A/C not cold

If you go to a shop to charge the AC, it probably will be less than $230. And if there is a problem, the shop charging the AC will probably let you know.

 

There is mention there shouldn't be any type of contamination with hybrid AC systems and regular AC systems. The important thing is using the right oil when you need it, (ND-11) only. If the machine used doesn't have a function to support hybrid vehicles, it's best to use new lines and even the fittings if possible.

When I get my AC recharged/fixed, my mechanic in Rosemead has a machine that has a hybrid function. It will first flush out the system and then do it's thing in recovering and adding the refrigerant again. No changing of lines or fittings. That has worked without any problems in all my Prius cars.

 

Phone up a dealership, get a quote for and AC recharge service? I went that route when ours was getting so-so, quoted price was $150 CDN. When it was done they tried their damnest to up that number, citing shop supplies, price of the AC gas, and so on. I manage to hold them "close" to the quote.

 

I don't see anything in this thread about asking the A/C what it thinks is going on, yet.

Somebody at least do that before going off to a shop and pulling out the wallet.

Hold the auto and fresh/recirc buttons while turning the car on. Read codes from the MFD.

If 00 comes back, then it has no opinion, but at least you'll have asked.

 

If this car is a 2nd Gen, those buttons are on the MFD or Steering wheel controls

 

Right. As far as I know, only the physical ones on the steering wheel work for requesting the trouble codes in Gen 2; at least that's the only way I've ever done it.

 

It is much more important in a compressor that has three phase high voltage windings. Just like the transaxle, the oil has to be an effective electrical insulator and very clean.

 

... the oil's own electrical insulating qualities are one thing, but it also has to be free of any chemicals that would degrade the electrical insulation that is baked onto the compressor motor windings at the factory.

 

What's a low side gauge say right now while it's sitting You got 100 lb?

 

You might find this of interest. It includes a graph from Denso showing the loss of insulation resistance from one percent contamination with the wrong oil. Toyota recommends no contamination, as in, not even using hoses or gauges that have been used on cars that use other oil.

There's another article that was linked here some years ago suggesting a possible way to recover if wrong oil is added. If the mistake is caught in time, just replacing the compressor and flushing the rest of the system using HECAT H-1000 flush equipment may head off the need for more expensive repairs.

 

Do not overcomplicate things. You have warm air because likely there is a slow leak. Usually, this would be in the evaporator coil which would be over one or two thousand dollars to replace. So, buy a can with a gauge for $20, and slowly start adding R134A (without oil) until you touch the green range. No more than that because is risky to overcharge and destroy the expensive electric compressor. If it is cold and lasts cold the whole season you are lucky. Next year you can recharge.

If not, you can vacuum, check for leaks, repair, charge with proper oil and uncontaminated gauges measuring exactly the grams in the specs by weight, not pressures as in other cars.

 

Still useful to include codes in your posts when you have them. To somebody else they may carry useful information.

Your 23 code indicates that the pressure switch showed the refrigerant pressure out of the expected range, so that helps confirm you're not barking up a wrong tree thinking about refrigerant.

The B1441 is a dissenting opinion from the car itself, at least where the air mix door is concerned. I don't know whose opinion is right, but when the car has an opinion, there's often something to it.

The specific detection condition for B1441 is that the air mix door position reading didn't change, while the A/C amplifier thought it was moving the door.

Sounds like you already looked at the info for the code, but it's in here (about 81 pages in) in case you were looking someplace else.

https://attachments.priuschat.com/attachment-files/2018/05/146483_AC.pdf