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2006 Prius: replaced AC compressor but still not cooling

Discussion in 'Knowledge Base Articles Discussion' started by fabulent, Jun 7, 2017.

  1. fabulent

    fabulent New Member

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    I have a 2006 Prius that I bought last year with the AC not working, so I replaced the AC compressor.

    Right when I did that, a big squealing sound started coming out by the AC compressor and the smell of the AC oil started coming through the vents. However that did not last long. The noise went away and the AC stopped working.

    When I put my gauge in, it said my freon was at max, however it doesn't cool.

    Any suggestions would be great.
     
  2. Shaun_Collins

    Shaun_Collins Junior Member

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    You just can not work on these systems without huge expensive risk and understanding them. I used to do this for a living.
    You did not say a bunch of things. Your guage statement is way to vague, we must have numbers to help adequately. Basically having to make tons of assumptions here due to the language used it sounds like you used a what technicians call a suicide kit unstead of dual low/ high manifold set. You did not say if your misting down the condenser to simulate airflow? as these systems are engineered to work right at certain RPM (for mechanical ones less applicable here) and MPH for condenser airflow. The variable speed 200vac motor and computer senses charging situation on these and ramps up compressor rpm so fast and sucks the charge in that you can over charge it easily using conventional practices for axisn belt engine driven mechsnical 134a ststems. You make no mention of evacing out or how long or how long or if it passed or what parameters you used to determing leak check, or if you replaced evsporator drier (required for new compressor) or if you checked the ND11 oil charge in compressor...and on and on...This is a very low capacity and extremely efficient 134a system and extremely sensitive to moisture and the consequential acid contsmination. There is no flushing procedure mentioned either which is disturbing.

    LG-H918 ?
     
  3. fabulent

    fabulent New Member

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    Yes, I'm not an expert when it comes to auto mechanics. I just remember the minute details of the work I did, however I do remember when the technician said he replaced the AC Compressor, I turned it on and heard the squealing, then saw white mist come out of my vents. And while the white mist and squealing was going on, the AC was working and attempted to get cold. However when that white mist ran out, then the cold air stopped coming through and the squealing stopped.

    I read in another post where someone mentioned this:

    "if the evaporator is bad, than it will not hold freon. And there will be no cold air out of the vents. If the leak is big enough, than it may blow the freon through the vents inside the car in a noticeable white cloud."

    This has happened to me, so I'm thinking it's probably related to my evaporator core and not the ac compressor.

    I could use some help, because it's gonna get very hot soon and I can't stand the heat.
     
  4. Shaun_Collins

    Shaun_Collins Junior Member

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    4 options are:
    1. Do a leak check with a leak detector there is one cheap but works at Harbor Freight but you need to be staged ready with detector on and in position when firing engine up with AC on as it might run for fraction of a second. There will be enough residue on 134a to pick up it its as big as leak as suspected. Otherwise you have 3 options left to verify problem:
    2.To pay someone to use Nitrogen carefully to detect the leak.
    3. Or you can dump another can in (make sure good air but circulation and windows down as 134a is poisonous and lays low but displaces oxygen required to breathe, nd dump another can in with tester on RH passanger side in vent.
    4. Use UV leak oil based Dye detector and UV flashlight and yellow tinted glasses kit from auromotivecstore. There are a few ways this can be done but best done in concert with #2 above by buying can of 134a eith UV dye in it.

    Of course shotgunning the evaporator is something you could do but NOT recomended as these systems typically have 2-3 problems when troubleshooting them hence why I dislike them and hate the costs involved. So be aware it is costly and be prepared to spend quite a chunk of change.
     
    #4 Shaun_Collins, Jun 7, 2017
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2017
  5. Shaun_Collins

    Shaun_Collins Junior Member

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    Another thing is disturbing. The squeeling noise from compressor should not happen. This compressor motor assembly has a oil baffle that keeps all the oil in the compressor at low RPM but some circulates at high RPM. New compressor should never have made any noise at all.

    LG-H918 ?
     
  6. fabulent

    fabulent New Member

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    The squealing sound came from the electrical engine's location and not the AC compressor. The replaced AC compressor was a used one I got off ebay.

    I'm gonna take it to a certified prius tech and if his suggestion doesn't work, then I'll try your steps.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    prius a/c is unique, most often best left to the dealer. isn't the first guy standing by his work? what about the ebay seller?
     
  8. Beachbummm

    Beachbummm Senior Member

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    my first prius went through 3 compressors in a summer,changed the evap on the second compressor than it turned out it was the expansion valve inside the dash board, $42.00 part $520 labor and Freon... the entire dash has to come out. hope your problem isn't this expensive
     
  9. fabulent

    fabulent New Member

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    I have to look into the Expansion valve like you said. What generation prius did you have?

    Also, I got a diagnostic done yesterday where the mechanic plugged in his hose into the Low & high side. He then pumped some freon into it, and the reading he got was:

    Low: 25 psi
    High: 200 psi

    The mechanic told me the freon was a bit low because the usual psi range on a Low side is: 30-40.
    Then he ran the AC and it was actually getting cold for a bit and told me I didn't have any AC compressor issues.
    So I got back on the road and noticed my car's pickup slowed down and the engine was working overtime to get up to speed. That told me because of the freon load, the compressor was using actually using the engine's power and acceleration got slowed down.
    Then when I stopped at a light, I noticed this huge smoke come out of my hood and now I lost all of my AC. It stopped giving out cold air.

    So my freon is leaking out somehow through somewhere under the hood.

    Can someone please explain why this leak happened?
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    could be because the mechanic is not familiar with hybrid a/c. how can the engine run the compressor, it's electric.
     
  11. Beachbummm

    Beachbummm Senior Member

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    leaks happen because its an old car..... nothing lasts forever ..

    mine was a 2005, from what I understand about the compressor it is electric like the one in your fridge, if you have power loss with the ac on and the gas motor is running more my guess is you have a weak HV battery ... when the battery is low on charge the AC is the first thing the car turns off to keep going.. than you have to decide if you want to invest in extensive repairs on a 12 yr old car to save a few bucks on gas..
     
    #11 Beachbummm, Jun 9, 2017
    Last edited: Jun 9, 2017
  12. fabulent

    fabulent New Member

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    I guess I'd agree with you about shutting off the ac compressor to keep the HV charge, but letting out freon just doesn't make sense to me.
    Where would the freon leak from and why? Is it some hose that's leaking, or evaporator, or switch, or valve, something has to give.
     
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    usually, they inject a dye into the system, so they can see where it's leaking from.
     
  14. Beachbummm

    Beachbummm Senior Member

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    RCO likes this.