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AC misbehaving

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by cardogrescue.blogspot.com, Oct 30, 2015.

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  1. cardogrescue.blogspot.com

    cardogrescue.blogspot.com Junior Member

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    Too lazy to check if someone already started such a thread. (2008 Prius Touring Package V or VI - whatever was top that year).

    AC works great, pumps cold air, blows like crazy, and can be operated from steering wheel and screen.
    Problem: it's happened at least 3 times where it just wont come on even though it it set "auto LO and inner circulation).
    1st time: Got into car and AC not coming on (AC is always on), so I began to drive and within 5 minutes it came on on its own.
    2nd time: Got into car and AC would not come on, drove and nothing. Turned off (again AC is always on in my car) and back on and nothing. Turned car off and back on and nothing. Next day turned car on and AC was on.
    3rd time: Just like first time.

    We thought fuse, but dealer said that will not be it because AC still turns on. Thoughts anyone?

    I ask you guys because I no longer trust my dealership service department. They had been great until I caught on to them (get my car serviced and things are not being done - fluid replacement/tire pressure).

    Anyone trustworthy in Southern California's (South Bay area preferred).
     
    #1 cardogrescue.blogspot.com, Oct 30, 2015
  2. valde3

    valde3 Senior Member

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    Sorry I did not understand what doesn’t turn on? If you mean that blower won’t come on its probable blower motor that’s faulty.
     
    #2 valde3, Oct 30, 2015
  3. cardogrescue.blogspot.com

    cardogrescue.blogspot.com Junior Member

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    The AC wont come on. It is set to "auto" so anytime I turn on my car the AC should come on, but it wont when it feels like it. Would a motor not work and then work?
     
    #3 cardogrescue.blogspot.com, Oct 30, 2015
  4. valde3

    valde3 Senior Member

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    Yes that’s typically how blower motors fail. Sometimes they don’t start but if they do then they work until you shut it off.

    So if it’s just blower that won’t work then it’s almost certainly blower motor itself that’s faulty.
     
    #4 valde3, Oct 30, 2015
  5. cardogrescue.blogspot.com

    cardogrescue.blogspot.com Junior Member

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    Shut off what? the car, the ac? I have done both and the AC still works. These 3 events have happened over the last 1-2 months on random days, and all other days AC has been on and working properly.

    How much do you think it should run to replace the AC blower motor if you still think that is the case?
     
    #5 cardogrescue.blogspot.com, Oct 30, 2015
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    couple hundred bucks.
     
    #6 bisco, Oct 30, 2015
  7. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    You need to be clear about exactly what won't come on. When the system is not operational, there are at least two possibilities:

    1. There is no flow of air out of the outlets. In that case, the cabin blower motor is the most likely suspect, and it certainly can behave in an intermittent fashion until it finally fails. There are a few posts about how to replace the motor yourself, this is not very difficult. You can also remove the cabin ventilation filter and reach your hand down to spin the blower vanes, to see if the motor will start. If it does that is proof the motor is getting flaky and needs to be replaced.
    2. There is a flow of uncooled air. In that case, look for a problem like low refrigerant in the system. If the system sometimes cools and sometimes does not, that may be due to icing which builds up due to residual water vapor in the system.
     
    #7 Patrick Wong, Oct 30, 2015
  8. dhancock

    dhancock 2 Prius Family

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    Also, If set to Auto and the real temp is below the setting temp, the AC shouldn't come on! (That is what "Auto" means)

    So what is the temp set at, what is the actual temp?
     
    #8 dhancock, Oct 31, 2015
  9. cardogrescue.blogspot.com

    cardogrescue.blogspot.com Junior Member

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    Valde3 nailed it. Thank you for your help! It has now completely stopped working. Time to buy the part and replace it, looks pretty easy to do. Hopefully that solves it. Will test out current motor too to make sure it is indeed faulty.

    Patrick Wong As I stated on my post the AC cools the car if it is "on" (and decides to come on). And "on" means there is air blowing, I never stated "not cooling enough", or "not cooling."
    Dhancock, just like with any other device set at "auto," I would never expect it to turn on unless it reaches threshold.
     
    #9 cardogrescue.blogspot.com, Nov 6, 2015
  10. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Being a bit picky on how people respond to helping you eh? You know there's still the dealership route
     
    #10 JC91006, Nov 6, 2015
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