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2005 A/C Not Blowing Cold, Compressor running, cabin filter clean

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by wilsonsk, Apr 1, 2017.

  1. wilsonsk

    wilsonsk Junior Member

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    My 2005 is blowing warm air when I have the A/C on MAX COLD, hoping I just need freon, here are the details I have:

    Blower on high
    A/C on MAX COLD
    Cabin filter is new
    A/C pump is running
    I can see activity in the sight glass, not sure what to make of it, see link to the video, taken while ICE was off, sound you hear is the A/C pump, then I turned the car off.


     
    #1 wilsonsk, Apr 1, 2017
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2017
  2. andrewclaus

    andrewclaus Active Member

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    I believe the air apparent in the sight glass is a sign you're low on coolant.
     
    #2 andrewclaus, Apr 1, 2017
  3. wilsonsk

    wilsonsk Junior Member

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    I kind of thought that was what I saw as well, (or didn't see), so do I need the "no oil" 134A? or just "Hybrid Compatible" refrigerant?
     
    #3 wilsonsk, Apr 1, 2017
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    not sure, but be careful. prius a/c is electric, and wrong oil can sink the whole system to the tune of $2,500.
     
    #4 bisco, Apr 2, 2017
  5. wilsonsk

    wilsonsk Junior Member

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    Thanks Bisco, I understand there are specific freons and oils that are ok and not ok, hoping to find out definitively which is which.
     
    #5 wilsonsk, Apr 2, 2017
    bisco likes this.
  6. wilsonsk

    wilsonsk Junior Member

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    What should I put in a 2005 prius to top off refrigerant?
     
    #6 wilsonsk, Apr 2, 2017
  7. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Pure R-134a only.
     
    #7 Patrick Wong, Apr 3, 2017
  8. valde3

    valde3 Senior Member

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    But if it needs a lot of topping up you will also lose some AC oil. This is one more reason to fix leaks rather than just keep topping up.

    Not really an issue if this one top-up is all it needs.
     
    #8 valde3, Apr 3, 2017
  9. wilsonsk

    wilsonsk Junior Member

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    If you look at the video, would you say I just need a top-up?
     
    #9 wilsonsk, Apr 4, 2017
  10. valde3

    valde3 Senior Member

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    Probably just needs topping. Your video is a bit too short to understand what the system is doing.

    If the AC compressor is running constantly but sight glass is not clearing then it’s not charged enough (or temp is more than 35c or 95F). If AC compressor is not running constantly with hot outside temperature, MAX COLD, and fan on high, that can also be caused by system needing a top up or theoretically if heat flap was stuck in something other than cold.

    In my comment I just meant that if you’re repeatedly topping the system up you will be low on AC oil (Prius uses the special ND-oil on AC).
     
    #10 valde3, Apr 5, 2017
  11. wilsonsk

    wilsonsk Junior Member

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    Ah, ok, got it, I will try a top up with gas only, see what that does.
     
    #11 wilsonsk, Apr 5, 2017
  12. wilsonsk

    wilsonsk Junior Member

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    I put in most of a small can of 134a with no oil. I have a filler hose with a gauge, it is steady at about 27ish, blowing icy cold again. I topped up on Friday, still good this morning, we'll see. When it stopped it was late last summer, but it kind of quit over night so I was honestly expecting this top up not to last long. The car was a repairable, an I'm pretty sure the condenser coil was replaced so the system has been opened up, but that was 5 or 6 years and almost 200,000 miles ago. We will see how it goes.
     
    #12 wilsonsk, Apr 9, 2017
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