Cooling fan runs high when AC is on

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Nicholas, May 27, 2015.

  1. Nicholas

    Nicholas Junior Member

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    I had my AC charged and belt replaced after this all is done I noticed the cooling fan likes to run a bunch now - its 80's outside and the cooling fan runs all the time.

    I had a weird experience with the Prius today it's hot out I went and started it to cool down the cabin and I put the mower away - it drained the battery and the ICE started it kept cycling and cycling and cooling fan running. I got in and drove it and noticed no AC I shut down the Prius and started it again still no AC. I drove it with windows down turned off A/C with A/C auto and back on and got A/C again... the cabin fan was blowing just warm air not sure what that was about.. I've seen it cycle before but not like that.

    It's not low on coolant or anything. Weird issue what do you all think?
     
    #1 Nicholas, May 27, 2015
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    hybrid battery on the way south? how many miles on her? if you're not getting any error lights, make sure the fan intake is not blocked and it might be worth checking the fan for debris.

    perhaps your a/c pump motor is shorting and draining the battery.
     
    #2 bisco, May 27, 2015
  3. Nicholas

    Nicholas Junior Member

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    Hybrid battery charged back up just fine... no error warnings or anything.
     
    #3 Nicholas, May 27, 2015
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    see my edit ^
     
    #4 bisco, May 27, 2015
  5. Nicholas

    Nicholas Junior Member

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    173,000+ miles the AC motor I don't think is shorting it sounds fine.... just the cooling fan cycles and runs all the time. When A/C is on... I can look and see if its blocked.
     
    #5 Nicholas, May 27, 2015
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i thought you said you were only getting warm air.
     
    #6 bisco, May 27, 2015
  7. Nicholas

    Nicholas Junior Member

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    It started working after restarting the A/C and car... Any ideas?
     
    #7 Nicholas, May 27, 2015
  8. Nicholas

    Nicholas Junior Member

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    I was sitting in the parking lot waiting for someone - the EV battery went low after 5 min then the engine ran and stopped ran and stopped AC got warm. - I turned the AC off and pressed on the gas and turned it on again it started charging. I turned it back on and it was fine..
     
    #8 Nicholas, May 27, 2015
  9. DMC-5180

    DMC-5180 Active Member

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    Cooling fans are supposed to run when the A/C is on. With the Compressor running you must have air flow over the condenser for the system to work and even more so when the vehicle is not moving. The fans will always run as long as the compressor turns . I'm not sure what type of compressor the Prius uses ( fixed or variable displacement) but with fixed displacement the system cycles on and off with heat load and fans go on and off accordingly.
     
    #9 DMC-5180, May 31, 2015
  10. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Who charged the AC refrigerant?
    Was the leak that caused the need for the refrigerant charging repaired, prior to charging?

    Often, when the AC works intermittently this is because the system is freezing up at the expansion valve, then when the blockage melts the system will work again. The solution would be to make sure that whatever is leaking has been fixed. Then apply a vacuum to the system to get rid of any moisture, then recharge the system.

    You need a competent AC shop to work on the system to figure out what is the problem. The shop needs to understand the electric compressor system used by Toyota hybrids and that only the correct ND-11 compressor oil can be used.
     
    #10 Patrick Wong, May 31, 2015
  11. bisco

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    o/p, are you talking about the hvac ventilation fan, or the hybrid battery ventilation fan?
     
    #11 bisco, May 31, 2015
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yes: is this the big fans directly behind the radiator in engine bay, or the little fan in behind back seat, for hybrid battery? If the former, it's normal for those fans to be running, anytime the AC compressor is running: that's integral to the cooling process.
     
    #12 Mendel Leisk, May 31, 2015
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    or the fan behind the glove compartment?
     
    #13 bisco, May 31, 2015
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