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Old Jun 28, 2005
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Cool A/C Problem

Hey guyz.

Here's a question about my AC, if anyone could help.
(Thanks in advance just for reading)

2001 Civic EX 4 Door

When I turn on my AC, it does some pretty weird things. The AC keeps clicking on and off; the clicking is violent, also. My RPMs drop as if I was gonna stall, then the engine revs up to prevent the stall. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Under the hood: When the violent clicking occurs, one of the cooling fans turns on, then it clicks and the fan turns off.

Any ideas?

I need one
Old Jun 29, 2005
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Your copressor is proabbaly not kicking on, *locked up, or starting to lock up* does it look like the compressor pully kicks on when the ac comes on? or does it just slowly turn or not at all?
Old Jun 29, 2005
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everything you said is normal. Except if the car actually stalls when you turn the ac on. then there's a problem with an idle control device.
Old Jun 29, 2005
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hook up a set of manifold gauges and see what the readings are when you turn on the ac.
Old Jun 29, 2005
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Originally Posted by C2FDI
Hey guyz.

Here's a question about my AC, if anyone could help.
(Thanks in advance just for reading)

2001 Civic EX 4 Door

When I turn on my AC, it does some pretty weird things. The AC keeps clicking on and off; the clicking is violent, also. My RPMs drop as if I was gonna stall, then the engine revs up to prevent the stall. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Under the hood: When the violent clicking occurs, one of the cooling fans turns on, then it clicks and the fan turns off.

Any ideas?

I need one
one of theose fans work with the a/c..the clicks you hear is the compressor turing on and off... the idle drop is normal its just it takes soo much power to run that unit... ever turned on a window a/c at your home and noticed how the lights dim when the a/c clicks on... its the same thing with cars.. it just draws soo much power and i bet u notice a slower civic when the a/c is on..it kinda struggles to move... but no worries ur ok

Last edited by PICHY; Jun 29, 2005 at 08:04 PM.
Old Jul 6, 2005
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Thanks for the responses, fellaz...

But the problem is, this happens CONSTANTLY...It doesn't just happen once or twice. It will click on and off on and off, sometimes only blowing warm air, something blowing cold air. This will go on for hours. My RPM's are dropping constantly.

I think I might have to take it to a mechanic. I hate people touching my car. Any more words of wisdom from my Civic friends? Honda wants $89 just to LOOK AT IT. I WILL WALK BURN THE PLACE DOWN BEFORE I PAY THAT MUCH JUST TO LOOK AT IT. TO HELL WITH ALL OF THEM.
Old Jul 6, 2005
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probably the compressor. but thats just my bet.. could need recharging, or is locking up.
Old Jul 6, 2005
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try letting a little pressure out of the low pressure hose, you know the one that is marked with a big "L" on it.
Old Jul 6, 2005
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I have had two vehicles that have had a similar problem with the rapid engaging and dis-engaging of the AC Compressor Clutch. The solution for both was to pick up a can of R-134a AC recharge from the auto store and re-fill the system. When i checked the pressure in the system with the gauge that came with the refill can, it showed that I had nothing left in the system. I added 1 full can (maybe 10-12 oz) and the problem stopped and the AC was good and cold.

Just remember not to overfill the system. It is normal for the compressor to turn on and off but not constantly. The recharge can cost me 8 or 10 bucks and now I have a guage i can always use to check, so I think that is a good place to start. Hope this helps!
Old Jul 7, 2005
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i wouldnt do that, itll lower the temp/pressure.
Originally Posted by njerry
try letting a little pressure out of the low pressure hose, you know the one that is marked with a big "L" on it.
goin back to ur problem w/ cuttin on and off... its prolly not enuff freon in it. itll cause to freeze up the core and cause the compressor to kick on and off due to high pressure build up.

your best bet is to get a readin on both side of the pressure.
Old Jul 7, 2005
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my car is like that too , to where it turns on and off constantly. i thought it was normal
Old Jul 8, 2005
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Originally Posted by profuse007
i wouldnt do that, itll lower the temp/pressure.


goin back to ur problem w/ cuttin on and off... its prolly not enuff freon in it. itll cause to freeze up the core and cause the compressor to kick on and off due to high pressure build up.

your best bet is to get a readin on both side of the pressure.

the reason I say that is, because my a/c was going thru the same problem, and by releasing a little pressure that seen to help out eith the problem.
Old Jul 8, 2005
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its a leak....

