I'm new here and i'm not very car savvy. So please bear with me. I need some help. I have an 06 prius that i've had for almost 2 years now. The A/C and heat became tempermental about a year ago. I had no big issues with it so i didn't think much about it. Sometimes it just plain doesn't work. I'm kind of in a bind right now and have no idea what to do. I'm on vacation with a baby so the A/C is desperately needed right now and go figure the last couple of days its decided to not work again. I've heard of this Generation having A/C issues. I don't even know where to start. Should I just take it in? I figured i would ask everyone on here that has one and knows this car. Anything you can tell me in the simplest terms possible would be great. TIA!
when my '06 was 2 yrs old (during 2008) i didnt like the sound coming from the front end when my AC was running. so i took it into the "stealership" and replaced the compressor for free (under warranty). at the time...it would have been a $1200 repair had i not had the warranty. i've had no further issues since. that is, runs good today.
Check that the fans work when the AC is on. If they both are turning, you might be low on freon. You can pick up an inexpensive recharge kit with a pressure gauge for about $20. don't puncture the can, just put it on and connect the hose to read the pressure with the AC on. The scale shows you were normal operation is. You may need freon. They should come with instructions. Do not get freon with oil in it. Keep this charge kit only for use on the Prius. Oil from a non hybrid will severly damage the AC.
isn't this still a warranty issue? or does a/c fall under that much shorter plan?... i thought everything was basically 3 year 36k miles and hybrid components were longer... like 5 year 100k.. (10year 150k for certain states like california)
just to make sure we are all on the same page, you do use auto? many have this theory that you have to set certain things by hand. all you really need to do is set the temp and leave it on auto. if you are uncertain if you are in fully auto mode, just cycle the auto button till everything turns off then back on. in the genII it's on the wheel, i think same for GenIII. (i did several early on in depth tests at prius connect events... the only thing that really doesn't work the same is the nav override codes... but that's another topic) (not to say you don't know how to use it... just making sure we are all on the same page... ) i still say it should be a warranty issue. you didn't bring it up a year ago to a dealer? (any.. or multiple if you wish) if it's not under warranty, vertex gave some good advice about the freon. (post are poping up about this) i agree marcus... for that matter, change them all
