air condtioner has stopped working prius 2001
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How long has it been since you've used the A/C? Only things I can think of is either the coolant has leaked away or the coolant pump needs to be replaced...Please note that I am neither an A/C nor auto expert...av_in_bc said:
By coolant, I presume you meant refrigerant. Coolant would provide cabin heat.
Be sure you have the cabin temp low enough. If the car is a 2004-2006 (you didn't specify your model year), ICE does not need to be running to supply AC as the compressor is electric similar to the MGs.
Also with 2004-2006, the AC button being indicated on does not mean the compressor is actually running, but rather the compressor is enabled, and will run as needed at the appropriate speed for the conditions and desired temp presented to the ECU.
Be sure you have the cabin temp low enough. If the car is a 2004-2006 (you didn't specify your model year), ICE does not need to be running to supply AC as the compressor is electric similar to the MGs.
Also with 2004-2006, the AC button being indicated on does not mean the compressor is actually running, but rather the compressor is enabled, and will run as needed at the appropriate speed for the conditions and desired temp presented to the ECU.
With a Classic Prius, the use of the AC compressor is available if the front windshield position is chosen (AC light does not come on), or if you press the AC button (light comes on). AC compressor is run off of the gasoline engine, so for the compressor to run the engine will come on. Best way to get the engine on is to use the MAX AC button, but the amount of cooling will depend on the temperature setting (relative to the cabin temperature). If you have turned the temperature way down below actual temperature and you still do not have cooling, you may have a refridgerant leak, and may need to get it recharged and patched. (Second case I've heard of if that's the case - the first was a 2004 over on the Prius-UK yahoogroup...)
sorry about thatDanMan32 said:
it also says 2001 prius I in my signature
anyway
i guess this something i will not be able to
fix myself
so off to toyota i go again
i'm guessing 700$
if i'm lucky (yes pessimistic)
please look for my next thread
"headlights have never worked on my 2001 prius"
[/quote]So tiny![/quote]
tiny but it works
so i guess that since there is more air
coming through with the ac on than with just the fan
but no cold air
that means the compressor is working
i hope that's good news
i just had a lot of body work done on the car
which included a front bumper
i wonder if something could have happened then
tiny but it works
so i guess that since there is more air
coming through with the ac on than with just the fan
but no cold air
that means the compressor is working
i hope that's good news
i just had a lot of body work done on the car
which included a front bumper
i wonder if something could have happened then
well,just got the car back
"recharge system. unable to locate leak"
that's $115.00
the ac is currently working
they did find the radiator was leaking
that's $900.00
i'm thinking of living with that one for a while
there is a little coolant residue on both upper corners
and no leaks under the car (parking spot is clean)
i'll keep an eye on the coolant levels
problem is, they need to remove the radiator to
further diagnose the possible ac leak
so if does, i'll most likely have to
replace the rad at same time (maybe get a wreckers rad)
i like to keep the car in top shape but
i spent $1800.00 on body repairs last month
so the timing is poor
"recharge system. unable to locate leak"
that's $115.00
the ac is currently working
they did find the radiator was leaking
that's $900.00
i'm thinking of living with that one for a while
there is a little coolant residue on both upper corners
and no leaks under the car (parking spot is clean)
i'll keep an eye on the coolant levels
problem is, they need to remove the radiator to
further diagnose the possible ac leak
so if does, i'll most likely have to
replace the rad at same time (maybe get a wreckers rad)
i like to keep the car in top shape but
i spent $1800.00 on body repairs last month
so the timing is poor
you would think so!mrv said:
but i'm quite sure that nothing would come of it
and they did a great job on the car for relatively little money
so i want to stay on good terms with them
i will ask though
so according to the toyota mechanic
the prius aluminum radiator can not be repaired?
is this true
and what are the dangers in not repairing or replacing it
if i maintain coolant levels (as long as the leak is very slow)
Satanic Mechanic
On the first generation Prius the radiator and a/c condenser are a single unit and cannot be replaced separately.They should have mentioned that since the a/c will need to be recharged again when the radiator is replaced.You did not mention if they did a cooling system pressure test or if it was just a visual inspection.If you are adding coolant to refill that is verification of a leak but a visual inspection is not good enough in my opinion.
If you are losing coolant it could be a head gasket leak which would cause higher coolant temperature readings which a scanner would pick up and coolant can be detected by an exhaust gas analyser.Coolant moisture in the exhaust can damage your catalytic converter so your shop needs to stop resting on their shovels and let their coffee get cold.
An independent radiator shop can replace the unit if you need to save money.I had a timing belt replaced at a Honda dealership and they refilled the cooling system with an alcohol based coolant instead of glycol based to save themselves $5.
It is helpful to know the a/c pressure readings to see if the system just got a little low or completely empty.If there is no pressure the compressor is shut off by a switch to protect the compressor.You can get an instant read thermometer and put it in the vent it should read 40F.
The high side pressure is calculated by taking ambient temperature say 80F and multiplying by 2.5 and substituting temperature with pressure to get 200psi,the low side is around 40psi.I have a Honda that requires 12oz of freon a year and they cannot find the leak with a detector.My Honda was retrofitted to R134a and reads 38F with original hardware,pressure is at 220/38.When thermometer reads near 50F I know it is time to check pressure so cheap little thermometer is warning that attention is necessary.
On the first generation Prius the radiator and a/c condenser are a single unit and cannot be replaced separately.They should have mentioned that since the a/c will need to be recharged again when the radiator is replaced.You did not mention if they did a cooling system pressure test or if it was just a visual inspection.If you are adding coolant to refill that is verification of a leak but a visual inspection is not good enough in my opinion.
If you are losing coolant it could be a head gasket leak which would cause higher coolant temperature readings which a scanner would pick up and coolant can be detected by an exhaust gas analyser.Coolant moisture in the exhaust can damage your catalytic converter so your shop needs to stop resting on their shovels and let their coffee get cold.
An independent radiator shop can replace the unit if you need to save money.I had a timing belt replaced at a Honda dealership and they refilled the cooling system with an alcohol based coolant instead of glycol based to save themselves $5.
It is helpful to know the a/c pressure readings to see if the system just got a little low or completely empty.If there is no pressure the compressor is shut off by a switch to protect the compressor.You can get an instant read thermometer and put it in the vent it should read 40F.
The high side pressure is calculated by taking ambient temperature say 80F and multiplying by 2.5 and substituting temperature with pressure to get 200psi,the low side is around 40psi.I have a Honda that requires 12oz of freon a year and they cannot find the leak with a detector.My Honda was retrofitted to R134a and reads 38F with original hardware,pressure is at 220/38.When thermometer reads near 50F I know it is time to check pressure so cheap little thermometer is warning that attention is necessary.
The evaporator temp is dependent on intake air temp and speed of air flow. However, if the air conditioning capacity to remove heat is very high, then the low temp limit may maintain the evaporator temp at 40 degrees, cycling the compressor on and off as the temp falls below 40F and then climbs higher when turned off.
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