A/C gone!

delrey · 04-16-2005, 07:59 PM

It was warm enough today that I wanted to turn on the A/C today -- and got no cooling :-( The fan is fine, but the air is not any cooler when I have the A/C on or off.

Has anyone else had a problem?

Wolfman · 04-16-2005, 08:03 PM

Sounds like your system teveloped a leak. Have it checked out and fixed, as it's still under warranty.

As for A/C problems, I hate to say this, but you're the first I've heard of.

**efusco** · 04-16-2005, 08:33 PM

What temperture did you have the AC set to? Sure you didn't have the AC on but set to a winter weather temp?

delrey · 04-17-2005, 01:59 AM

Good question - when searching the forums, I saw that a lot of people get confused about this car's climate control.

Once I suspected a problem I set it to "Max Cold" ... no luck. (That actually made it worse as it switched to recirc, which is *really* not pleasant when the cars been in the sun & a/c isn't working).

I've never had an A/C leak or problem with any other car, so I guess I was due. Good to hear that other folks haven't seen any similar problems crop up.

Wolfman is right, it's under warranty so I'll skip worrying & just get it in there. I just wish I noticed *before* I took it in for service this morning -- of course I didn't until after it was too late to just bring the car right back in ... ces la vie!

Quote:

What temperture did you have the AC set to? Sure you didn't have the AC on but set to a winter weather temp?

**efusco** · 04-17-2005, 11:12 AM

That stinks, I'm suprised you didn't get a CEL light though...the electronicly controlled AC should elicit a code if not functioning properly.

Let us know what they find...this is the first real AC problem I've heard about.

murzar · 04-18-2005, 11:51 AM

There is a little window on the coolent pipe on the left side of the engine. You should be able to see it bubbling when the a/c is on. If there is no bubbles than there is no coolent left in the a/c system, but this is no guarentee that there is enough coolent in the system for it to work.

During the summer months after i got my prius (about a year ago) i noticed that the a/c didnt feel like it was cooling the air properly. I took it in, they look at it any said nothing was wrong with it, so i got some other people opinion on wether it felt cool or not, and took it back in a second time. This time they found out that the system didnt have enough coolent in it to build up a proper charge, so they emptied it out, fill it back up, and put in a u/v dye to detect any leaks. I took it back a week after, and there were no leaks in the system, so my best guess is that the factory didnt propery fill it up when making the car.

twdusa · 04-19-2005, 07:37 PM

Is anyone's air conditioning compressor loud enough to hear over the engine (ICE running)? Today I turned the A/C on while stopped at a light and I thought that it was rather LOUD......while going down the road, with ICE coming in and out you could hear the A/C quite distinctly and not a nice sounding noise. When I got home I opened the hood and with ICE off the noise was quit loud......turn the Air conditioning off and noise off......ran temp selector up to max hot and turned A/C back on...no noise....left A/C on and continued to decrease the temp selector towards cooler until the compressor started and the noise started again and got louder the cooler I selected the temp. Shut everything down and standing in front of the car reached down and touched the right side of the compressor ...It was very cool...the left side was VERY HOT. The wiring appears to indicate that the left side of the compressor (facing the car) is the A/C electrical motor side of the unit. All thoughts appreciated.......

raybon · 04-19-2005, 07:52 PM

I haven't checked the manual, but is it possible that a fuse was blown for the AC? I think the AC usually has a separate fuse from the blower/fan.

Glenn

rick57 · 04-19-2005, 09:17 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(delrey\";p=\"81870)</div>

Quote:

It was warm enough today that I wanted to turn on the A/C today -- and got no cooling :-( The fan is fine, but the air is not any cooler when I have the A/C on or off.

