URGENT - A/C won't power on - ideas?

[larrysing63]

Greetings.

My compressor had a bearings problem, bought a spare engine to get a replacement.
Yesterday, before the replacement was installed, my A/C unit just died on me while running. Powered off.

The mechanic has the car now, put the new compressor on there. But the A/C still will not power on.

I expected the power failure was related to the compressor issue.
But now with the compressor replaced and functional, it still won't power on.

Assuming it is not a fuse (he's checking) - anyone have any ideas? What could cause it to die like that?
What can we check? Thanks much.

[ianseyer]

I don't mean this to be condescending - I have driven around for tens of minutes (in hot texas heat) thinking my AC had failed.

Push all the buttons - of them turns the AC on or off entirely.

[larrysing63]

Thanks, yeah, we know the button that turns the system on. It does not turn it on.

Something in the system is preventing the control panel from turning on.

We've seen something about the "ambient temperature sensor" being a problem that causes this, so we are looking at this now.

[pugwonk]

That's actually a pretty good idea I think - I'm not 100% sure about the Century but in other cars I've had the AC button just does nothing at all when the temperature is too low. I believe some of them also have temperature sensors to detect ice on the condensor?

[larrysing63]

Turns out it was a fuse. They suspected a short in the wiring in the compressor, but I told them the compressor had just been replaced.

Cost me $700 to get the compressor installed and the A/C unit fixed total. Not awful!

All better! WHEW!

[pugwonk]

Glad to hear it! Does this mean the compressor might not have been broken after all or do we not mention that idea?

[larrysing63]

Well, I had replaced the compressor before because it was broken due to bad bearings. So the "replacement" compressor is fine. The A/C is blowing ice cold now, like all Toyotas do!