Blinking A/C light, 02 ES300

Ray will probably have more authoritative information, but one of the commonest causes of poor cooling is low refrigerant level, much cheaper to rectify than a new compressor.

The only question I see in your post is if anyone has ever seen the blinking AC light - I have.

Answering the unasked question of why the light is blinking and how to make it stop blinking...

The light is blinking because the AC system has detected a difference between the engine speed and the AC compressor speed. As a safeguard, the system de-energizes the AC compressor to prevent damage to the system. Differences between the AC compressor speed and engine speed can happen if the AC compressor drive belt is slipping, or if there is something wrong internally with the compressor. The belt can slip if it has been in service for a long time, like over 60,000 miles, or when driving through a deep puddle.

Turning the AC compressor off and back on should re-cycle the system. If it does not, then the problem still exists; the belt is still slipping, there is a problem with the AC compressor speed sensor, there is a problem with the compressor, or there is a problem with the AC amplifier.

Can't help you, but when I run through a big puddle in my 05 RX330, the AC light blinks and I have no AC.

The belt can slip if it has been in service

Thanks Ray. I haven't gone thru any puddles but the car has about 77k, and the belt is the original. I tried shutting system off & on, but still light blinks and no AC. I'll have to check/replace belt, I suppose, and hope it's not the compressor.

Thanks guys.

Hopefully, it's just the belt.

If a new belt does not solve the problem, check the AC compressor speed sensor for a 2002 V6 Camry at

Yes, one, if not the most common cause of poor cooling is low refrigerant level, but the blinking light indicates that the AC compressor is not energized.

It's a relay, my 02 ES300 did the exact same thing. Had the work done at the local Toyota dealer, they said the 2002 Camry had the same problem with a quirky relay, but they never notified customers of a recall. I suspect it might have been an unadvertised recall, but I just haven't followed up with Toyota yet to seek a reimbursement. The Toyota part number on my invoice is

Lexus/Toyota did not notify customers of a recall on the relay you describe because there is no recall on it.

There is no such thing as an "unadvertised recall."

Maybe not, but the Toyota dealer told me Toyota had a bunch of problems with that relay and they made a change to the original part. The dealer also stated that the only recalls affecting safety are proactively communicated to the customer. As far as there being no such thing as an "unadvertised recall", our difference may just be in the terminology I chose, which is merely symantics. Considering this is not a safety issue, I was not ruling out the possibility that a recall, or at the very least a TSB, could exist for this issue.

His A/C will be cooling quite nicely once he replaces the defective relay.

Special Service Campaigns, or recalls, are generally issued only for items that will affect a vehicle's compliance with Department of Transportation or emissions requirements. The NHTSA has specific rules regarding SSC's including notifying all known customers of the affected vehicle and tracking completion specific vehicles that have had the SSC performed. If enough customers do not have the SSc performed within a specified time line, a second notice has to be sent.

I checked, and as i noted previously, I could not find any TSB's issued regarding this condition.

Considering the part cost $65.00, my recommendation would be to test the relay before replacing it.

Oh, yes there is.

It's called "things the mfr knows about and will take care of for you, but you have to ask--they won't offer".

Automaker are prohibited from having "Unadvertised recalls," "things the mfr know about and will take car of for you, but you have to ask--they won't offer," "secret recalls" etc.

Any coverage from an automaker outside of its warranty coverage would be purely on a case-by-case basis, as a gesture of goodwill.

Then shame on Toyota for poor corporate behavior for not having a TSB on this. They've been in trouble recently with the Japanese government for underreporting defects.

Well, here's the latest on my blinking AC light:

I tried pressing the windshield DEFROST button (which also starts the AC) - and that made the AC light come on steady, and AC worked !

Then I shut off the Defrost, and tried the AC button again - It worked this time.

I couldn't figure out how pressing the Defrost button (rather than the AC button) made it work.

Now, after reading Steve's post, I remembered that I had lightly tapped on each relay with the screwdriver handle before trying the Defrost button. Tapping on the relay (I don't know which one is for the AC), might have done it, so hopefully, I won't have to spend the bucks - for now anyhow.

I'll start putting a few bucks aside for a new relay :)

Thanks again guys.

Steve, if only I could fix my hesitation/jerking trans with a simple relay, huh ? ..........

Actually, I'll have a report on that soon. I'm trying something new now, and should know the results soon.

Walt

If the problem with the relay is a common as you say, then I wholeheartedly agree.

The problem may be because they no longer have me there diligently writing reports about that stuff ;-)

I bought a new '01 IS300 in July '00 when they first came out, and it was atrocious in the snow. It was nearly undriveable, whether I put the transmission in Normal or Snow mode. When I brought it in for service and complained about it, the service dept. told me they had an upgraded chip for the traction control, but they only swapped it out under warranty in the earlier models if the owners complained.

:-) Hey, if you find that trans fix, count me in!!

Good luck with the repair, hopefully it's something simple.

Hey, if that's what it takes, then start writing... ;-) I've only ever owned Toyota/Lexus cars since I started driving 27 years ago. I have a personal interest in seeing their continued success. For anyone who has seen my rants on the ES tranny characteristics, that's why I've been so passionate about that issue. I just want to see them continue to make quality cars.