2016 Prius AC issues?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by BLITZ XW50, Aug 23, 2017.

Tags:
  1. BLITZ XW50

    BLITZ XW50 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2016
    91
    81
    1
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    2016 Prius three.

    I don't know if i'm the only with this issue so far but for the past couple days my AC has been working on and off. Not regulating temperature.
    Let me explain:
    Inside I usually have it set to 72-74 to keep it modest and it'll blow cold but lately nothing but hot air no matter if it's on Normal or ECO, circulating or recirculating air. The only time it would start to get a little cold when at a stop waiting for a light or parked and idle. As soon as I'm back in motion the air heats up again as if I had the heater on.

    Car is currently dropped off with Toyota to check out the problem and I was wondering if anyone else has had this or something similar happen to them.
     
    #1 BLITZ XW50, Aug 23, 2017
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    102,735
    46,602
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    is it under warranty?
     
    #2 bisco, Aug 23, 2017
  3. BLITZ XW50

    BLITZ XW50 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2016
    91
    81
    1
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Waiting for the phone call from the dealership but I would assume it be covered under warranty especially with a meager 15,500 miles on the car. Will update more after i get info from their service department
     
    #3 BLITZ XW50, Aug 23, 2017
  4. Just.Drive.It.

    Just.Drive.It. New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2017
    27
    25
    0
    Location:
    Here, There, Everywhere. Driving my Prius!
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    72-74? I would bake! You have the heater on! Try turning it down to 65 or Lo.

    And just drive it.
     
    #4 Just.Drive.It., Aug 23, 2017
    kithmo and RCO like this.
  5. Sooner Al

    Sooner Al Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2016
    385
    340
    0
    Location:
    Oklahoma, USA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    LOL...I run the A/C in the car at 77 Deg F and that's too cold at times for my wife and I...:)
     
    #5 Sooner Al, Aug 23, 2017
    pilotgrrl and RCO like this.
  6. BLITZ XW50

    BLITZ XW50 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2016
    91
    81
    1
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    When it's 85-100 degrees outside the 72-74 is a moderate temperature. :LOL:

    But as for an update: I picked up the car from the dealership yesterday seemed like the only thing wrong with the AC that they could tell me was that the freon was low and needed to be charged. Leak test and pressure test done with nothing else to be found.
     
    #6 BLITZ XW50, Aug 24, 2017
    RCO and Prodigyplace like this.
  7. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2016
    2,036
    1,018
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    The refrigerant doesn't just disappear as if by magic.

    I strongly suggest that you take it in AGAIN in 6 weeks or so and have it checked again......assuming that it lasts that long.

    And KEEP copies of your service tickets in a safe place........so you can document this when/if it finally fails completely AFTER your warranty expires.
     
    #7 Sam Spade, Aug 24, 2017
    RCO likes this.
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Patron saint of newly poured sidewalks

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    51,180
    36,311
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Yeah ignore this guy.

    That seems fishy. It was working fine, then its low, so soon? I wouldn't be surprised if it drops pressure again.
     
    #8 Mendel Leisk, Aug 24, 2017
    lech auto air conditionin, RCO and Prodigyplace like this.
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    102,735
    46,602
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    agreed. should get how many years in a good system? i'm over 5, does usage affect length of time?
     
    #9 bisco, Aug 24, 2017
  10. BLITZ XW50

    BLITZ XW50 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2016
    91
    81
    1
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Will definitely be keeping tabs on the AC system and making sure it stays in working order (especially during the warm weather). Thanks for the heads up and for sure I always keep records of everything for the car.
     
    #10 BLITZ XW50, Aug 24, 2017
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  11. BLITZ XW50

    BLITZ XW50 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2016
    91
    81
    1
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I wondered the same thing. Does maybe sitting in the car idle for 30-40min 3-5 days a week for lunch or any other reason you would sit in an idle car with AC running make the "low freon happen? Kind of weird.
     
    #11 BLITZ XW50, Aug 24, 2017
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    102,735
    46,602
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    a lot of people live in hot area's, so i doubt that's the problem. will be interesting to see how she holds up.
     
    #12 bisco, Aug 24, 2017
    BLITZ XW50 and Mendel Leisk like this.
  13. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2016
    3,709
    5,179
    0
    Location:
    Cornwall
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    My wife's AC in her non-Prius car suffered the same problem. The dealer found the Freon level low and topped it up. That was over a year ago and it's still going strong, so if it happens again they need to check the HVAC for leaks.

    Here's hoping all's well since the top up.
     
    #13 RCO, Aug 25, 2017
    BLITZ XW50 likes this.
  14. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2016
    2,036
    1,018
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    NO.
    The odds are VERY high that there is a leak and the problem will be back regardless of what you do.......or don't do.
     
    #14 Sam Spade, Aug 25, 2017
    pilotgrrl likes this.
  15. Ohid

    Ohid Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2019
    157
    15
    4
    Location:
    Dhaka, Bangladesh
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius Alpha
    Model:
    N/A
    My AC ran at 80 F all time.
     
    #15 Ohid, Jul 21, 2020
  16. lech auto air conditionin

    lech auto air conditionin Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2011
    797
    571
    258
    Location:
    san francisco
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    I would get a good strong flash light and look through the bumper grill. You will be looking for light dark circles ( oil spots ). I have some photos in my photo album you can visit that and see what to look for. Don't let Toyota dealer off that easy. They just get you out of warranty with a cheap quick refrigerant recharge. The when you are out of warranty you will have to buy a condenser and recharge refrigerant at FULL PRICE $$$.

    On the work order did it say they added UV trace dye ?. If so you can buy a UV LED light maybe you can find the leak.
     
    #16 lech auto air conditionin, Aug 7, 2020
  17. Media_Tech

    Media_Tech Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2020
    8
    1
    0
    Location:
    inside the Beltway
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Owners manuals for cars with conventional belt-driven compressors sometimes suggest that compressors should be run for a few minutes every month year 'round to help maintain the compressors' seals with the intention of avoiding refrigerant loss. I have no idea if such advice would be pertinent for an electrically-driven Prius (or in my case a US Corolla Hybrid) compressor.
     
    #17 Media_Tech, Aug 7, 2020
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Patron saint of newly poured sidewalks

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    51,180
    36,311
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I've heard that too. True or not, seems sage advice for keeping on top of your AC's condition.
     
    #18 Mendel Leisk, Aug 8, 2020
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Loading...
Similar Threads - Prius issues
  1. MamaJam

    New Member: 2019 Prius Fueling Issue

    MamaJam, May 4, 2022, in forum: Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting
    Replies:
    9
    Views:
    2,556
    MamaJam
    May 14, 2022
  2. John Wise

    Hello everyone I have a 2017 prius and my a/c is blowing hot when driving down the road and when

    John Wise, Feb 15, 2022, in forum: Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting
    Replies:
    6
    Views:
    1,380
    Terry Trump
    Feb 28, 2023
  3. Halcykon

    Prius Display system issues

    Halcykon, Jan 31, 2022, in forum: Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting
    Replies:
    6
    Views:
    1,073
    sclevine
    Feb 2, 2022
  4. safetywest

    Dashboard Lit Up and Key Won’t Unlock

    safetywest, Aug 17, 2021, in forum: Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting
    Replies:
    5
    Views:
    969
    PtPri
    Aug 18, 2021
  5. jocose

    2016 Prius Cruise Control Issue

    jocose, Aug 2, 2021, in forum: Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting
    Replies:
    8
    Views:
    3,194
    jerrymildred
    Aug 7, 2021