Outlander PHEV A/C Failure: Heat Sensor Issue?

Hey there! I had a very similar issue with my 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (also happened to my with a Toyota Venza). The symptoms were exactly the same, only warm air and poor cooling. Turned out the A/C control unit was completely dead and needed replacement. Took it to my regular workshop, and they diagnosed it quickly. Repair cost me about 980€, including parts and labor. Not cheap, but it fixed the issue completely. Before jumping to conclusions though, could you share: Any warning lights on the dash? Does the A/C fan work at all speeds? When did you last have the A/C serviced? With those details, I might be able to help you figure out if you're facing the same issue I had.

Thanks for your input! My mileage is at 135,949 KM and I had my last service about 3 months ago. No warning lights on the dash, and the fan works fine at all speeds. The cooling just suddenly stopped working properly last week. Mine sounds pretty similar to what you experienced, but I'm hoping it might just be low refrigerant or something simpler than a full control unit replacement. I'm pretty worried about the repair costs since it's my daily driver. Has anyone else run into something like this with the newer Outlander PHEVs?

Hey again! Thanks for the additional details. Yeah, I totally get your concern about the costs, I was in the same boat with my RAV4 last year. You know what? After hearing about your mileage and service history, I'm actually thinking this might be different from what I experienced. With my RAV4, the A/C died completely out of nowhere at around 89,000 KM, but I hadn't had it serviced for nearly a year when it happened. In your case, since you've had recent service and the fan's working perfectly, it could definitely be something simpler like low refrigerant, just as you mentioned. Quick tip from my experience, before you go for any major repairs, have them check the refrigerant levels. When my RAV4 had its control unit replaced, the mechanic actually told me they see a lot of cases where people assume the worst, but it turns out to be just low refrigerant. Would've saved me some serious cash if I'd checked that first! Maybe try getting a refrigerant pressure test done? It's usually pretty cheap and could save you from unnecessary repairs. Let us know what you find out, I'm curious to see if it's something simple this time!

Thanks so much for the detailed advice! You're right, I should definitely get the refrigerant levels checked first before jumping to any expensive conclusions. I just called my local mechanic and they can do a pressure test tomorrow morning. It'll only cost me $75, which is way better than potentially spending nearly $1000 on a control unit I might not even need! I'll update the thread once I find out what's actually causing the problem. Really appreciate you sharing your experience and helping me avoid potentially unnecessary repairs. Fingers crossed it's just the refrigerant!