A/C gone!

[IsrAmeriPrius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(delrey\";p=\"87924)</div>

...but there are some areas that where you *really* want to push that recirc button. (Feedlots).[/b]

But then you run the risk of missing the great steaks at the Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurant.

[dick36]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Canuck @ Apr 27 2005, 10:59 PM) [snapback]85130[/snapback]</div>

If Toyota cannot design the A/C equipment to be protected from road debris I would suggest that it is a defect in engineering and would tell them that you intend to take it further with the company if it is not repaired under warranty. This is not a moral issue or decision.
[/b]

I have a 06 Prius with 5000 miles. My AC just stopped working because of condenser had damage “from rocks” and my warranty is worthless. I had to pay $648 to Torrance Toyota. I consider it a design problem and Toyota should stand behind their warranty! I purchased a grill over the internet and it arrived today. I plan to post a complaint with the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Bureau of Automotive Repair requesting that office assist me in resolving the matter to the extent provided by law.

Dick

[dick36]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(delrey @ Apr 27 2005, 03:37 PM) [snapback]85028[/snapback]</div>

I finally got my baby in for a checkup today - the dealer just called with the diagnosis - no coolant because there is a hole. (Which he believes was caused by a rock driven over on the freeway).
Because it looks like external damage, he says it's not under warranty and the part is $400 ... but then he said that he'll see if he can get it covered under warranty first and get back to me. A bit fishy but OK ... so the A/C was fine before I took it in for an oil change last Saturday ... I wonder if they drove over the rock, or whatever. (Always good to blame someone else).
I don't want my dealer to do something dishonest on my behalf, if he's really trying to sneak this through as a warranty item when it shouldn't be ... but I don't' want to pay for it if I shouldn't have to either. Interesting!
Well, I'll see what he says. I really appreciated having a few things to look at while waiting to get in to the dealer again - thanks for the tips!
I'll let you know what they say later.
[/b]

The Prius has a design flaw and you will have to pay out of your pocket to repair the condenser. I just paid $621 for a rock that went thru mine. I think it might have come from a truck picking up road debris from the side of the road, but this is just a theory. I talked with Toyota HQ and they insist that I, not they, have to be responsible for repairs. This just does not happen to other vehicles, to the best of my knowledge. I ordered a grill to protect the condenser in the future from Ebay and had it installed at a body shop, but I do not know if even that will protect it in the future. Bottom line: I think that the condenser should have some type of protection and Toyota should alert the public--after all, they see the big picture regarding all of the Prius' out there that have this type of damage. Check out the Ebay grill at http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/06-07-2006-...sspagenameZWDVW

[jdenenberg]

I also have a 2004 and two years ago the AC stopped cooling. The dealer said "Hole in the condenser caused by stone, not under warranty" (sound familiar), Also quoted $$$ to fix.

I took it into my local gas station, they put in some freon and a "leak stop" chemical additive for about $50. It has worked ever since (not yet turned on this spring so we'll see).

JeffD

[priussafta]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dick Torrance @ Mar 15 2007, 11:27 PM) [snapback]406575[/snapback]</div>

I have a 06 Prius with 5000 miles. My AC just stopped working because of condenser had damage “from rocks” and my warranty is worthless. I had to pay $648 to Torrance Toyota. I consider it a design problem and Toyota should stand behind their warranty! I purchased a grill over the internet and it arrived today. I plan to post a complaint with the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Bureau of Automotive Repair requesting that office assist me in resolving the matter to the extent provided by law.

Dick
[/b]

I'm curious as to whether you got any sympathy or resolution from the Consumer Affairs Bureau regarding the design flaw in the AC condenser.

I purchased my Prius in the dead of New England winter, 12/05. During the 2006 summer, whenever I'd turn on AC, I just thought the Prius had a really lousy AC system, as it seemed only to raise humidity. When I had my car in for a computer update in late summer, I asked them to check the AC system. The diagnosis was a hole in the condenser that "must have been caused by a rock." I got the same story about its not being covered under warranty, except this notoriously expensive dealer said it would cost close to $900 for repair. Interestingly, when I complained about the price, he brought it down to the $650 range.

Because summer was almost over, I chose to wait for the repair. As this summer heats up, I've been considering getting it done. I just did a web search for hole in air conditioner condenser, and have discovered a number of such stories on Prius Chat, an Edmunds forum where a couple more Prius cases have been reported, and even more similar reports about Honda Civics on a Honda forum. All get the same story from dealer repair shops: not covered under warranty because this is an external problem, not a manufacturer problem.

However, it's clear that these new low cars that are designed to increase gas efficiency are tightening internal space and positioning the condenser so it is exposed more. If the redesign is increasing potential damage from outside forces, e.g., a rock, then it is definitely a design flaw and should be covered under warranty.

I plan to open up negotiation with the Toyota dealer again, as well as exploring options with the Better Business Bureau Auto Resolution Center and with Toyota corporate.

If anyone has experiences with this issue, I think it's important that they get reported and discussed on Prius Chat so we can document just how many such cases are occurring. If it's happening to some of us, it's going to happen to more of us. It would also help to know if anyone has been successful in having it covered under warranty, and what you did to get it.

The better armed with information we are, the better our chances of getting this covered. I'll let you know how things go.

[06prius6]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(saftaleah @ Jul 28 2007, 04:18 PM) [snapback]486771[/snapback]</div>

If anyone has experiences with this issue, I think it's important that they get reported and discussed on Prius Chat so we can document just how many such cases are occurring. [/b]

Well, this summer we were told the "rock thru the compressor" story from the dealer here (pretty sure they said "compressor," v. condenser at the time, but either way...). I couldn't believe it (that'd have to be one *big* rock, I figured <_< ), so I declined the $$$ repair and endured a hot summer (busy work time - don't have time to keep taking the car to the repair shop). Now that fall's here, I'm planning on getting a second opinion ... (can't help but also wonder if it's an electrical issue?)

[Bob64]

Anyone know if blocking your grill can prevent or reduce damage to the AC components?

[Rick58]

I think this just happened to me (2005, 80k miles). Anyone have luck/advice for dealing with dealer on repairs? or am I simply out $600+ ?

Aftermarket screens?

Thanks, - Rick.

[sorka]

Has anyone here actually seen one of these supposed holes? Reason I ask is it should be pretty obvious if it was from an impact or a defect. An impact would have cratering and a slight depression around the hole. Is the hole by any chance on a seam? I would think 10 seconds on an arc welder at a machine shop with the compressor still in place should patch the hole and allow refilling the system.