AC Can't Keep Up On Hot Days

My 2008 takes about 20 mins to cool off. A trick I use is to put the blower on cabin recirculating mode. This eliminates drawing in outside hot air.

Give this a try.

DBCassidy

 

Thanks for the reply. Are you saying to have the A/C and circulate air or circulate air only and wait for the A/C? Thank you.

 

Thanks for the replies. I just wanted to make sure I was doing okay leaving the vehicle in the heat. I know the 12V battery has a rougher time in the heat, although the traction battery seems to do well cooling itself down. I have never noticed the traction battery fan run for long periods of time, so that is definitely good.

 

Have the recirculate function on as well as the AC compressor.

Regarding leaving the car in the heat, you don't have much choice about that in Phoenix during the summer, other than to get rid of the Prius.

 

Yes, that's what I always do. Have A/C compressor on and the recirculate function. And yes, in ANY car, the car will get way hot in Phoenix. I think the Prius even has a stronger A/C unit than many cars generally. I think the darker exterior (medium/darker red) may be the cause of why it takes longer to cool. My best solutions to keep the car cooler are to park in the shade (if possible) and always use a sun shield.

I do not want to get rid of the Prius. It's a good car and I think much more reliable than many other cars. I used to own a Jeep Liberty and it had terrible reliability. Toyota makes good cars in general.

 

AC on full, low setting, and circulate the cabin (interior) air only. I find this gives the best cooling on a broiling day.

DBCassidy

 

Buy a thermometer. Stick it in the vent and run the ac on high. After 2 minutes of ac running report the temp back here.
Also for you complaining stick on the dash while your gone and see how hot the car gets.

Like everyone says:

Use windshield shade. Best one on the market is the one sold here on this site in the SHOP. Its custom fit to the window and very thick and insulated. Going on 5 years for mine. I don't let the car sit outside in the sun for more than 5 minutes without the shade up. Very hard on the black dash and the MFD screen. Expensive stuff!

Use the back package cover that came the the car. It pulls out like a blind and covers the trunk area. Helps keep sun off the back deck.

Window tint is a necessity. Too much front and back angular glass and black dash. Dark as legal allows with front windshield strip and buy the best they offer. It will pay you back in battery life, comfort and wear on the Interior.

If not going to rain crack front windows 1/2 inch. The rain guard/weather strip you can buy for the outside top of the windows is great but a hassle to install unlike other types that just have the adhesive strip.

Interior of my 07 cools off quick under the protected scenario. Takes forever if not protected.

 

My 2006 reads 65 degrees for the A/C running on full blast for 2 minutes, and the A/C compressor running, and recirculating inside air. Sounds like that is pretty good to me! As for the 15-20 minute cool down time, mine will take at least that. So I suppose the A/C normally takes 20 minutes....I have heard since it is a hatch (I always use a sunshade). When temperatures are 100+, I suppose in any car it takes a long time to cool, even with a sunshade. Without one it is unbearably hot for me, so I have to use one.

I appreciate the note on the Prius sunshade. Although my sunshade keeps some of the heat out, the Prius one sounds like a good investment. It covers the entire window which would seem to drastically help more. I might even consider getting the rear sunshade to keep the back area cool (due to the traction battery and such).

 

65 sounds pretty good too. I am going to meaure mine tomorrow as it runs great and would be a helpful benchmark for people struggling. Its the first thing an ac guy does.
Highly recommned the SHOP's shade. I am looking at there rear shade too.

 

Definitely! I was shocked. After 15 minutes or so, the coldest read 55 degrees F, and then the warmest one read 61 degrees. I was shocked that the Prius air conditioning could actually get that cold! Given, of course in the cabin it takes a while longer (15-20+ minutes). Probably because of the spacious interior. The Prius shade will definitely help too, as my shade does not fully cover the front like in the pictures I saw of the shop's shade.

One issue down, and another to go. Now I have to figure out the rough idling and occasional shaking while in park....although at least now I know the A/C is good!

 

Is this with the car moving? Or is it parked?

 

Btw, forgot to mention the easiest thing. Have you checked your cabin filter lately too?

 

In my case, The car is moving when this occurs.

 

I have not. This sounds like a smart idea though. I will have to look up how to do this, as I have not done this before.

 

Oh god thats going to be one funky filter. Real easy to check it. Sit in pass seat. Take everything out of glove box. Open glove box lid. Look on right side. You'll see a black plastic rod hooked to a point on the gb. Pull that rod off the pivot point. Then push in the 2 back sides. Kinda squeeze the box together in the back and that pulls it away for the side hooks. It will basicly fall off. It pivots on the 2 back hinges...you'll see. Lookunder the dash for the white square box with the cover. Open that cover and the filter is sitting in the cover. Get a flashlight and inspect how filthy the motor fan is below the filter. Replace filter.

 

Now that I think about it, Toyota must have checked that. I went in for my 65K maintenance in May at a Toyota dealership. They did not mention that and I assume they would want to "upsell" services. So I do take that back. I just have not checked it. I think the last time they changed it was January (when we bought the car). I am pretty sure the check sheet said that they changed the cabin air filter then, although I will double check the air filter.

I might be getting the cabin air filter and the engine air filter mixed up, so I will have to check on that.

 

The motor fan looked ok, but the filter definitely needed to be changed. I called Toyota parts up and surprisingly when I went in they provided the filter free of charge!

 

Free Toyota parts! WIN!! It helps if your a non smoker and pet free car. If that fan is clean its a good indication the hybrid battery fan is clean too. Check that next its easier. Get the flashlight again and right next to the rear pass seat between the door and the seat you'll see the Hybrid battery cooling fan inlet. Look in that fan closely for dirt or fur. That fan only comes on automatically if you heat up the Hybrid battery. You may go a lifetime and never hear that fan come on. I'm at 50,000 miles and have never heard it come on but my car has never seen a hill either.

 

I will definitely check that. Can you inspect it without taking anything apart? If I shine a flashlight through the vent, will I be able to see?

Ironically, I have heard the hybrid battery fan several times recently. I think I have to listen really closely if it comes on at a lower speed. I have heard it come on high a couple of times, and I think it was on once the whole time during a 10 minute trip. I do realize that is has been pretty hot in Phoenix on those days. 105-110+ degree (F) weather.

As for the cabin air filter, I know, I was shocked. The parts store, no questions asked. I was shocked! I don't smoke and don't think I have ever had any pets in the car. Do you know how much dealers usually cost for cabin air filters at the dealership? I was expecting to pay $20 (probably an overestimate) because I just wanted to get it taken care of. Online I have seen some for $10 or so. How much would dealers typically charge?