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Wash Engine and AC blows hot air now

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by GreenTerrorPrius, Oct 9, 2020.

  1. GreenTerrorPrius

    GreenTerrorPrius Junior Member

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    Hello so only had this 2012 for 10 days and i watched all videos on cleaning engine bay and followed them I covered the electrical areas w tinfoil like some videos say. Well after the wash the AC is not working. IT blows hot air only.

    OR it could have something to do with this. I have a short or something in the driver side LED installed GTR low beam headlight. I have played with it and it works sometimes and sometimes does not. Whne click lights on and off it sometimes works. Well when i washed engine i also took out the (high beam headlight, I thought it was the low beam, but it was the high beam) and that seemed to fix the low beam and have it working for a bit
    I only mention this as maybe the AC has some electrical issues tied to this as well.

    Those are the only things I did and before the AC worked great and blew ice cold air.
    2012 w 130,000 miles.

    Thanks for any advise on troubleshooting. Dealer wanted to charge $100 just to diagnose it

    Tim
     
  2. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Check yer AC fuse.
     
  3. GreenTerrorPrius

    GreenTerrorPrius Junior Member

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    mechanic hooked it up to machine to see if any codes and he got none. he thinks just freon and maybe a leak and maybe the compressor
    but i am not so sure, that is a strange coincidence. I feel like it is electronic since i got some things wet

    Who know i only have had Car 10 days so maybe it had a leak and prior owner filled it up with Freon and now has none left.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    are the cooling fans in front of the radiator working
     
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  5. Kenny94945

    Kenny94945 Active Member

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    "Prior owner filled it up with Freon"
    Why?
    My assumption....there's a leak.

    Otherwise, washed engine.
    As above check your fuses and/or look for a disconnected wire or wire connector on the AC compressor resulting from wiping the engine with soap mitt or drying rag.

    Those are my initial thoughts, good luck.
     
  6. Georgina Rudkus

    Georgina Rudkus Senior Member

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    The control connector of the compressor contains small contacts. An "Achilles's heel" of the design is that this area is known to collect water. Undo the connector to see if there is water in it.

    As a preventive measure, I have disconnected mine and filled it with dielectric grease,
     
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  7. GreenTerrorPrius

    GreenTerrorPrius Junior Member

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    I will check the control connector, but could i get some help out what fuses to check and where?
     
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Considering the water sprayed engine bay, @Georgina Rudkus's tip about connector would be my suggestion too. You need to remove the engine air intake snorkel (might as well remove air filter box too) to get at the connector. It's black, atop the compressor, and is just a great little rain gauge. To disconnect, pull gently on the wire while inserting a knife tip in the gap near the bottom, prying the locking tab out slightly.

    If the copper prongs inside are damaged beyond repair, you're likely looking at compressor replacement; so far no one's figured out how to repair it.
     
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  9. GreenTerrorPrius

    GreenTerrorPrius Junior Member

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    Anyone know how to get the air in take "snorkel" off. I got the 2 bolts off but can not get the actual piece to disconnect from the air filter box?
     
  10. GreenTerrorPrius

    GreenTerrorPrius Junior Member

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    Thanks Mendel, yes i saw your post on this issue so even if it is not the problem i will secure this area. Again that snorkel is a bit tricky to come off. Someone said it has 3 bolts and I can only find 2.
     
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    It's simplest to just remove air filter box too. Watch @NutzAboutBolts video on EGR pipe inspect/clean; he does air intake removal.
     
  12. GreenTerrorPrius

    GreenTerrorPrius Junior Member

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    So kind of a funny story.,this Prius replaced a 2003 Corolla with no air. I put the Corolla on offer up for $750 and sold it to a nice man who rolled up in a Cadillac Escalade Hybrid. After the Corolla sale I found out he was mechanic who worked on Prius. He looked at my car and helped me diagnose the AC control unit plug (the one that can have issues). It looked fine and we put a mulitmeter on it and he said it is good. WE also tested freon and he said it is full and alos tested the plug at the L/H area of Freon and it was good. So he then says he thinks when I washed the car i must have done something to the electronic signal to the Compressor.

    So after we worked on and put back together, the check engine came light came on as we did not disconnect the battery. So he re sets this by taking off 1 terminal on the battery and it goes away. WE check AC but still not blowing cold air. About an hour later I take car to store, AC not working for first 5 mins of drive and then BAM it kicks in and is now working and blowing cold. I guess moral of the story is I will NEVER wash this engine again.
    I do think I may have some weird electrical issue going on with AC, but for now it is good.
     
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  13. Majafamily

    Majafamily Member

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    Issues have happened to a few friends of mine when they washed their engines of various cars. While slower and tedious, I do engine bay cleaning by hand. I don't really care about an immaculate engine bay and parking in the garage really helps. Usually I only clean it if I'm doing some work on my cars and the area I'm working on.
     
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  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah just use brushes, duster boas, compressed air if you have. Avoid spraying water in there.
     
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  15. GreenTerrorPrius

    GreenTerrorPrius Junior Member

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    So I drove it again, and it took the exact 2 miles for the cold air to kick in. It is hot and humid here in South Floirida but this seems excessive.
    Perhaps this car just takes extra long to get cold AC, but I dont think so. I will monitor it for the next week and see where I am it with all of this, I dont think Im home free yet.
     
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  16. MelonPrius

    MelonPrius Senior Member

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    I watched the NutzAboutBolts and YourCarAngel youtube videos about Gen3 engine bay washing and neither person covered any electrical areas with tin foil. (YourCarAngel covered something with foil in the Gen2 Prius, though.)

    General question for anyone: Is it necessary to cover something when washing a Gen3 under the hood and if yes, what?
     
  17. GreenTerrorPrius

    GreenTerrorPrius Junior Member

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    DONT WASH IT!
     
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  18. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    I was poo pooed for not pulling the positive lead from the 12v battery prior to cleaning egr and manifold. No video tutorial or posts in here say to do so.
     
  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I would drape a tarp over the complete engine bay, then have at it. :whistle:
     
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  20. whitmanrf

    whitmanrf Junior Member

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    Hindsight perhaps but your non OEM modifications appear to have burned you.