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Air Condition refill/recharge for Gen3

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Tekken, Apr 18, 2021.

  1. Tekken

    Tekken Member

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    Hello PriusChat

    I need to refill or recharge my Gen3 and PriusC 2016. Is R-134a refill will work for Gen3 and PriusC 2016? does they need to oil or Leak sealer? Just want to prepare of incoming SoCal 100F Hot summer. Please advise. Thanks
     
  2. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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  3. burebista

    burebista Active Member

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    I did an AC refill at dealership last autumn. Half of R134a was misssing and they also refill with 2 or 3 ml of ND11 oil.
    60 bucks was the job here.
     
  4. lech auto air conditionin

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    Consensus is still stay away from the leak sealer

    No need to add oil unless there was a component change or a large loss due to a rupture or large hole with a immediate violent loss of refrigerant.

    I would at least recommend putting a UV Tracy to help you find the leak in the future if it cannot be located now .
    Or any other leaks that you have not located or that will develop in the future I’ll put a link below

    Hybrid Vehicles A/C Leak Detection Kits | Tracerproducts.com
     
  5. Tekken

    Tekken Member

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    Thanks Lech

    Is 134a same as R-134a refrigerant and 134a can be mix with R-134a if My 2016 Prius C and 2010 list as R-134a.?
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I too think the way to go is, don’t stress details, just bring cash or credit card to dealership, have a seat for an hour or two, done. Was $150 CDN plus taxes for me.
     
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  7. lech auto air conditionin

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    It all 134, r134 , R 134a all the same brand name of who makes it , make no difference. Even Chinese made is good.
     
  8. nicoj36

    nicoj36 Active Member

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    I just refilled mine with r134a from harbor freight no problem. AC is ice cold again. Just fill it up slowly to the green area of the gauge and you're done. 5-10 min max.
     
  9. Tekken

    Tekken Member

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    Is there a chance anyone know 2016 Prius C can be refill with R134a as well ?
     
  10. lech auto air conditionin

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    mall R134 is the same. As long as the can dose not say it has and oil or leak seal or any other additives.

    for example. AC PRO in the back in vary small print it says DO NOT USE ON ELECTRONIC COMPRESSOR
     
  11. Tekken

    Tekken Member

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    Thanks lech The A/C prof.

    Just want to be sure, as the newer model of cars do using 1234yf refrigerant which is slightly flammable, don't know they can be Mixed?
     
  12. lech auto air conditionin

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    So far the newer Prius have no YF yet.

    as for flammability they’re barely clamble you can hold up a match and almost nothing happens. Apathetic little flame that as soon as you take the match away it snuffs out by itself.

    unlike our grandmothers can of hairspray Aqua net as a child holding a lighter to it watching the large flames shoot out and stay lit after you took away the match. Great for burning up spiderwebs and spiders in the backyard.

    if the Prius prime how do I have refrigerant it’s over 2 pounds of the nearly $450 just in Refrigerant on $259 in labor

    The new Prius prime takes so long to recover refrigerant out of it I was thinking raising my labor time just on the Prius prime it’s because of the way they’re designed with the heat pump and an extra large accumulator with insulation around it prevents a quick recovery of refrigerant.

    and unlike the old days when we would retrofit a R12 system to the new refrigerator to R134.

    with the new refrigerant systems we are not allowed to retrofit the old systems with the new gas. Because the systems were not initially designed for semi flammable refrigerant. It’s a legal thing in a DOT thing we have To adhere to.

    And because refrigerant now falls under under the federal EPA rules laws and regulations. We are not allowed to put R134 into the newer YF vehicles. Because it’s now considered a emissions control device just like a pollution small control device on an engine for a gasoline car and not being allowed to remove the catalytic converter or put old leaded gas into a vehicle or run diesel number 2 farm grade the red dyed stuff inside a modern passenger vehicle to be driven on a highway.
     
    #12 lech auto air conditionin, Jul 18, 2022
    Last edited: Jul 18, 2022