You have a leak somewhere in your system. Could be something easy like a freon line or something worse like the compressor. Ususlly when the compressor continually clicks on and off it means that you are low on freon and eventually your system will freeze up if it continues running that way. I would not recommend buying that freon in a can from the auto parts store. Many people have used that and overcharged their system which results in permanent damage to the compressor or the evaperator. It is also illegal to release freon into the environment, you need a recovery device which is very expensive so don't bleed freon yourself. Take it to a reputable shop, not Honda, and let them do a pressure test for you to check for leaks and see what the damage is. They can either use an electronic leak detector which works fine on larger leaks or inject a fluorescent dye into the freon line and wait to see where the freon is coming out. I work on AC's in homes for a living in Florida so I have seen it all. It sucks not having AC in this heat. Good luck and let us know if you need more help.
Old Jul 8, 2005
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Originally Posted by profuse007
i wouldnt do that, itll lower the temp/pressure.


goin back to ur problem w/ cuttin on and off... its prolly not enuff freon in it. itll cause to freeze up the core and cause the compressor to kick on and off due to high pressure build up.

your best bet is to get a readin on both side of the pressure.
it is most likely you are low on refrigerant.the low pressure switch will knock it off when the compressor runs.when the compressor turns off, pressure rises,thus making the compressor run again and so on. your best bet is to let a technician handle it or someone who is familiar with a/c systems.
Old Jul 9, 2005
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im sorry but i can't stress this one enough. 100k warranty. if you have it, they charge you nothing. if you don't go to a mechanic thats not from honda and watch the labor price get much better.
Old Jul 9, 2005
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Originally Posted by CIVIC808
it is most likely you are low on refrigerant.the low pressure switch will knock it off when the compressor runs.when the compressor turns off, pressure rises,thus making the compressor run again and so on. your best bet is to let a technician handle it or someone who is familiar with a/c systems.
The system builds pressure when the compressor is running. Inside the compressor you either have reid valves or basically a small crank and pistons just like an engine. And they are doing the same thing, they are compressing the refrigerant coming into the compressor. So as the refrigerant enters as a low pressure gas, it compresses the gas and it comes out as a high pressure gas. The low pressure switch will shut the compressor off if the charge is too low to prevent compressor damage. It will not allow it to run untill the charge is brought up. Now if the charge is there. When the compressor kicks on, the pressure will rise, then the compressor is turned off when the pressure reaches a certain point, then it will lower again and when it reaches a certain point the compressor will turn on again.
Old Jul 11, 2005
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Originally Posted by MajinB
im sorry but i can't stress this one enough. 100k warranty. if you have it, they charge you nothing. if you don't go to a mechanic thats not from honda and watch the labor price get much better.
100k warranty on a Civic?!
Old Jul 11, 2005
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yes i have a 100k warranty on my vic. i bought the car 5 months ago. its an 01 that had 56 k on it. its like 64 now. anyway, yes i have it, and it has already come to use. my srs light was replaced at no charge. anyway, why are you suprised?
Old Jul 12, 2005
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Originally Posted by DaCurryman
100k warranty on a Civic?!
Yea, why suprised? I have 100K warranty on mine too. Anytime I buy a car I always get the 100K extended warranty. You never know whats going to happen.
Old Jul 12, 2005
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Thanks EVERYONE for your input, very useful!
Here's the status:
I took it to a service station, spent $120 to get my freon flushed and refilled with Honda's. Problem still happens. I have an appt. Thurs. to see what the problem is, but regarding this post::::

Originally Posted by scizod
You have a leak somewhere in your system. Could be something easy like a freon line or something worse like the compressor. Ususlly when the compressor continually clicks on and off it means that you are low on freon and eventually your system will freeze up if it continues running that way. I would not recommend buying that freon in a can from the auto parts store. Many people have used that and overcharged their system which results in permanent damage to the compressor or the evaperator. It is also illegal to release freon into the environment, you need a recovery device which is very expensive so don't bleed freon yourself. Take it to a reputable shop, not Honda, and let them do a pressure test for you to check for leaks and see what the damage is. They can either use an electronic leak detector which works fine on larger leaks or inject a fluorescent dye into the freon line and wait to see where the freon is coming out. I work on AC's in homes for a living in Florida so I have seen it all. It sucks not having AC in this heat. Good luck and let us know if you need more help.
Sounds like you know your ****. When they flushed the system, they also put the dye in it, so they are gonna be able to check to see where the leak is (if there is one).

But let me add some confusion to this mess...My AC works like 80% of the time, it's when I come to a stop/idle that there is always a problem. That's when the condenser clicks on and off "violently"....Could a leak still be suspect?!? *$&#'ing Honda....
Old Jul 12, 2005
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hey good luck and btw, do you have the 100k warranty? im guessin not. oh well. there are alot of DIY here and we can always help.lol
Old Jul 12, 2005
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Originally Posted by DaCurryman
100k warranty on a Civic?!
yes If you bought the extended warranty up to 100k.
Old Jul 12, 2005
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I wish I did buy the 100k warranty, but I didn't...
Now this is me
Old Jul 13, 2005
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this might help
http://www.4s.com/fourseasons/tech_t...ish/ab303.html
 
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