Damage to A/C cooling coil

[gblatt]

While washing my 1 month old '05 Prius yesterday I noticed that the A/C cooling coil has a few nicks in it apparently from gravel or other stuff being kicked up through the lower grill. The cooling coil appears to be made of aluminum and unless protected somehow it will eventualy be damaged critically.

Is there a scrren out there that can be retrofitted in front of the coil to protect it?

[T1H1X38]

Gblatt:

What type of road surface do you normally drive on? I'm curious to know if your damage is caused by geographics...road conditions, typical weather conditions for your area, etc.

I've checked mine and it isn't bad. I've had mine for nine months. I rarely drive on the highway for long periods of time. I'm a city, local driver. Perhaps this is why.

[gblatt]

I drive a mix of local paved roads here in Virginia and Interstate 495. No gravel roads at all.

[jayman]

I was surprised to notice what you described this Spring. If you look in my PriusChat Personal Album I have some pictures of the A/C condenser.

I was in the process of having a local hotrod/paint shop make some grille protectors, but the hailstorm we had around 3 weeks ago means they're backed up at least 1-2 months.

My Prius spends 95% of its time on Winnipeg city streets.

[gblatt]

Wow, nice collection of bugs. Mine being pretty new doesn't look as bad as yours but I was surprised to see the few that I have after only one month. When you finally get a protective screen for it please post some photos of it.

[delrey]

My condenser had to be replaced due to a hole ('04 - around 25k miles). I only drive on city streets & highway.

[jayman]

Wow, nice collection of bugs.

I know. Once I get back to Winnipeg and have some time I'll clean them off.

Trust me, I don't like them any more than you do.

[dick36]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(delrey @ Aug 7 2005, 11:06 AM) [snapback]114252[/snapback]</div>

My condenser had to be replaced due to a hole ('04 - around 25k miles). I only drive on city streets & highway.
[/b]

I have a 06 Prius with 5000 miles. My AC just stopped working and, thinking it was fully covered by warranty, took it in to Torrance Toyota. After examination they informed me that the condenser had damage from rocks or gravel, that my basic and extended warranty was no good, and that I could not get the condenser reapired and that it will cost me about $600 to replace the part and recharge the system. I contacted Toyota HQ and told them that I thought the warranty should cover the costs because the damage was not through fair, wear, and tear, the vehicle had never been in an accident, and that the exposed condenser, without a shield was an obvious design flaw. They told me that they had seen the same thing before and that there was nothing they could do but hold me responsible for driving it. My Toyota experience has just taken a sharp turn south. I am now looking into installing expanded metal to try and protect the new condenser, but need advice on this. Any ideas? Thanks,

Dick

[nwprius]

Every Auto I have owned has had exposed cooling condensers for both A/C and engine and a few have been damaged from road debris. The Auto companies do not pay for these collisions. Toyota is not responsible for the conditions of roads. Gravel from pot holes, truck spillage, and, icy road gravel do us damage. Couple years ago I had a stud from a winter studded tire embed itself in my windshield and have probably had some of those in my radiators. Can't blame the car companies.

[brick]

This is the case on just about every vehicle. If you put the A/C condenser behind the radiator then it doesn't have a stream of cool (or at least sort of cool) air into which to dump the heat. Your A/C system would have to have twice the rated capacity to get the job done. This is not a Prius, or even a Toyota thing. Several years ago I was driving my father's Volvo when a chunk of debris fell off some rusting POS SUV thing and landed squarely in the A/C condenser. I didn't realize what had happened until someone told me that my car was "smoking." At that point I inspected and figured out what the problem was, and eventually fixed it to the tune of $400 by doing most of the labor myself. (The R134a had escaped already so there wasn't much to be done but replace the condenser and then take it to a pro for charging.)

It sucks but what can you do? You can't expect Toyota to pick up the tab for this one.