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My 2004 Hybrid has about 150K miles on it. I hit a deer in 2010 (front ds)and both computers were replaced at that time. After driving for 10 - 15 minutes, the temperature will often cut out (cold air when I want heat and hot air when I want AC). Sometimes it will come back if I rev the engine to about 3,000 rpms. The problem is intermittant, except that it does not happen during the first several minutes of driving. Recently, air started coming out of the center dash vents when the fan is turned off, instead of only the side vents. I took it to the dealer when the AC was blowing hot air and they could not diagnose the problem. They said the compressor was getting power so I should have it replaced. Any ideas?

 
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It seems an electrical issue. I think you should check the A/C clutch switch as well as compressor control relay. If these components fail, the cooling and heating ability of the ac/heater is definitely affected.

 
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Thanks for the reply John. This sounds like a good first thing to try and something I can do myself. Do you know if both of these parts located under the hood?

Walt

 
Rep Power: 519

There should be a water valve, operated by a cable, on one of the heater hoses in the engine compartment. Make sure the cable hasn't slipped off. If it isn't that, then it is probably electrical.

The climate control has a self-diagnostic function. Grab a service manual that covers this. You might need to wait until it acts up in order to get any results, if it is even something that is monitored by the HVAC controller. (IOW, it may not show any faults until something is wrong.) Not all areas are monitored by the HVAC unit.

The clutch relay is a known problem area. That may only make it stop cooling, but it could not make it blow heat.

You need a better dealer, or one that is more willing to put the rocket scientist on your car. Every dealer should have at least one person capable of fixing all the screw ups that the low paid rookies make. You need that guy.

I'd like to try solving that problem. It sounds like I could actually get to use my brain, for once.


HTH