Breaking AC discharge line

Discussion in 'Prius v Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by 80sguy, Jul 20, 2026 at 6:20 PM.

  1. 80sguy

    80sguy Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2023
    33
    4
    0
    Location:
    Rome NY
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I have a really unique problem. Hopefully it's not too unique. I bought my wife a used 2013 Prius V. The car has 182,000 but the motor in it only has 104,000. Replaced by deale. AC was working fine then suddenly it stopped working. I took it to a repair shop, he's the local Prius whisperer. He replaced the lower discharge line. High pressure between the compressor and condenser. It had a strange break in the aluminum portion like it was tour. We watched to see when it started if maybe a motor mount was broke and motor was jumping causing the tear but it did not happen. Four weeks later it broke again I looked it was in the same spot. He had used a used parts so I thought that was the problem so I ordered a new one from RockAuto and put it in. 3 weeks later it breaks again in the same spot. I looked up the information on the Toyota website and turns out this happened to the previous owner twice within 9 months in 2024 and 25. Anybody have any ideas why this keeps happening?
     

    Attached Files:

    #1 80sguy, Jul 20, 2026 at 6:20 PM
  2. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2018
    8,275
    7,777
    1
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Bad motor mount allowing too much movement, flexing the line to its failure point?
     
    #2 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Jul 20, 2026 at 7:42 PM
  3. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    11,029
    6,918
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Normally these lines never break or leak. A used one would be just as good.

    There is something not secured well and it's likely the motor or the condenser. I would go to the dealer and let them verify the motor mounts and the ac line connections.

    Discharge line from compressor to condenser has a flexible hose portion.
    IMG_2172.jpeg

    The smaller diameter line below is the high pressure liquid line after the condenser and the larger is the suction line. Both are secured as shown within the red boxes. The green arrow is the most likely motor mount.
    IMG_2169.jpeg
     
    #3 rjparker, Jul 20, 2026 at 9:17 PM
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2026 at 9:48 PM
  4. 80sguy

    80sguy Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2023
    33
    4
    0
    Location:
    Rome NY
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    We checked motor mounts, pretty sure it's not the problem
     
    #4 80sguy, Jul 21, 2026 at 11:20 AM
  5. 80sguy

    80sguy Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2023
    33
    4
    0
    Location:
    Rome NY
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Those pictures look nothing like my setup. It is my understanding and also the understanding of RockAuto that this is the discharge line
     

    Attached Files:

    #5 80sguy, Jul 21, 2026 at 11:24 AM
  6. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    11,029
    6,918
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Your v has a discharge line muffler in the discharge hose.

    Ebay oem used part
    IMG_2193.jpeg

    Pressures in this line are the highest in the system. Assuming you are not dealing with a previously replaced compressor due to a burn out, I would buy another used oem discharge line instead of a low cost aftermarket. Be sure the u bend is not being twisted or forced to install the line because of poor alignment.

    IMG_2195.jpeg

    The engine is unloaded at startup. High load operation is more likely to move the engine.
     
    #6 rjparker, Jul 21, 2026 at 12:55 PM
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2026 at 1:28 PM
  7. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    4,248
    1,195
    0
    Location:
    New Yawk
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Does it appear to be a torsional flexure break or a tension/compression flexure break?
     
    #7 Air_Boss, Jul 21, 2026 at 1:22 PM
  8. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2021
    4,541
    2,389
    0
    Location:
    Left Coast
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    I'd be looking at the mounting brackets for the compressor, line, and condenser. There's a rubber hose section that should absorb most of the torsion; but if the hose is clamped down in the wrong place, rotated taunt - the rubber section can't do it's job. Look at the condenser too; the other end of that hose. It could be flopping around, causing tension at that stress point.
    FWIW; I've seen aftermarket parts not angled correctly, slightly too short for application - that would cause such a repeated failure. The installing technician doesn't notice and just installs the part. If the technician rotates the ends to get everything to line up - they've just stiffened the rubber section that's suppose to absorb the vibration stress during operations.

    Good Luck.....

    PS are they refilling the system by weight or pressure? I believe that's a variable speed compressor, so it should be filled by weight.
     
    #8 BiomedO1, Jul 21, 2026 at 2:57 PM
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2026 at 3:19 PM
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)