AC Leak, is it the compressor?

Hello, I just came back from the local toyota dealer with some bad news. Apparently I need a new compressor quoted at $3200.00 Cdn.

A few weeks ago I took my 2004 Prius into the dealer to get an AC diagnostics. At that time it was hardly working just blowing warm air. It did seem to be a bit colder tho when the car was in motion. With that visit I was told that there is a leak in my AC system and they recharged it and added a dye, to help determine where the leak was coming from. I was told to use the AC as much as possible from then till my follow up appointment.

During the next week and a half I used my AC all the time. and it has been working fine. I have noticed today tho that it seems to not be providing cold air when the car is stopped, I assume because of the leak and the quantity is going down. Anyways I took the car in today to see where the dye was coming out, after a bit of a wait I was told it was the compressor, and it was noisy.

When I run the AC and listen to it, it seems to purr and I don't notice any abnormal sounds. Kinda sounds like an air pump we use for our air mattresses. I asked to speak to the mechanic so they could explain to me what exactly is going on, did they find a leak, and if so where was it. It seems weird to me that the noisy compressor was not mentioned two weeks ago when the dye was added. Not to mention the AC seems to work fine when the fluid is topped up. So what exactly is wrong with the compressor then? Do Compressors get internal leaks?

Unfortunately the mechanic could not be found, so I am waiting for a call back. This is a Toyota dealer, but they are big. It is like a production line there, and a line up of cars to see a mechanic. So I was unable to get the hands on explanation that I am used to with a mechanic. I just got handed a sheet with a 3200 dollar estimate.

I know AC systems are tricky but has anyone had or heard of a leaking Compressor, that needed to be replaced. I guess my only other option is to try another dealer, or wait to hear what this mechanic has to say so I have a better understanding of what is wrong. Thanks for you time.

Khameleon

 

Thanks for your video. With it I took my laptop out to my car to do a sound comparison. I put the car in ready mode, Max cold was set and listened. The sound was very similar. My Blower fan seems a bit noisier so its hard to tell. But all in all the compressor sounds consistant.

But after about 30 seconds, the compressor stopped. I went and looked and it was still set for max cold. After 20 seconds or so warm air made its way into the cabin. This would perhaps explain why it feels like its not working when I am stopped at lights. I am a little perplexed as its an electric system and should have no care if the car is in motion. Is there something that would be shutting it off to lower the load on car. Is this a symptom of the Compressor failing or something else? I let the car sit in ready mode for a few more mins and the compressor did not come back on. I then shut the car down and restarted it and it worked again for a short time.

Any ideas?

 

Do you know if it was visable dye? Do you need a black light to see it? I know they should have shown me, and I asked but its like fast food there, in and out. Really disappointed..

I will have to look around for someone else. If the dye is already there, it should save on the diagnostics.

I forgot to mention its 3200 just for the compressor not the labour. I could get central air for my house for less then that.

 

Will have to try and locate a black light and check it out at night.. I have been looking around and see referb compressors for 350 US. Has anyone had any luck with these.. Could almost by 10 of them for the price of one Toyota unit.

 

Well I got a UV light and looked all over and didn't see anything obvious. I also put a AC current meter on the cable and found that the compressor was pulling anywhere from 3.5-5 Amps. I did however pull off the cap on the low pressure side and when i did i head a small hiss, and it was wet and showed the fluid with the UV light. I then checked the H pressure side and heard the same hiss, but not nearly as much fluid there. Is it normal to have a hiss when removing the cap? Or is that a possible leak? Also I can't wrap my head around this. Why would a Compressor that runs off an electric motor not work when the car is not moving? Any Thoughts?

Thanks

 

Yes a few weeks ago when I took it in. they told me it was a leak, topped it up and added the dye. On my follow up visit I was told it was the compressor. But never informed where the leak was. After they added the dye and topped up my system, The AC worked much better.

Khameleon

 

It worked much better after the fill up but now it is getting less capabile of cooling the car as time goes by. I imagine because of a loss of freon. Also it will be blowing cold air and when I come to a stop the cold air fades away and the cooling will stop completely till I get the car in motion again.

 

Just checked the fan. It is going and shuts off if I turn the AC off. I read a post of the forum and a person had an issue with the ac not working when the ICE was not running. The solution for them was a new AC amplifier. What exactly does this do. Since it is a similar problem thought it was worth asking.

Thanks.