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AC coldish and different temps on both sides

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Z50king, May 31, 2022.

  1. Z50king

    Z50king New Member

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    2015 Prius
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    Two
    I have a new-to-me 2015 Prius. When I run the AC, the driver side 2 vents blow pretty cold but not super cold and the passenger side 2 vents feel like ambient temperature when it's 75F outside. They both blow very hot when temperature is increased. It feels like the heater core and evaporator are being used when I want cold air.

    I assume one of the servo motors is not working. I can warch the control wheel turning for the upper, mixed, lower, defrost vents. I can watch the control wheel and hood move when i change air sources, inside vs outside. I cannot see what controls the hot / cold and I assume this is stuck or dead.

    Can anyone give me help? I cannot find parts fiches or diagrams for where all the different parts are in the HVAC unit under the dash. Is there a video of anyone tearing it down to replace these parts?

    Does anyone have troubleshooting tips or experience?

    Thanks
     

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    #1 Z50king, May 31, 2022
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i would have a prius aware a/c shop start by checking the system out first.

    schematics and parts details are available at techinfo.toyota.com
     
    #2 bisco, May 31, 2022
  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I seem to have a similar AC issue with my 2008. There seems to be enough refrigerant in the car but the AC is not cold when it's extremely hot outside (above 85 degrees). It does a fine job cooling the car when the temperature is under 85 degrees. I'm not sure how to fix this issue.

    I've compared it to my other 2008 car and the other one doesn't have this issue even when the temperature is above 100 degrees.
     
    #3 JC91006, May 31, 2022
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    another thing about gen 3 is the suppressed a/c when in eco mode
     
    #4 bisco, May 31, 2022
  5. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Is that a fact seriously? So no AC in eco or does it work but poorly in that mode I've got gas etc. It has worked before very well and it's dead quiet on too. No kidding. My 08 you can hear the whine in 13 nooo
     
    #5 Tombukt2, May 31, 2022
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    still works, just suppressed. not sure how much, i'm alway in eco, and the a/c is like a freezer in 90 degree high humidity weather
     
    #6 bisco, May 31, 2022
  7. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    In my 09 this is a fact the 13 it just came on wen it wants too . I've moved the orange plug at compressor. Checked with hinpress sw connected and disconnected. Off I've about 88 psi on both sides . If it starts it holds just under 40 low side cold fat tube . Get in the car next time start the car take off put the air on all the lights on the dash like everything is working nothing but outside temperature blowing in it's really weird no codes of any sort
     
    #7 Tombukt2, Jun 1, 2022
  8. Z50king

    Z50king New Member

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    Two
    The place I bought it from recharged the system and it's cold now. I assume the side of evaporator closed to the valve was cold and the far side got warm.
     
    #8 Z50king, Jun 9, 2022
  9. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    After having other things to do for about a week I just left the Big Orange plug undone on my electric compressor in the 13 and just the other day I went out and plugged it back up while the car was completely shut off check to my fittings made sure I had pressure like always been there forever and I got in the car and flipped the unit on and it just started working and has been working ever since makes no sense to me why I was getting that communication error in tec stream
     
    #9 Tombukt2, Jun 10, 2022
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