Rep Power: 0

My 93 Hatchback DX AC compressor won't stay engaged very long. When I first start driving, it will start to get ice cold, but then the compressor stops turning (clutch disengages), and then nothing but hot air. I have the factory service manual, but not having much luck yet with the troubleshooting. I was hoping for some quick things to check. The cooling fan was replaced with a used one, I'm pretty sure the R12 is good, as it does get ice cold, just not for very long. Is there a way to check the high pressure & low pressure valves? Am I maybe over serviced? I do not have R12 gages only R-134 gages. Any quick suggestions? It is a hot summer in Indiana! Thanks!!!

 
Rep Power: 0

Well I spent some time with my car and factory service manual this morning & troubleshot my system to a faulty field coil in the AC compressor. Resistance should be 2.8 ohms, mine is about 4.5 ohms. The coil will engage the clutch initially when the car has been off for a while, but then if I turn the AC off or the pressure switch cycles the system off, the field coil won't re-engage the clutch. The manual tells me how to change the coil. I can get one from Honda for $100, or online for $70 + shipping. I may buy a cheap used compressor & salvage the coil off of it. Has anyone done this job before? I'm going to attempt it in the engine compartment without depleting the system, as it is full of ice cold R-12, and I don't want to go R-134 until I have to. Please let me know your thoughts or experiences on this job if you've done it before. Thanks! Dave

 
Rep Power: 811

someone else on here had a coil go bad also. i think you can replace it just by removing the pulley and clutch. no so much hard but requires some special tools. i dont think you need to discharge the freon to do it.and btw you can still find places that sell freon if you really have to. i know its alot colder than 134a and both are pretty much equally toxic to the environment. unless you feel like converting to "envirosafe" which gets colder and is not nearly as toxic.

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks Gearbox!!

Yeah the manual shows a "flywheel" puller to removed the clutch and then a simple gear puller to pull the pulley. I plan on fabricating the flywheel puller from the pictures and I have a gear puller already.

For the time being, I think the R-12 in my system is going to be fine, as the air gets really cold when the compressor is running. Of course once I get the system running fulltime, I will probably spring a leak or something else will die. (Car has 215K) When the time comes, I will probably look at changing to the envirosafe.

Thanks again for your reply! Dave