flashing air conditioning light

Check your cabin air filter.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pittsburgh Bill @ Jun 10 2007, 02:57 PM) [snapback]459237[/snapback]</div>

Bill, I remember finding information about this problem for someone but I didn't save the link. Anyway, doing a google search for flashing air conditioner light brings up a ton of links like this:

http://www.topix.net/forum/autos/toyota-ca...5OFMQ8CGJNLGO89
http://www.2carpros.com/topics/ac.htm

The first recommendation is to change or clean a filter. There are few auto sites easily found with a search. Happy hunting until the resident mechanics chime in.

 

sounds offhand like a magnetic clutch relay. classic symptom.

 

I would suspect a low coolant (Refrigerant) level in the A/C system.

If so, you probably have a very slow leak at the compressor. Eventually, the coolant level will become so low that the system will not allow the compressor clutch to engage, wich will effectively end ALL the cold air!

Just a guess though, taking into account the age (2002) of the vehicle.

You can get a can of refrigerant(R-134) from Pep Boys or other auto supply places, if you know how to service it. See if a little bit more refrigerant stops the light from coming on. It will eventually all leak out though, if you don't get the compressor changed out ($$$$!).

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pittsburgh Bill @ Jun 10 2007, 03:57 PM) [snapback]459237[/snapback]</div>

If it does it at an Idle I would check the voltage going to the ecectromagnetic clutch coil while it was pulled in or turned on. Ensure you have 12 volts present. If there is an electrical connection that you can remove without breaking something then you can check the voltage there. It is highly likely that it is not the coil that is bad but the relay that sends the voltage to the coil. The button you push energizes a coil and the main line on the coil sends the voltage to the clutch coil. The relay cost between $7-15. I do not know the exact location but it is easily located as when you turn on the A/C the relay clicks and you can physically feel it. Do you have a multimeter to check for DC Voltage?

D Rock

 

switch the magnetic clutch relay with the horn relay and see if it fixes the a/c. they're right next to each other in the junction block.

if you open the hood and look on your right, there's a square box that says relay and fuse. flip the lid up and you'll see the diagram to tell you which relay is which.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Jul 4 2007, 12:11 AM) [snapback]472758[/snapback]</div>

That is a great troubleshooting skill if you do not have a multimeter or are not electrically inclined. Great post.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pittsburgh Bill @ Jul 3 2007, 10:33 AM) [snapback]472352[/snapback]</div>

Since cleaning the filter affected the magnitude of the problem, it may not be clean (uncogged) enough. Put a new filter in; it doesn't appear to be designed to be cleaned, anyway. Nothing but 15 bucks to lose and the weather is only getting hotter.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(D Rock @ Jul 4 2007, 08:55 PM) [snapback]473223[/snapback]</div>

or if you do have the multimeter, are electrically inclined, but the faster you figure things out the more money you make.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Jun 10 2007, 04:23 PM) [snapback]459268[/snapback]</div>

I haven't had to perform this maintenance procedure yet because my Prius is new, but I found this hyperlink which show the whole procedure in detail. I thought it might be helpful to others

http://john1701a.com/prius/documents/Prius...oner-Filter.pdf