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New (to me) 2013 model 4, few questions

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by OC63RAG, Jul 11, 2021.

  1. OC63RAG

    OC63RAG Member

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    Hi all, we recently bought a 2013 with 150K miles and everything seems fine with the car except for the a/c. I'm not sure if it's typical for Prius' or if there is something in need of attention. I've owned multiple Toyotas and Lexus cars and I've loved them all. The engineering is amazing and I'm impressed with them every time I drive them.
    We bought the Prius in SoCal where we live and my son took it to AZ (Phoenix area) the following week. Before he left, I changed the oil, air filter and cabin filter and everything else seemed fine. The a/c seemed ok when we drove it around SoCal but not ice cold by any means. The weather on the way to, and in, AZ has been 100+ every day and as high as 117. My son said there are times when he's literally sweating in the car with the a/c on because it just does not blow cold air.
    My son had been driving the car in Eco mode with the a/c set to "Lo" and the recirculate option on with the fan set to full speed. After seeing some forum threads on here, I suggested he try setting it to 78 and take off Eco mode and reduce the fan to medium speed. This seemed to help a bit but it's still not blowing "cold" air.
    I've done a lot of searches on here and I can't find a definitive guide on troubleshooting the a/c system. What would you all suggest? Are there things we can check ourselves or would it be best to bring it in to someone who understands the Prius better than us?
    I'm not a fan of dealers based on past experiences. If anyone has an honest, reliable service person in the Phoenix AZ area (Mesa, specifically) I'd really appreciate a recommendation.
    This is our first Prius and first hybrid so we're trying to figure out the quirks and differences from regular cars.
    Thanks for any help. This site has been super helpful and a great reference.
     
    #1 OC63RAG, Jul 11, 2021
  2. OC63RAG

    OC63RAG Member

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    Quick note: I've recharged the a/c system in other cars myself with the basic auto parts recharge options. It sounds like the Prius is different and more sensitive to how this is done so I'm hesitant to try this option.
     
    #2 OC63RAG, Jul 11, 2021
  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Do not expect cold air when you set the temperature to 78. Set it as low as you can and take it off eco mode. You are dealing with 115 degree heat in Phoenix, you need the coldest temperature settings and near high fan settings for that car to remain cool
     
    #3 JC91006, Jul 11, 2021
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  4. ColoradoBoo

    ColoradoBoo Senior Member

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    Yep, nobody with a Prius will be bragging about freezing cold A/C but we don't have the typical A/C system. At 117, I don't think ANY car will be able to stay very cool!
    I work on cars and the Prius A/C is something I'm not willing to touch...you could have a Toyota dealer take a look at it, might be worth the expense to get it fixed right the first time. (Toyota technicians take pride in "fixing it right the first time")
     
    #4 ColoradoBoo, Jul 11, 2021
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  5. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    fix the bad flywheel before worry about the ac.
     
    #5 Grit, Jul 11, 2021
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    #6 bisco, Jul 11, 2021
  7. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    mine is freezing cold on power mode :rolleyes:
     
    #7 Grit, Jul 11, 2021
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    A couple of years back out AC was getting so-so. Gave the dealership service department $150~ and now it’s nice and cold.
     
    #8 Mendel Leisk, Jul 11, 2021
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  9. OC63RAG

    OC63RAG Member

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    Did it just need a recharge?
     
    #9 OC63RAG, Jul 11, 2021
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yes, apparently. The service was described something like “evacuate, test and recharge”.
     
    #10 Mendel Leisk, Jul 12, 2021
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  11. tony_2018

    tony_2018 Member

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    Get a thermostat and stick it in the vents to get an accurate reading of how cold the ac is blowing. Take a pic.
     
    #11 tony_2018, Jul 15, 2021
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  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Think there’s some specs on how cold it should be blowing, in the attachments.
     

    Attached Files:

    #12 Mendel Leisk, Jul 15, 2021
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  13. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    you can’t turn on the ac unit by placing a thermostat on the vent. The thermostat has to be electronically wired to the ac system and used to turn the ac on, if that is possible.
     
    #13 Grit, Jul 15, 2021
  14. tony_2018

    tony_2018 Member

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    My bad, I meant a thermometer. LOL. I was adjusting the ac in my house at the time.
     
    #14 tony_2018, Jul 15, 2021
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  15. Valiant V

    Valiant V Member

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    I knew what you meant the first time... :p
     
    #15 Valiant V, Jul 15, 2021
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