semar

01 ultra, 116k miles
High pressure line to the rear showed pinholes. Tried to seal it - unsuccessful.Lexus dealer wanted over 500 for the line plus ca 9hrs labor.
Decided to cap the line at the front. Shop had some problems (had to sublet some welding) but capped the line and re-charged the system.
It lasted about 2 weeks, then the a/c blew lukewarm at best.
Back to the shop. They diagnosed a failing a/c compressor.
Ordered a new Denso compressor and kept the a/c off. After 2 weeks the part came in and an appointment was made for the coming Monday.
Yesterday, during a 80 mile trip the a/c was "accidential" activated and it works flawlessly. Blows cold now steadily (present outside temp 68F)
Back to the shop. They want to examine it and were very surprised, they were sure they made the right diagnose.
The shop is a family enterprise since the early 50s. Has a very good reputation for being honest.
Is it possible the problem is that they are not familiar with Lexus and it is/was a problem with the settings/ sensors in the car?
They assured me that they tried "everything" before releasing the car from the shop.
My opinion: if the compressor is faulty would it not be faulty all the time?

charleston

Sounds like a total nightmare.....I hate to be "that guy", but an independent Lexus or Toyota tech should have been doing the work.

Sounds like the family owned shop is used to simpler A/C systems of the 90's?

2KHarrier

My compressor on my '05 was just replaced as it had an intermittent fault that would allow it to work occasionally. One day it would be ice cold and the next it would be warm. After being replaced, it's been working like new. The car only has 48k on the odo, so here's a classic case of a part failing even at low mileage. My '01 blows ice cold with 124k and a 145 mile commute each day... Go figure

semar

Looks like the same pattern.
This morning it was inoperative, only ambient air from the outside

ancdmd

These denso compressors aren't that great. I'm on my second one and it's been failing for almost a year. Doesn't blow cold until after 10 mins from a cold start.

semar

just read on another thread from a forum member who had the same puzzling condition
One day icecold the next day just hot air.
. He installed a new pressure switch and it solved the problem.
It still required the re-pressurizing of the system