressor. This clicking was not there before I had the compressor replaced.
     
    #58 Austin Longenecker, Aug 3, 2020
  19. lech auto air conditionin

    lech auto air conditionin Senior Member

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    Does the ticking seem to happen when the fan kicks in at the same time ? When the car is off completely turned off spin each fan with your fingers and listen for a ticking.
     
    #59 lech auto air conditionin, Aug 3, 2020
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  20. Austin Longenecker

    Austin Longenecker Member

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    I'll give that a go tomorrow as well. I'll let you know what happens.
     
    #60 Austin Longenecker, Aug 3, 2020
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