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How I fixed my 2010 Rav4 AC for $40

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Nickco43

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
My sister's AC stopped working and the dealer wanted over $1000 to replace the entire AC compressor. It turns out the AC flow sensor goes bad on these cars, not the entire pump. eBay sells aftermarket sensors for around $40. The website won't let me post the link so just google " rav4 AC flow sensor".

You don't even have to remote the old sensor. Remove the top rad support from the car, reach in and unplug the old sensor. Then, take the new sensor plug it in and I zip tie it to the AC line. The AC is now blowing cold again.

143674
 
#2 · (Edited)
What year is the RAV4?

Just to be clear. You had enough room to get the snap ring and sensor off without taking the Radiator fan out?

That would be great if you could! Did you take any pics while doing it?

BTW. Here's the link to the Flow Sensor for
Denso TSE17C Compressor

www.ebay.com

A/C Flow Sensor for Denso TSE17C TSE14C Compressor For Scion Subaru Camry 2.5 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for A/C Flow Sensor for Denso TSE17C TSE14C Compressor For Scion Subaru Camry 2.5 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com
 
Discussion starter · #3 · (Edited)
@2011rav4 said:
What year is the RAV4?

Just to be clear. You had enough room to get the snap ring and sensor off without taking the Radiator fan out?

That would be great if you could! Did you take any pics while doing it?
Click to expand...
This is a 2010 rav4 with the inline 4. I had enough room to get the old sensor out after hours of work. I could not get the new one back in so I gave up and just plugged it in and the AC worked.

I didn't take any pictures which is a shame. It was not that difficult to get the rad support out. I believe it was four bolts. This is a family members car. I thought if I made an account and shared this maybe I could save someone a $1000 trip to the dealer.

I made a post about interior rattles and it got deleted. If anyone has any rattles clean and lubricate the rear hatch locks. Then place down felt under each door's window switch. For the dash rip out all of the trim and place down more felt. Most squeaks came from the gear selector plate so I sprayed silicone lube around the plastic bit that is snapped into it. The squeaks and rattles are greatly reduced now. I saw someone shim the rear hatch. I might try this later today.
 
#4 ·
Well done, Nick! Thank you for this. Does your sister's RAV4 have the auto A/C (Limited) or the manual? Someone else on the forum had this same problem, and measured the voltage on the sensor. Apparently the voltage was out of range so he changed the sensor and that fixed it.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
JuneBug said:
Well done, Nick! Thank you for this. Does your sister's RAV4 have the auto A/C (Limited) or the manual? Someone else on the forum had this same problem, and measured the voltage on the sensor. Apparently the voltage was out of range so he changed the sensor and that fixed it.
Click to expand...
This RAV4 is equipped with the manual climate controls. I believe I saw that thread and if it was below 3.84 volts the AC would not work. I checked with techstream for the sensor voltage.
 
#6 ·
@2011rav4 said:
What year is the RAV4?

Just to be clear. You had enough room to get the snap ring and sensor off without taking the Radiator fan out?

That would be great if you could! Did you take any pics while doing it?

BTW. Here's the link to the Flow Sensor for
Denso TSE17C Compressor

www.ebay.com

A/C Flow Sensor for Denso TSE17C TSE14C Compressor For Scion Subaru Camry 2.5 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for A/C Flow Sensor for Denso TSE17C TSE14C Compressor For Scion Subaru Camry 2.5 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.com
Click to expand...

You say it took hours to get it off. It may have been quicker just to pull out the radiator. So your flow sensor isn't even on the compressor anymore just wire tied to the pipe?
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
@2011rav4 said:
Very interesting. So it doesn't actually get a reading directly from the compressor body.

I would have thought it had to be touching the compressor to get a reading.

Thanks for the info.
Click to expand...
I am not sure what it a actually is supposed to read. Does anyone know a Toyota technician? The shop that I do BMW coding for had no idea what the purpose of the sensor. I don't know any Toyota specialty shops.
 
#10 ·


Toyota Workshop Service and Repair Manuals > RAV4 4WD L4-2.5L (2AR-FE) (2009) > Heating and Air Conditioning | Compressor HVAC | Compressor Clutch | Component Information | Technical Service Bulletins | Customer Interest: | SB0388-09 | Nov | 09 | A/C - Warm Air From Vents With A/C ON/DTC B1479 | Page 6752

RAV4 4WD L4-2.5L (2AR-FE) (2009) > Toyota Workshop Service and Repair Manuals > Heating and Air Conditioning | Compressor HVAC | Compressor Clutch | Component Information | Technical Service Bulletins | Customer Interest: | SB0388-09 | Nov | 09 | A/C - Warm Air From Vents With A/C ON/DTC B1479 |...
workshop-manuals.com
 
#11 ·
Nickco43 said:
My sister's AC stopped working and the dealer wanted over $1000 to replace the entire AC compressor. It turns out the AC flow sensor goes bad on these cars, not the entire pump. eBay sells aftermarket sensors for around $40. The website won't let me post the link so just google " rav4 AC flow sensor".

You don't even have to remote the old sensor. Remove the top rad support from the car, reach in and unplug the old sensor. Then, take the new sensor plug it in and I zip tie it to the AC line. The AC is now blowing cold again.

View attachment 143674
Click to expand...
Yup it works,did same thing a few hours ago
 
#13 ·
@2011rav4 said:
Did you remove the other flow sensor or did you just wire tie the new flow sensor to the AC line?

How long did it take you to complete it?
Click to expand...
Left old sensor in place,unhooked the wire from old sensor plugged it into new sensor,zip tied it to the metal line.Was my nephews idea to try it.It took longer to type this with 2 fingers than to install new sensor about 3 mins. 30 seconds....lol
 
#15 ·
Nickco43 said:
I am not sure what it a actually is supposed to read. Does anyone know a Toyota technician? The shop that I do BMW coding for had no idea what the purpose of the sensor. I don't know any Toyota specialty shops.
Click to expand...
The AC flow sensor converts flow rate to a voltage that’s sent to the AC amplifier which communicates digitally with the ECM. So from what i gather is the sensor really is mounted on the exhaust manifold of the compressor and it is. So mounting it on the compressor line it is still reading the flow.
 
#16 ·
Shadetree#1 said:
Left old sensor in place,unhooked the wire from old sensor plugged it into new sensor,zip tied it to the metal line.Was my nephews idea to try it.It took longer to type this with 2 fingers than to install new sensor about 3 mins. 30 seconds....lol
Click to expand...
Did you get at the sensor from the bottom or top. Just want to know how you did it for the next person who comes here with the same problem.
 
#17 · (Edited)
Shadetree#1 said:
The AC flow sensor converts flow rate to a voltage that’s sent to the AC amplifier which communicates digitally with the ECM. So from what i gather is the sensor really is mounted on the exhaust manifold of the compressor and it is. So mounting it on the compressor line it is still reading the flow.
Click to expand...


I took out the radiator fan/ radiator combo plus the condenser to get a clear shot at the sensor and replaced the Flow Sensor on the compressor.
 
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