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A/C problems

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by ejcabotaje9, Jun 24, 2015.

  1. ejcabotaje9

    ejcabotaje9 Junior Member

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    Hi guys, my 2002 Prius A/C is acting strange. From what I understand, if you have Max A/C on it will keep the ICE running..lately my car isn't doing that. Whenever I'm at traffic with the Max A/C on it will go into stealth mode then it will turn the engine on then back off again in a cycle. Also whenever I hit the brakes or simply slowing down with the ac on the whole car will shake violently like theres a strong earthquake and its about to stall unless I shut the A/C off. This only occurs when the A/c is on btw. Note* I've had my ac charged so its not out of refrigerant. But I don't know what's causing it. Any input?
     
    #1 ejcabotaje9, Jun 24, 2015
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    When was the last time you cleaned your throttle body?
     
    #2 JC91006, Jun 24, 2015
  3. ejcabotaje9

    ejcabotaje9 Junior Member

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    Huh. I've had it cleaned over a year ago. But it could be the cause. I'm gonna have to check it.
     
    #3 ejcabotaje9, Jun 24, 2015
  4. ejcabotaje9

    ejcabotaje9 Junior Member

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    I just checked the throttle and is still very clean.
     
    #4 ejcabotaje9, Jun 25, 2015
  5. 3prongpaul

    3prongpaul Hybrid Shop Owner, worked on 100's of Prius's

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    The AC on Gen1 is conventional Belt driven systems (same as a Corolla etc) The ICE always has to be on for the AC to work. If it is not blowing cold something is wrong with compressor, radiator fans, pressure in the system etc, control panel etc. I suggest you go to a shop that does AC work and ask them to check over the system. If they say "we don't do hybrid AC" tell them yours is a normal system, the electric compressor started with the Gen2 in 2004. A broken compressor or clutch will make the car sound bad/act strange.

    When you turn on AC (regular or max) does the compressor clutch engage?
     
    #5 3prongpaul, Jun 27, 2015
  6. ejcabotaje9

    ejcabotaje9 Junior Member

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    It still blows cold air for sure. And yes when I press the ac or max it turns on, after a while (say I'm at traffic or stop light) the ICE will shut off while I have the max ac on, then the engine will turn on again for a few seconds, then go back to electric mode. It will do that repeatedly while I'm at a stop or just cruising slowly from bumper to bumper traffic. Also like I mentioned earlier the car will shake at times in traffic with ac on while slowing down. I have to turn off the ac for it to stop shaking.
     
    #6 ejcabotaje9, Jun 29, 2015
  7. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    The shaking just seems to be the car's engine shutting down.....although not smoothly because of the lower rpms from the AC being on.
     
    #7 JC91006, Jun 29, 2015
  8. ejcabotaje9

    ejcabotaje9 Junior Member

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    Here's a video...shaking starts at 11 secs. and at 40 secs.
     
    #8 ejcabotaje9, Jun 30, 2015
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2015
  9. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    That's interesting. At both points (11s and 40s) I hear a sound, and it seems to last only a couple seconds each time. Are you doing anything with the controls when that happens, or is that just what it does, a couple seconds at a time, roughly 30 seconds apart?

    Do you have to be driving for it to happen? What happens if you sit in your driveway with the car on and the same settings of the controls?

    If you could turn the steering all the way to the right (in Park with the brake on, of course!), undo the screws around the plastic panel that covers the bottom of the engine on the right, and shoot video of the A/C compressor while that happens, it might reveal a lot.

    -Chap
     
    #9 ChapmanF, Jun 30, 2015
  10. Avi's Advanced Automotive

    Avi's Advanced Automotive Independent hybrid repair shop

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    FYI: MAX does not keep the ICE on all of the time, it keeps it on whenever the A/C system wants the compressor to be spinning. If the compressor is not needed, the compressor clutch is disengaged and the ICE turned off. Not having the MAX function on gives the idle stop feature priority and the A/C will slowly not be as cool.
     
    #10 Avi's Advanced Automotive, Jun 30, 2015
  11. ejcabotaje9

    ejcabotaje9 Junior Member

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    I finally figured it out..it turns out that the radiator fans don't spin when a/c is on so I replaced the fans with a used one. No more shaking and the engine stays on with max ac on.
     
    #11 ejcabotaje9, Jul 14, 2015
    bwilson4web likes this.
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