Air Flow to Windscreen - Faulty.... (Prius 2008 - UK)

Have a look at the following, with the links to other posts as well:
Fresh Air/Recirculate Mode Broken? | PriusChat

If the problem is due to the baffles not moving properly, that will help you know where to look. A first step would be to move the airflow through all the various options on the controls, in order to exercise the baffles to the limits. If the A/C is used to defrost the windscreen, which is done for dehumidifying effect, and that system is not working well, then that would be an additional aspect to troubleshoot. If your weather is cold, the A/C may feel cold but, still not be doing as it should.

 

But if it’s cold enough AC can’t operate.

 

What about a blocked plug in the tray under the windscreen? If that has been blocked by leaves it can fill with water and then overflow into the air intake causing severe misting up. Have a look under the bonnet and make sure all the trays are empty. Often happens just after autumn.

Another point to check would be your cabin filter and that you're not on Recirc. Also check there is no damp on the front passenger floor as that could be a blocked a/c drain plug or water getting in from the blocked leaves in first paragraph.

I always look at the cheaper options first before assuming the worst such as a broken actuator. Has your touch screen been playing up lately by chance? Lost radio presets or problems with your central locking too maybe?

 

Does it actually plow air to windshield or not? You can feel that pretty easy with hand. It should blow little air to windshield in foot+windshield and lots of air in windshield defrost. Bought of those also blow little to side windows.

 

Actuators are on the same fuse.

 

Gazza
I am in Devon and have the identical problem to you. Toyota Barnstaple have told me that they think it is a broken divertor ( same as actuator?) and will cost circa £1000- mainly 8 hours of labour to take the dash out and put back again!!! No guarantees of success.

Have you sorted the problem yet?

 

I think what happens with these baffles or divertors is due to the periphery being covered with a soft foam of some sort. If it sits for some time in one position, that foam can stick to the sides of the air ducts and become glued in place. If the stuck baffle can be helped to break loose, then it will probably be OK as long as it gets exercised once in a while. If the baffle has actually broken, then that is another matter.

The dash is apparently not hard to disassemble if the instructions are followed, according to past posters here. DIY is just a matter of what your time is worth.

 

Just for the record, I regularly use my A/C during the winter months here in the UK, even when the temperature drops to 0c. I find the dehumidifier capability of the A/C invaluable early in the morning when the interior of the windscreen might have fogged up terribly. A/C - which also kicks in, but is directed mostly at the windscreen when the front demister is invoked, allows me to get underway very quickly without waiting ages for heat to demist the windscreen.
When everything is clear, and I'm well underway, I'll usually shut this function off and standard heated ventilation will usually compensate beautifully.
But make no mistake; A/C comes in most handy when unusual interior fogging rears it's ugly head, and can literally be a life saver. Never mind the slight MPG penalty, I'm SO happy to have it on tap when I need it.

So, I'd say the A/C does work perfectly when it's cold - in the capacity of "Climate Control"

 

I could not agree more with the above, but unbelievable that Toyota did not fit heated mirrors on the car for our climate. Fortunately this is relatively easy to rectify and at small cost "about £15".

John (Britprius)

 

If your cabin filter was so blocked that you had to shake it free, then try running the climate system with a new filter or with it removed. In the taxi game the cabin filter was often forgotten in the fleet vehicles and the amount of air those cars kicked out was feeble.

I also wonder if you've experienced any weird problems with your MFD? Touch screen running slow? or slow to respond? I did ask you this earlier but you didn't respond. And is your 12v failing or new and holding it's charge?

I wonder if your MFD is failing, a very common and expensive fault on gen2's of certain vintage.

 

Definitely no issues with the MFD at all? Slower response than normal? Having to press the screen more than once or harder to get it to accept?

I know the older MFD's were prone to issues and wonder if the wet UK climate could find weak spots with the newer versions? I'm wondering if it's the signal from the MFD to the a/c system that's not working correctly rather than a dodgy actuator etc.

This link is interesting;

http://www.techno-fandom.org/~hobbit/cars/mfd/