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Collision damage to AC Condenser

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Trafficat, Jul 8, 2024 at 12:15 AM.

  1. Trafficat

    Trafficat New Member

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    2012 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    After a collision with a rock, apparently to the passenger bottom of the front, the A/C is now blowing hot air.

    EDIT: Thread title says condenser, but I guess this is the compressor.

    Based on these pictures is it pretty safe to say this AC Compressor is toast?

    My plan is to replace the compressor and figure out how to refill with the gas. I'm guessing I can unbolt this thing and reattach a new one, some on ebay mention they come with lubricant of some kind installed. Then I guess fill with gas. Possibly as simple as buying a thingy and pushing it into a nipple. Or maybe I need some more advanced instrumentation to do it right?

    If anyone has any thoughts after looking at the pictures let me know. Kinda praying at this point I can swap it out and don't have damage to any lines.

    I believe this is showing a large crack between the base where the bolts go gin and the compressor

    1
    upload_2024-7-7_21-1-36.png

    The bolts are kinda smushed. I'm guessing this must have been the contact point with the rock. The only other known damage to the car is that the air intake resonator got torn off.

    2
    upload_2024-7-7_21-2-45.png

    I think there is a crack above the bolt tube on both of them, and my finger came away with black fluid touching the region. So I'm guessing that the system is leaking from those bolts and that it may be the source of my troubles.
    3
    upload_2024-7-7_21-3-56.png

    This tube looking thing from the compressor is now touching the oil filter... bent I guess, but I am not seeing much damage... still a bit concerning that there could be more damage to this system than just to the compressor. I don't see obvious problems other than bent parts, but I'm not the most trained eye. Not sure what will happen when I need to replace the oil filter, but I'm guessing it shouldn't be a problem.

    4
    upload_2024-7-7_21-4-58.png
    upload_2024-7-7_21-5-44.png

    5
    upload_2024-7-7_21-6-14.png

    6
    upload_2024-7-7_21-6-51.png

    Some kind of fluid leaked out onto the bottom plastic protector. It seemed clear but somewhat slimy.

    Thanks in advance for the help.
     
    #1 Trafficat, Jul 8, 2024 at 12:15 AM
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2024 at 4:15 AM
  2. Trafficat

    Trafficat New Member

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    New Reno, Nukevada, Merica
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Codes are 21 23 33 43 62 when starting with a/c auto and recirc buttons on dash.

    Where can I find the meaning of these codes?
     
    #2 Trafficat, Jul 8, 2024 at 3:07 AM
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2024 at 3:19 AM
  3. Trafficat

    Trafficat New Member

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    2012 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    compressor makes no noise when running AC and does not feel warm or vibrate
     
  4. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    The Repair manual. Do you have a copy to refer to?

    It doesn't always work this way but for the A/C codes the two-digit blink code maps directly the the last two digits of the DTC. The first three characters of the DTC are B14, so your codes would be B1421, B1423, B1433, etc.
    Fairly sure that the compressor should be running.
     
    Trafficat likes this.
  5. Trafficat

    Trafficat New Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I was looking at something that seemed like a repair manual, and I think I found that the 21 code meant something irrelevant but maybe I didn't find the other things. I will try and relocate that pdf I found somewhere and check for the B14 codes.

    Considering the apparently cracked housing which seems to have leaked an oily substance, my guess is that the whole system is compromised and there is no more lubricant nor refrigerant in the system. Since I hear and feel no commotion from the compressor, perhaps it is possible that it has burnt out from trying to run without oil and it is totally dead.

    I guess I will order a refurbished compressor that supposedly comes with lubricant in it. Then take the old one off, and put new one on, connect everything, get a vacuum pump to evacuate the system of air, and verify that it holds vacuum, add R134a, and hope for the best.