Climate control

[Geordie 1]

The AC on my 2008 Prius works OK for  45mins  to 1 hr ,then it still blows but air not  cold.  2  years ago it had a bump damaging off side wing ,and the AC stop working and needed a re pressure ( ? )

Any ideas ?

[FROSTYBALLS]

Moved to the Prius club.

[kithmo]

Sounds like it needs topping up again, maybe have it checked for leaks first.

[Geordie 1]

Thanks for the info.  I.ll try what you say .  The car has done 99000 miles and no problems .so I,ve no complaints !

[wass]

refirgerant doesnt wear out , it leaks out. The refrigerant used in the prius is a compound of various chemicals/gases and one of those gases has a very small molecular size and so it can escape very unobtrusively even more slowly than helium escaping from a chlids balloon. Finding the leak is going to be a very difficult job so its catch22. The law says that a fridge technician can not add refrigerant to a system which is known to leak.  So the technician must subject the system to a lengthy leak test ( which because the leaks are so tiny shows up nothing because the nitrogen molecules used to carry out the leak test are bigger than the refrigerant molecules which are leaking out). Normally in this sort of instance, the refrigeration technician claims to have found and cured a leak and then fires a load of new refrigerant into the system whilst warning you that if the system is old enough to have started to leak once , it can start to leak again, thus covering his tracks for if either MR F gas regulations checks up on him or Mr watchdog UK starts on his case for not really fixing anything but also breaking the law.

 The truth lies somewhere in there.

Chances are, the first leak signals a succession of cooling system failures. If you really like the car, start to enjoy it without an air conditioner; its the responsible thing to do.. If you aren't very honest have it "leak tested" , "repaired", "topped up" and sell it. If you are really sneaky, wait till there's a frost and sell it.buyer beware.

[Geordie 1]

Thanks for the info .It sounds like a repair could be expensive. But then it will be the only repair I  have had to do in 8 years.

[kithmo]

IIRC there was a dye they could put in that would show the leaks under UV light, although I'm not sure this can still be used with the new regulations.

[Geordie 1]

Thanks for the info. I,ll  see if the garage can do that .

[StormGrey]

Yes a uv flourescing dye can be added after system us regassed then using uv light  leaks can be seen. My 2019 Prius was just done in June 2018

[FROSTYBALLS]

1 minute ago, StormGrey said:

My 2019 Prius was just done in June 2018

2010?

[StormGrey]

Yes should have said 2010 my fat fingers

[kithmo]

On 7/2/2018 at 9:39 PM, kithmo said:

IIRC there was a dye they could put in that would show the leaks under UV light, although I'm not sure this can still be used with the new regulations.

Apparently due to the fact they can't leak the refrigerant out into the atmosphere, they fill the system with Nitrogen and fluorescent dye to find the leaks. 

 

[Catlover]

When wecoolanycar.com recharged my Prius couple weeks ago, the largish machine in the back of his van was pretty much automatic. Within 30 seconds the machine was connection, sucking out the old, then the noise changed, and he said "the test shows no leaks" and he done nothing, it was all automatic, then it was filled up with fresh charge. All done in less then 20 minutes. The leak test is part of the fixed fee (fixing problems is extra). 

[Geordie 1]

This could be worth a try as i have recently moved to Warrington. Thanks for your posting 

[StormGrey]

On 7/2/2018 at 9:39 PM, kithmo said:

IIRC there was a dye they could put in that would show the leaks under UV light, although I'm not sure this can still be used with the new regulations.

 

3 hours ago, Catlover said:

When wecoolanycar.com recharged my Prius couple weeks ago, the largish machine in the back of his van was pretty much automatic. Within 30 seconds the machine was connection, sucking out the old, then the noise changed, and he said "the test shows no leaks" and he done nothing, it was all automatic, then it was filled up with fresh charge. All done in less then 20 minutes. The leak test is part of the fixed fee (fixing problems is extra). 

I believe his leak test is to test whether the system holds a vacuum. But a couple of minutes where there is no discernable change in the vacuum pressure isnt proof that there is no leak at all just that there are no major leaks. My Toyota garage tested my Prius a/c last year and said there were no leaks and they just regassed it, 11 months on a/c gas is low because it has leaked out through a faulty condenser. My a/c specialist fitted a new condenser, regassed the sysytem and added special hybrid oil and lastly added a green flourescent dye so in future any leaks will show up much more readily.

[kithmo]

Yes I forgot to say, the dye is for finding the leaks if the pressure test on the machine has indicated that there is a leak. 

[StormGrey]

My a/c specialist put dye in after fixing my system so if i have any leaks in the future it will be easier (for him) to find them using his uv light and goggles i think.

[QuantumFireball]

15 hours ago, StormGrey said:

I believe his leak test is to test whether the system holds a vacuum. But a couple of minutes where there is no discernable change in the vacuum pressure isnt proof that there is no leak at all just that there are no major leaks. My Toyota garage tested my Prius a/c last year and said there were no leaks and they just regassed it, 11 months on a/c gas is low because it has leaked out through a faulty condenser. My a/c specialist fitted a new condenser, regassed the sysytem and added special hybrid oil and lastly added a green flourescent dye so in future any leaks will show up much more readily.

I've also just got mine regassed at a Toyota dealer, and they said they found no leaks - but that doesn't explain why it was low on gas. I guess I'll be going back in a few months too...

[Geordie 1]

Thanks for your posting. What confuses me is that the air con slowly produces less cold air ,but recovers after standing over night.

[QuantumFireball]

It's still quite cool at night time and the morning. Before I got mine fixed, I was finding the aircon was functional at around 8-9 am but after a few hours in the sun it was useless again.

[Geordie 1]

I,ve had a suggestion  to change the pollen filter .There will have been a lot of pollen this summer.