2000 Toyota Avalon A/C system won't start...

2000 TOYOTA AVALON
AUTOMATIC
Avatar
NASCENT
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Car was recently purchased (used, not from dealer) and seems to be working fine overall. However, went to go try the A/C this morning and despite having literally *just* refilled it five minutes before I get no cold air. Blower works, compressor can be heard kicking on, but two seconds after pressing the A/C button it's light begins flashing and all I get is warm air, not a hint of cold.

I'm a first-time car owner and I'm not sure if I'm just missing something painfully obvious here, but for the life of me I can't figure it out. Please help, if possible -- thanks in advance to anyone who can!
May 26, 2014 at 1:42 AM
Advertisement
Avatar
WRENCHTECH
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 20,760 POSTS
You certainly should not be arbitrarily adding refrigerant to a system without knowing exactly how much is already in the system. Unless you own a charging station, it's not even possible without the compressor engaging. The reason that light is flashing is because the control module has sensed a problem in the compressor circuit and shut it down. This really needs to be checked by an AC expert. This is one of the harder systems to diagnose the electrical circuit because of the modules.
May 26, 2014 at 2:11 AM
Add a reply
Join 2CarPros for free, one of the most advanced car repair communities on the internet. From first-time drivers to seasoned mechanics, everyone is welcome to reply, share details, and get better answers. You can add a temporary image or video first; uploads are limited to 20 MB.

Ask a new question

Frequently Asked Problems for This Vehicle