Has anyone else had a problem?[/b]

I have not seen any AC problems around here with my customers. With it not cooling, it shouldn't be to difficult for the techs to diagnose.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(twdusa\";p=\"82686)</div>

Quote:

Is anyone's air conditioning compressor loud enough to hear over the engine (ICE running)? Today I turned the A/C on while stopped at a light and I thought that it was rather LOUD......while going down the road, with ICE coming in and out you could hear the A/C quite distinctly and not a nice sounding noise. When I got home I opened the hood and with ICE off the noise was quit loud......turn the Air conditioning off and noise off......ran temp selector up to max hot and turned A/C back on...no noise....left A/C on and continued to decrease the temp selector towards cooler until the compressor started and the noise started again and got louder the cooler I selected the temp. Shut everything down and standing in front of the car reached down and touched the right side of the compressor ...It was very cool...the left side was VERY HOT. The wiring appears to indicate that the left side of the compressor (facing the car) is the A/C electrical motor side of the unit. All thoughts appreciated.......
[/b]

You are not alone with hearing the compressor whine. I have heard it also in a few but it is not on all (?). The whine does get louder the cooler you turn the system down as the compressor spins up faster. Have not had anybody complain about it yet and there are no TSB's that I am aware of yet.

delrey · 04-27-2005, 03:37 PM

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.

04-16-2005, 07:59 PM	#1
delrey Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: SF Bay Area (East Bay) Posts: 215 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	A/C gone! It was warm enough today that I wanted to turn on the A/C today -- and got no cooling :-( The fan is fine, but the air is not any cooler when I have the A/C on or off. Has anyone else had a problem?

04-16-2005, 08:03 PM	#2
Wolfman Moderator (on leave) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Paradise, TX Posts: 1,205 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: A/C gone! Sounds like your system teveloped a leak. Have it checked out and fixed, as it's still under warranty. As for A/C problems, I hate to say this, but you're the first I've heard of.

04-18-2005, 11:51 AM	#6
murzar Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 9 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: A/C gone! There is a little window on the coolent pipe on the left side of the engine. You should be able to see it bubbling when the a/c is on. If there is no bubbles than there is no coolent left in the a/c system, but this is no guarentee that there is enough coolent in the system for it to work. During the summer months after i got my prius (about a year ago) i noticed that the a/c didnt feel like it was cooling the air properly. I took it in, they look at it any said nothing was wrong with it, so i got some other people opinion on wether it felt cool or not, and took it back in a second time. This time they found out that the system didnt have enough coolent in it to build up a proper charge, so they emptied it out, fill it back up, and put in a u/v dye to detect any leaks. I took it back a week after, and there were no leaks in the system, so my best guess is that the factory didnt propery fill it up when making the car.

04-19-2005, 07:37 PM	#7
twdusa Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Eastern North Carolina Posts: 53 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: A/C gone! Is anyone's air conditioning compressor loud enough to hear over the engine (ICE running)? Today I turned the A/C on while stopped at a light and I thought that it was rather LOUD......while going down the road, with ICE coming in and out you could hear the A/C quite distinctly and not a nice sounding noise. When I got home I opened the hood and with ICE off the noise was quit loud......turn the Air conditioning off and noise off......ran temp selector up to max hot and turned A/C back on...no noise....left A/C on and continued to decrease the temp selector towards cooler until the compressor started and the noise started again and got louder the cooler I selected the temp. Shut everything down and standing in front of the car reached down and touched the right side of the compressor ...It was very cool...the left side was VERY HOT. The wiring appears to indicate that the left side of the compressor (facing the car) is the A/C electrical motor side of the unit. All thoughts appreciated.......

04-19-2005, 07:52 PM	#8
raybon Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Boulder Creek, CA Posts: 36 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: A/C gone! I haven't checked the manual, but is it possible that a fuse was blown for the AC? I think the AC usually has a separate fuse from the blower/fan. Glenn

04-16-2005, 08:33 PM	#3
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 12,828 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 20	What temperture did you have the AC set to? Sure you didn't have the AC on but set to a winter weather temp?

04-17-2005, 11:12 AM	#5
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 12,828 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 20	That stinks, I'm suprised you didn't get a CEL light though...the electronicly controlled AC should elicit a code if not functioning properly. Let us know what they find...this is the first real AC problem I've heard about.

04-27-2005, 03:37 PM	#10
delrey Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: SF Bay Area (East Bay) Posts: 215 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: A/C gone! 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.