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Bizarre 2005 A/C Problem

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by DanCole42, Sep 15, 2010.

  1. DanCole42

    DanCole42 New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2005
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    Location:
    Arlington, VA
    So every once in a while, my A/C starts to sound like it's struggling. The force of the air gets stronger and weaker, and it starts to make a whirring noise (much louder than it should be). The temperature is fine, it's just the blowing air.

    It will continue like this for weeks or months, then eventually when I start the car (particularly if I'm in my parking garage at work for some reason?!?! - could be a coincidence) the A/C won't blow at all. If I hold my hand near the vent, I can feel cold air - but it's just sitting there, not getting blown into the cabin.

    However, once the car gets up to 60-70MPH, or if we hit a big enough bump, whatever is stuck or broken gets jogged and the A/C starts blowing again and is good for the rest of the trip.

    I have taken her in seven times or so over the past three years for this problem. They'll replace a cooling pump, or remove twigs, or tighten something, or replace a seal, and then the A/C works and sounds GREAT for a week or two, and I think it's finally fixed, but then it starts sounding unhealthy again.

    Has anyone encountered this problem? No one at the dealer knows what it is... :(

    Thanks!
     
  2. FBear

    FBear Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2004
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    Location:
    Maplewood, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Four
    It sounds like you might have a vacuum leak in one of the hoses that opens a door in the HVAC unit. The bump you hit jars the door open.
     
  3. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2004
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    Location:
    Winnipeg Manitoba
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    The Prius doesn't use vacuum servo, the vent doors use electric motors

    Sounds like a fan blower issue. Can be a loose connection, or other things going on

    The fact the dealership appears clueless to fix it is bad news
     
    1 person likes this.
  4. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2007
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    Location:
    Carmichael, CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    There is already a thread on this. I second the suggestion of a problem with the blower motor.

    http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...-coming-throught-vents-2007-toyota-prius.html

    Check this post in particular:

    http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...ht-vents-2007-toyota-prius-4.html#post1178104



    The dealership problem is just par for the course.