1. calvinthedasher

    calvinthedasher New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2024
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    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Hello All,

    I’m a dasher in the Phoenix area and my dear Prius can’t stay cool. As long as the temperature is 106 degrees and below it’s fine. But once above that point, all I get is hot air.

    Here’s what I’ve done so far in order:
    Swapped out blower motor (original one died)
    Had a local shop recharge the freon with stop leak
    Changed out all fuses and relays related to AC for brand new ones
    Replaced inverter coolant water pump


    My buddy that works on it from time to time still thinks it may below on refrigerant but when the AC works , it’s ice cold. Once it gets to the stopping point temperature wise, I have to turn the car off for a few minutes and pray that the ac works when I turn it back on.

    Any ideas of what could be going on? Please help.

    Thank you in advance
     
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    When you say stop you stop you mean not air is coming out vents or no blower at all . Wen this is happening is the silver hose marked L cold and compressor whining???
     
  3. calvinthedasher

    calvinthedasher New Member

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    Sep 26, 2024
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    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Thanks for responding. when I say it stops, the air still blows but it just suddenly gets hot. i don’t hear any whining at all. I’ll check the hose next time it happens and see if it’s cold.
     
  4. Hayslayer

    Hayslayer Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    It could be (and is very likely) something as simple as the inverter coolant loop getting too warm at those elevated ambient temperatures. When the inverter cooling loop gets too warm, one of the first things the Gen 2 does is stop the AC to remove electrical load from the inverter in an attempt to get coolant temperature to lower, but gives no codes. (The AC compressor is electric and is supplied power by the inverter) Try to find a way to monitor that coolant temp and see what it's doing real time. Make absolute certain the radiator isn't fouled. The engine coolant loop and Inverter coolant loop share the radiator, but are completely separate systems. If the radiator is fouled, it can be preventing adequate airflow/cooling at those high air temperatures.

    If that's all good, maybe you can experiment and find a way to provide additional cooling to the IC loop? Install a small aux fan/radiator/heat exchanger in the flow path?

    Many people have spent thousands of $$ troubleshooting the AC system intermittent operation when the actual "problem" was in the inverter cooling loop.
     
    #4 Hayslayer, Jul 22, 2025 at 11:01 PM
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2025 at 11:10 PM
  5. calvinthedasher

    calvinthedasher New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2024
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    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    i just plugged in my obd device and when the ac starts blowing hot, the coolant temperature is spiking up to 212-219 degrees.
     
  6. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    And when that AC starts blowing hot if you get out of car whip up hood car still running that fat metal silver pipe with L grey cap on it is coooold or not ????? You hear the compressor running and whining while you're putting your hand on that L marked pipe? Something. So then when you get to this pre-specified temperature the compressors cutting out ? So it could not possibly make cold . ? Then I might be looking at inverter cooling loop . Which I imagine if my ice temperature water is in the 200 range my inverter loop is close to that temp also . I might need to get that inverter loop cooler . As that can cut The AC system . I'm not sure ice radiator can force that cut.
     
  7. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
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    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
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    Base
    I'm working on a RAV4 with similar issues it has to do with the blend door from blue to red . So in this instance since the panel not in stock in took heater hoses off firewall and joined now nothing hot in interior of car. At least now wen I put AC on it's actually on and coming out like heat but coming . Panel here in a few days. I should do this to mine . That heater core in cabin at 180 degrees can't be good.