Failure of Air Conditioner Compressor Due to Lack of Maintenance?

i don't think so. not much talk about a/c maintenance around here, and very few gen3 bad compressors.
we do see one once in awhile, and i suspect it is simply manufacturing tolerances. or maybe i should say intolerances.
if you notice a decline in cooling, but fail to take action, that could be a problem, idk.

not likely vandalism, and $1,300. is a good price i think. you can always get a second opinion.

did you pay for the diagnosis? ask for a printout of the codes

 

cant rule that out just yet. Some feller had his wiper blades assembly stolen. And if you drive a Prius and go all road ragging, other drivers will love you even more. Even after incidents.

 

The code means that powering the compressor is taking either more or less electrical power than it ought to for the compressor speed in question.

That can mean that the compressor is shot, but the repair manual's got a small three-page section of things worth checking before going straight for that conclusion.

 

The thing that can harm the compressor is a very clogged condenser coil.
Makes the compressor hot.
On G2 Prius quite easy to see condenser you take off the the plastic rad cover not sure If you can on a g3.

So look carefully through the front grill for the condition of the condenser. It looks like a radiator it sits in front of the rad. Should look very clean.It requires periodic cleaning just like your home ac. Home ac is a lot of work. The outside condenser coils need to be cleaned and the inside air handler evap coils need to be cleaned too.
And in a car the evap coil in the dash needs to be serviced too use Kool It
cleaner.

and lastly its crazy to take your car ac work to a dealer. There like $175 an hour. Find a local ac company a Prius is a very common car now.

the fact that there condemning the compressor may mean the system has had a slow leak all along and running the compressor a long time with low charge will ruin it.

so the question is has the ac been poor for a while? Not super cool?
It should be freezing.

If poor ac that’s a big problem because it had a leak it killed the compressor and now you don’t know where the leak is hope it’s not the evap box under the dash like mine. The dealer will kill you with the bill. That will be $2500 by the time there done if evap leak.

The problem is you need a new compressor for them to charge it dye it and find a leak if any. And it probably has a leak.

Financially it’s quite the roll of the dice sorry…..

 

One cause, and it’s a bit of a sand-pounder: there’s a 12 volt connector atop the compressor, and it’s a perfect receptical for water, which shorts/corrodes the pins. Repair is nigh impossible; it can toast the compressor.

Any recent engine bay “detailing”? If yes and it was by the dealership, I’d check that connector personally, take pics, chase them for it.

as you stand at front of engine bay, compressor is at front/left/lower corner of engine. Relatively easy access once engine intake air snorkel and air filter box are off. Technically just the snorkel needs removal, but it’s kind of hard to separate from air filter box in-place.

 

Looked at compressor on line it’s $570. Deakerwill mark that bad boy hard.
$900.

take the car to an ac joint.

 

MSRP $1486.28 (today). $900 at a dealer would be a very nice markdown.