1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

  1. Jake Joseph

    Jake Joseph Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2015
    28
    2
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Hello All,

    I've tried searching the forms for an answer but am coming up short.

    I have a 2008 Prius with 235,000 miles on it that's been having a couple A/C issues lately. Last year the system was recharged and the charge lasted around 12 months until it was taken back for a service and another recharge. The dealer thought the evaporator may have a leak in it but they cannot find any of the dye.

    With the charge lasting a year I figured, recharging it once a year wasn't so bad. But after it's second recharge it worked just fine for the drive home. I parked it and the next day it was warm again. The dealer offered to look at the car again at no cost and confirmed that the vehicle still had pressure and confirmed it held a vacuum. Again they could not find any dye or a leak that would be large enough to prevent the system from working in a day.

    Picked the car up again and the A/C was ice cold. Worked just fine for the drive home, parked it and its warm again the next day.

    The compressor is running as well even with the warm air. I've tried changing the setting from auto to manual, but the temp remains the same.

    The cabin filter was also recently replaced and I wanted to ask if anyone has experienced anything like this in the past? Could it be the solar sensor? The Climate Control Amplifier?

    With the system working just fine after a recharge then dead the next day but still holding pressure with the compressor running, I'm leaning toward a possible computer issue versus a leak but was looking for some insight.

    Any help is greatly appreciated!!
     
  2. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,471
    4,372
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    The last time they "confirmed" it held a vacuum and then recharged. You can't do a vacuum test with any refrigerant in the system. So they recharged again the last time and then it leaked out. A leak in the evaporator can not be seen even with dye because its buried in the dash and is an expensive job to replace.

    Sometimes facts are lost in translation between the dealer mechanic and the service advisor.

    My guess is you do have a leak and the dealer mechanic is not too good on electric compressor cars like a Prius. Occasionally a leak only occurs under pressure and closes under vacuum.

    Once a leak starts it does not go away although some will get a short term fix with sealants. However a Prius compressor is high voltage electric and the sealants or even mineral oil used with conventional compressors can cause electrical problems.

    I would give it an 80% possibility you need a new evaporator per the original diagnostic results. Best thing is to research independent auto ac shops with Prius specific experience. There are electronic leak detectors that can sometimes pick up evap leaks in the condensate drain or from the cabin filter. But the system cooling again after a recharge says there is a leak.
     
    #2 rjparker, Aug 1, 2021
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2021
  3. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    10,767
    4,370
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
  4. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2020
    3,203
    1,337
    0
    Location:
    NJ-USA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    When you brought the car back to the dealer the second time, did they confirm that the system was low on charge again (ie, that it had leaked refrigerant somewhere after only a day or so)?
    If so and there are no visible external dye traces, then an evaporater leak is high on the list of likely causes. One trick for a shop tech to try is to run the A/C for a bit while having a plastic bag attached to the condensate drain. Then put the leak detector probe in the bag to see if it responds.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    PriusCamper likes this.
  5. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2016
    6,058
    5,783
    0
    Location:
    Columbia, SC
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Losing a full charge in one day is certainly not a small leak. You should practically be able to hear it. A cracker jack box leak detector should be able to detect it.
     
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,064
    14,970
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I should have bought more cracker jacks.
     
  7. Jake Joseph

    Jake Joseph Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2015
    28
    2
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Hello Everyone,

    Thank you for the advice and feedback on my issue, I greatly appreciate it!

    As for the status of the charge when the dealer took a second look they stated the vehicle still had a charge. The evacuated the system held a vacuum to check and recharged it again.

    Another question then is if the car doesn't have a charge due to a leak, would the compressor still run? In my experience on other vehicles if the charge is low the compressor won't run. Not sure is the Prius is any different.

    Thank you!
     
