Prius 2009 Hybrid

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Kharla Lancelle, Jul 9, 2025 at 8:27 PM.

  1. Kharla Lancelle

    Kharla Lancelle New Member

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    I got my first ever car less than two months ago. It has 163k miles as of typing this. The problem is it blows warm air on the driver's side and a little bit of cooler air on the passenger's side, so last May 18th, it was recharged (idk if I am saying things right) for Freon by the seller's "Prius guy". And now, July 9, it has the same issue. I checked the documents that was in my car and it mentioned that it has the same problem 2022 (they replaced the inverter) and 2024 (recharged).

    I'm feeling kinda stressed out because this is my first car and I don't really know what to do. And I live in AZ and right now the temperature is as high as 110°F.

    If you could share some insights about this, I would highly appreciate it!
     
    #1 Kharla Lancelle, Jul 9, 2025 at 8:27 PM
  2. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

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    It sounds like the car has a small freon leak somewhere. It could be very expensive or it could be a reasonable cost to have it fixed. Locate an auto service center that specializes in AC repair and take it there for diagnostics.
     
    #2 Brian1954, Jul 10, 2025 at 10:22 AM
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2025 at 10:36 AM
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  3. Trombone

    Trombone Active Member

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    Also check the cabin air filter (behind the glove box).
     
    #3 Trombone, Jul 10, 2025 at 11:07 AM
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  4. fragglestickcar

    fragglestickcar Member

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    I re-top off with AC PRO every couple years. Anybody can do it after watching the Chris Fix video. It's not a proper solution, but millions of car owners can't be wrong.
     
    #4 fragglestickcar, Jul 10, 2025 at 11:50 AM
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  5. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    If you're topping off every few years that's about normal if you look up the leaks that are allowed by the federal government governing bodies of that kind of nonsense . That would be about right very lil Allowed out per year. Two or three years is enough to show up on the sight glass you add and clear it up and keep getting it perfect.
     
    #5 Tombukt2, Jul 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
  6. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    If you locate the leak to the evaporator that's the part inside the car that's pretty much game over or you're doing a $3,000 job in the carport . I retire those to fall winter cars. I also haven't had to do that yet so I don't have any fall and winter only cars so maybe an outlier issue as they go. Don't know . None the 5 I've owned have had no evaporators. So far all over 330K now
     
    #6 Tombukt2, Jul 10, 2025 at 1:46 PM
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i'm sorry to hear that your first car is a 16 year old hybrid with 163k, and giving you trouble, if you cannot diy.
    if there is any possibility, before something else goes wrong, try to sell it and buy a non hybrid that most anyone can repair
     
    #7 bisco, Jul 10, 2025 at 2:20 PM
  8. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    A leaking A/C is a pretty common problem on all types of old cars, and having the leak in the evaporator is fairly common too.
     
    #8 pasadena_commut, Jul 10, 2025 at 5:52 PM
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