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Air Con not working in Accessory Mode?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Mister Neutron, Aug 16, 2009.

  1. Mister Neutron

    Mister Neutron New Member

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    Hi All,

    Still very new to the Prius, so this may just be a 'RTFM' issue, but I noticed that the air conditioning stops when stationary and in Accessory Mode. Is this normal? I'd have thought that you'd want the A/C to be fully functional when parked in the sun, rather than just having the fans working (which is all I got?) :(

    When everything was powered fully back up, 'Ready' on and moving, the A/C quickly cooled me down, but... :confused:
     
    #1 Mister Neutron, Aug 16, 2009
  2. EJFB1029

    EJFB1029 New Member

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    Remember, the AC is working off the battery, if you were to use it in Accessory, you would quickly run down the battery, its designed to work in Ready, so that the engine will come on, if needed, to make sure the battery doesn't drain. Just put it in Park while its in Ready.
     
    #2 EJFB1029, Aug 16, 2009
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  3. jay_man2

    jay_man2 jay_man_also

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    My a/c operates in accessory mode, no problem. I always have it set on auto, so I don't know how it would respond in manual mode.
     
    #3 jay_man2, Aug 16, 2009
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  4. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

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    I don't think your ac works in accessory mode. That mode runs off the tiny little battery, I am pretty sure you need to have it in ready mode, so the ac can run off the HV batt.
     
    #4 adamace1, Aug 16, 2009
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  5. Mister Neutron

    Mister Neutron New Member

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    ...Yeah, I guess the Aux battery would be flattened if it tried to run a 'fridge for too long! ;)

    I'll ensure it is in Ready mode but with the Hand Brake on - job done.

    Cheers, everyone.
     
    #5 Mister Neutron, Aug 16, 2009
  6. wfolta

    wfolta Active Member

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    Perhaps I'm misunderstanding, but you mention the parking brake but not transmission. You're putting it into Park as well, right?
     
    #6 wfolta, Aug 16, 2009
  7. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    To prevent you prius surging when parked in ready mode if you apply the park brake firmly, then apply power in drive then hit the park button. this loads the transmission slightly and prevents the car shaking when the engine starts.
     
    #7 patsparks, Aug 16, 2009
  8. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Ok, I missed it in the Owner's Manual. How do you get "Accessory Mode?"

    I keep turning on the car to "READY" when all I want to do is roll down or up the windows while getting strapped in and getting everyone else ready to go.

    Thanks,
    Bob Wilson
     
    #8 bwilson4web, Aug 16, 2009
  9. LRKingII

    LRKingII New Member

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    Foot off brake and 2 pushes on power button when parked.
     
    #9 LRKingII, Aug 16, 2009
  10. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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    You hit the start button without your foot on the brake.
     
    #10 royrose, Aug 16, 2009
  11. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    1 push.

    2 pushes gets you to IG-ON (or ON in other cars). 1 push gets you to ACC or accessory.

    AFAIK, no car runs the A/C unless the engine is on and it's no different in the Prius. The car must be in READY mode before the A/C compressor runs. In IG-ON mode (2 pushes of the POWER button without pressing the brake pedal) simply gives you the fan like any other car.
     
    #11 Tideland Prius, Aug 16, 2009
  12. jay_man2

    jay_man2 jay_man_also

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    When you hit the power button once without a foot on the brake the radio comes on. Hit it again and the fan starts blowing and the rest of the dash lights up. All I know is every time I've done it I get cold air from the vents, but that may just be the fan pushing already cold air around.
     
    #12 jay_man2, Aug 16, 2009
  13. Celtic Blue

    Celtic Blue New Member

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    That's because you just turned the car on with the second press.

    The little 12V battery won't run the AC compressor. It could probably run the blower (don't know if it does or not as I haven't tried.) Conventional cars can't run the actual AC compressor with the engine off since it is belt driven off the engine. The Prius can use power for the traction battery to run it when in ignition on mode.
     
    #13 Celtic Blue, Aug 21, 2009
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