  8. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,471
    4,372
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    It can have a low charge and run
     
  9. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2019
    1,329
    404
    0
    Location:
    Southern California
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    We had way too many trips back to the dealer when fixing our AC, luckily all under a warranty. It was leaking, they couldn't find the leak, and tried to replace some of the tubes as a sort of hail Mary. Of course it didn't work. Eventually they replaced the evaporator and it has been all good since. (Knock wood!) The experience suggested to me that if the dealer cannot find a leak, and it is leaking, then it is almost certainly leaking at the evaporator since they cannot see that to look for dye. There are refrigerant sniffing devices, which one would have imagined these shops would employ. Yet, as far as I could tell, this shop did not use one - and they are probably the largest Toyota service center in SoCal.
     
    burrito likes this.
  10. lech auto air conditionin

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2011
    830
    601
    260
    Location:
    san francisco
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two


    If there is a leak between the times it went back to be rechecked and they had to fill it up again twice I’m going to put my money on the evaporator but that’s only a guess

    The majority of shops will not spend nearly $1000 on a refrigerant leak detector to get one as sensitive as mine

    Because the majority of shops are not really serious about repairing cars and really don’t care if they get a ride or not
     
    PriusCamper likes this.
  11. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    10,767
    4,370
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Been following your youtube channel in recent weeks... Am amazed at how often you post and the quality of your work! Keep on keeping on!
     
  12. lech auto air conditionin

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2011
    830
    601
    260
    Location:
    san francisco
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    I wish I had time to do nice editing and set up tripods with lights and set up microphones for a good sound system but I don’t have time for that I actually have work from 7 AM to 7 PM every day with not one minute of Unbillable time six days a week.
    I wish I could film all of my jobs every day but that takes too much time so unfortunately you only get to see one job a day usually.
    But somethings better than nothing

    I wish I could document more of my Prius jobs and post them up here on Prius chat because anybody who has a electric hybrid system needs all the help they can because usually they won’t get it from a general garage when it comes to air conditioning.
     
    PriusCamper likes this.
  13. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2020
    3,203
    1,337
    0
    Location:
    NJ-USA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    What brand and model detector do you use there? Looking for something better than my Inficon Tekmate.


    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    PriusCamper likes this.
  14. lech auto air conditionin

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2011
    830
    601
    260
    Location:
    san francisco
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Inficon D-TEK Stratus Refrigerant Leak Detector and Portable Monitor
    Are used to leak detectors one based off infrared spectrometer refrigerant identification

    The other uses heated diode refrigerant detection

    they both sent leaks differently in the method of using them is different and they have their pluses and minuses on different refrigerant.

    yeah other one is the H-10

    Bacharach H-10 PRO Universal Refrigerant Leak Detector

    Then there certainly leaks where the ultrasonic leak detector has advantages especially when using with high-pressure try nitrogen

    AccuTrak VPE-GN Professional Kit

    then for using ultraviolet light for one of the best flashlights I found is the UV beast

    uvBeast Black Light UV Flashlight V3 365nm – FILTERED Ultraviolet - HI

    and the best dye that I have found for the UV light is by tracer line products

    Super price on Tracerline - TP3840-32 at ToolTopia.com
     
    PriusCamper likes this.
  15. lech auto air conditionin

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2011
    830
    601
    260
    Location:
    san francisco
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    How can a customer tell when they walk into a real shop that actually specializes in hybrid vehicles

     
  16. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,471
    4,372
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Watch this video around time 3:20 where he explains how a car with no liquid refrigerant (which is needed to cool) can still run the compressor.

     
  17. Jake Joseph

    Jake Joseph Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2015
    28
    2
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Hello Everyone,

    I’d like to give a big thank you for your feedback and all of the information!

    Based on all of this is sounds like it’s likely it’s a leak and possibly in the evaporator.

    With the age of this car and mileage, I can’t see an evaporator replacement costing less than the car is actually worth. Which means it may be a case of living without AC. Plus I can’t see anyone wanting to take out the dash of a car that’s baked in the Florida sun for 13+ years with all the brittle plastic/trim pieces.

    Would anyone know the name of a good hybrid shop in the Orlando area that could confirm it’s the evaporator?

    Thank you again to everyone for all your help!
     
  18. Jake Joseph

    Jake Joseph Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2015
    28
    2
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Thank you for the video! Interesting to see it’ll run the compressor even with low refrigerant.
     
  19. lech auto air conditionin

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2011
    830
    601
    260
    Location:
    san francisco
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    In this video I had just enough vapor refrigerant to hit 42 psi at which point the electric compressor engages in starting to run.

    And it will keep running with no cooling coming back to cool off the hot electrical windings or the inverter and oil will slowly leave the compressor and not return