got an issue with Carmine, my 2008 Prius. I can turn on the a/c, that works. There are 4 air vents across the dashboard. I can only get air flow from the outside vents - the 2 by the doors. Middle 2, no air flow. I pressed the button to switch to 'face" and "foot," no air flow from the feet either. Only from the same 2 outside dashboard vents. All winter using the heat this was working. Hence the issue is new. Today I only put the heat on for a short time, but still no air flow from the middle 2 vents, nor from the feet. So it seems it is the air flow buttons, not related to whether I have heat or a/c running. Is this mechanical? Computer? Something I can fix myself? Costly repair? All info appreciated!
About the only thing that is easy is to check the cabin filter behind the glove box. It could be clogged or something may be nesting.
New cabin air filter installed. Still no air, middle 2 vents, foot vents. But the filter did need to be changed, so that wasn't a wasted move. Car is used regularly, not sure how anything could nest in it, but I suppose it is possible.
Scrolling down on this page to "Codes from the heat/air conditioning system" and following the gen 2 instructions there, what codes do you see, if any? Blink (a/k/a Flash) Codes – How to. | PriusChat
@ChapmanF I am a 67 year old female. I have no clue what that is talking about. Blink, and pins, and diagnostic codes, ECUs, I stopped reading at that point. May as well be in German. Sorry.
He is saying a very good scanner could reveal a specific ac air flow problem. Unfortunately most Toyota dealers charge an hours labor to diagnose. There is a way to diy which provides simple codes. Gen 2: Start with the car off. Hold down both the A/C AUTO and FRESH/RECIRC buttons (on the steering wheel), while turning the car on (two power button presses, no foot on brake). Look for two-digit codes shown in the top corner of the MFD. The two-digit code xy usually means the same as a B14xy code shown on a scan tool. Maybe someone you know could read those instructions and do it. Then post those codes. Alternatively you could look for an independent Toyota shop or a specialized auto ac shop for a diagnosis. Often its a motorized air flow door under the dash or a linkage disconnected. Not easy but repairable.
That's exactly the part you find by «Scrolling down on this page to "Codes from the heat/air conditioning system" and following the gen 2 instructions» as I suggested. Nothing there about blinks or pins. The thing about diagnostic codes is that even if you have no idea what they mean, you can still tell them to people who do, who then can help you.
@rjparker I held down these 2 buttons: No foot on the brake. Two presses to the START button. Car came one, radio on, no motor or engine. Most importantly: no codes showing on the MFD. Did this 3 times, even moved the MFD to the CLIMATE screen. No codes.
My recollection was that the MFD will then display 00 in a top corner, if it otherwise has no two-digit codes to display. I don't have a gen 2 handy right now to go check, though.
