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No radiator fan, no AC, it happens when hot summer comes.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by mfs_axis, Jul 8, 2021.

  1. mfs_axis

    mfs_axis New Member

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    Good day friends.
    not my first language so please consider my choice of words.

    Problem 1
    I have this 2010 Prius and the ac cooling was working just fine. Some day ago the AC just don't work and AC sound from the hood is silent. I've checked the coolant and it was empty. I've been losing (no visible leak) coolant every now and then. Filled up the coolant but still no luck on AC.

    Radiator fan is not working. AC on or off doesn't matter.

    Happy to hear from you guys.
     
  2. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

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    Your engine gonna blow up soon due to head gasket.as fir ac check the pressure
     
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  3. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    The AC is seperate from the engine cooling... Two different problems. The compressor for the AC makes noise when on so you might have a bad compressor. The cooling fan for the engine rarely needs to run so not too much of a concern as long as engine isn't running hot.
     
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  4. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    That's only a concern if engine temp gets high, but not a concern if it stays normal. If engine temp is normal the fan won't even turn on.
     
  5. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    yeah just drive slow, if ice goes beyond 180-190, you’re still gonna blow ice up.
     
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    The OP did mention losing coolant, so it's possible this car has more than one issue, one involving the A/C, and a different one causing loss of coolant (such as a head gasket issue).
     
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  7. StarCaller

    StarCaller Senior Member

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    maybe with 'coolant' he means the refrigerant from the ac?
     
  8. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Possibly, only when I read "checked the coolant and it was empty" or "filled up the coolant", I tend to assume that isn't somebody's way of talking about refrigerant, or at least I hope it isn't.
     
  9. mfs_axis

    mfs_axis New Member

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    Thank you for your replies guys.

    No warning or error message on the screen and I've been driving like this for 3 years.

    Maybe my compressor. I've had this issue for about 3 years. In the summer the AC goes away and after long winter of Mongolia the AC comes back and works for a month or two. Can't quite know what's happening.

    Yes the coolant is gone and I have to refill it every month

    Nope

    Yes it's coolant.

    When the AC not working there was no coolant left at the coolant reservoir. I've filled it up and no luck no AC. After that I've been checking my fans and it just don't work. And after reading for a while fans don't really need to work and there are no error message or check engine light.

    So I need to check my compressor?
     
  10. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Well, the coolant going away is a fairly serious problem (arguably more serious than an A/C issue). And it's not quite true that "fans don't really need to work" ... the car decides when they don't need to work, or need to run on low speed, or need to run on high speed. They do need to work when the car calls for them.
     
  11. smokeGTI

    smokeGTI Member

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    There are 2 cooling systems in the car, one for engine, the other one for the inverter.
    Not sure wich one that you are referring to?

    First to check is engine oil, see if any signs of water blended (milky like color),
    if it does, then you probably have blown head gasket.

    Then I will check the inverter coolant pump. locate the coolant reservoir that sits next to inverter.
    open the lid of coolant reservoir , and turn the car on without starting engine,
    (press start twice without pressing brake). Then go to check the coolant reservoir, if there's some ripple, that means
    it's working fine. If not then you should getting a new coolant pump.
     
  12. mfs_axis

    mfs_axis New Member

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    I thought that when you turn the AC to the max the fans should work.

    Its the main coolant reservoir, the inverter coolant is always full and not very strong but little bit of movement is there.

    Engine oil don't have any milky thing in it.

    But its happening yearly. Stops working in the summer and after winter the ac and fans come back to work in spring. This is kind of stupid sounding but this happening to me.
     
  13. mfs_axis

    mfs_axis New Member

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    So there is an update. The weather control thingy displaying code of 98. It doesn't clear with disconnecting the battery.

    And there was one wire was corroded on top of compressor. I've cleaned it.

    I'll update after clearing the code with the OBD scan tool...
     
  14. tony_2018

    tony_2018 Member

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    The fans should be running when you turn on the ac but not at max speed.
     
  15. mfs_axis

    mfs_axis New Member

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    Nope... There is nothing when i turn the AC on...
     
  16. mfs_axis

    mfs_axis New Member

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    The problem has been solved.

    The thing was the AC compressor was dead and the cause was the wire harness was corroded.
    Cleaned the wire harness and installed new AC compressor. Now AC is working fine and Radiator fans are working when I turn on the AC.

    One down and one to go...
    Now the main coolant is disappearing with no track. Engine oil was fine and no milky stuff.
     
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  17. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    I'm glad you resolved the ac problem.
    It sounds like you have a leaking head gasket.
    Unless the leak is somewhere else...

     
  18. mfs_axis

    mfs_axis New Member

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    Maybe... 2010 gen 3 and it has 400k km over the odo. Now when the AC is working... The engine shake is back. Like in the winter gold start kind of shake on low rpm...
     
  19. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Since the ac doesn't run off a belt, the engine isn't effected by it.
    Pressure test the system and look in the cylinders for fluid, and along the coolant hoses
    and pump. And don't forget about the heater core.

    Since you cleaned the egr and manifold, you're running out of reasons, so a leaking head gasket
    is becoming closer to the reason for the shakes...

     
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  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The black wire connector? That’s reported here with tiresome regularity; the connector’s like a little “cup” atop the compressor, and hosing (or pressure washing, even worse) the engine bay can fill it with water, not good.

    regarding the engine coolant, see “bad flywheel” link in my signature. With 400k kms, likely too late, but for (or if) next time.
     
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