2010 Prius AC COMPRESSOR FUSE-Hybrid

During a voltage drop test on a 2010 Prius’s Generation Three inverter, the low-voltage safety switch was disengaged to allow live work—a task for experienced, trained hybrid technicians only. Inside the inverter cover are AC/DC cables for motor generators, and a 40-dollar, sand-filled fuse for the air-conditioning system, resembling a larger Fluke meter fuse. With the air conditioning off, 201 volts were measured, which remained consistent when the AC was turned on, with 214 volts on both sides of the fuse. In a normal 12-volt system, this indicates a good fuse. A voltage drop across a fuse could signal internal corrosion in older components. We observe no voltage drop, confirming the fuse’s integrity. This method checks the DC air-conditioning fuse for the mini-inverter compressor in late-model Toyota and Lexus vehicles.