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A/C Recharge at Local Garage?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by ajayre, Aug 15, 2014.

  1. ajayre

    ajayre Junior Member

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    Last time I had the A/C recharged I took it to the Toyota dealer. They told me that they had to use a special machine so that my car and/or their machine wasn't contaminated, because the Prius has special non-conductive oils/fluids in use.

    OK, fine, the A/C recharge wasn't expensive so I didn't really care too much.

    But now I live 1.5 hours round trip from the dealer and I want to get the A/C looked at.

    Can I get the A/C examined/serviced at the local garage (Bosch - seems competent), or was the dealer right and I should take it back there?

    Thanks, Andy
     
    #1 ajayre, Aug 15, 2014
  2. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    If you are confident that the local garage fully understands the Prius AC has an electric compressor and has the correct non-conductive oil. If not, the inexpensive recharge will get expensive if the electric compressor is damaged.
     
    #2 jdcollins5, Aug 15, 2014
  3. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    Andy,

    The Toyota dealer is correct. Toyota uses a special "ND-11" oil. A separate set of gauges and hoses and that NEVER has been with other R-134a oils is set aside to be used only with Prius AC service.

    If your local AC shop understands this and has set aside a separate set of equipment, then you are fine. Then again, I might NOT trust the shop, as they may be lying just to get your business.

    The damage from contaminating they system with other oils might NOT show up for years, if even at all. But, if it does, the offending party would likely NEVER admit it, or the statute of limitation for liability has long past.
     
    #3 Mike500, Aug 15, 2014
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    How often is this happening, and is it due to a lack of cooling, or?

    AFAIK, you should never need to recharge an AC system. If periodic recharge is needed, there's a leak in the system that should be addressed.
     
    #4 Mendel Leisk, Aug 15, 2014
  5. Easy Rider 2

    Easy Rider 2 Senior Member

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    What he said. ^^^^
     
    #5 Easy Rider 2, Aug 15, 2014
  6. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    Leaks are bad! Let the dealer fix it properly!
     
    #6 KK6PD, Aug 15, 2014
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