Rep Power: 0

OK, I got my timing belt replaced on my 2003 Civic LX. No sweat. They did the regular "kit" work, with water pump replacement. Now, I found it odd that after completion, my a/c was running nice and cold. I was just getting ready to recharge my a/c, but now maybe I won't do that. Could this change in a/c performance have had to do with that service?

They never said anything about it. My invoice shows charges for two belts -- 6PK0986, and 4PK1010. I think they said there were a couple of belts that needed replacing. Do those belts have anything to do with the a/c?

Yeah, I guess they might have recharged it for me. They gave me a free oil change with the coolant change, but they never said anything about a/c recharge, and I certainly wasn't charged for it.

 
Rep Power: 517

Only if the alternator and AC belt was missing, and you would have known there was a problem as soon as it was missing.

I kinda doubt it, freon ain't cheap in a shop. Maybe you have a relay problem and it's working at the moment. Maybe something was disconnected and they plugged it in for you. Whatever, enjoy it while it lasts.
I'd say over half of the AC problems in these cars has nothing to do with freon.

 
Rep Power: 0

Of course, we're talking R134. Not freon.

Now, the a/c *did* cool. Just not enough. If the belt was missing or some other major problem with the a/c system, it wouldn't work at all. What's happening now is the the air is *colder*.

I was just wondering if a dried out belt might have been slipping, and a new belt engaged the compressor better. The question was whether those belts ever touch the a/c compressor. I still don't have an answer to that.

 
Rep Power: 517

We call that freon too.
Is it still miserable hot there?
If the weather were cooler than usual, the AC might feel better just because it doesn't have to work as hard.

Maybe a kind soul in the shop did top it up a bit.

Right, and since the same belt also runs the alternator you would have had bigger problems the minute it went missing. It does. See above.
The belt is always turning the compressor pulley whenever the engine is running, but the compressor uses an electromagnetic clutch to couple (engage) with the spinning pulley when it is 'turned on'.
If the belt had been too loose, you should have been hearing a loud screech when you start the car first thing in the morning, if not every startup.


HTH

 
Rep Power: 0

No, the weather didn't change. The belts changed.

A little research shows that the two belts they replaced -- 6PK0986, and 4PK1010 both involve the a/c compressor. So the a/c was "involved" in the service they did.

Yes, you can call R134 "freon", but you can't call it expensive. It's actually pretty cheap stuff.

I'll call them and see if they remember squirting some R134 into my system.

 
Rep Power: 517

The 4PK belt drives the power steering pump.
The 6PK belt drives the alternator and AC compressor.

Replacement of these accessory drive belts is fairly standard with a timing belt service as they have to be removed to do the job and their (OEM belts) average service life is about the same as the timing belt.
Service life of aftermarket belts might not equal OEM.

But no matter what, belt replacement alone did not make your air conditioner colder.


My dealer charges $35/lb. Not cheap IMO.
I suggest you might not want to do that.
If a tech gave you a freebie and management finds out, he might get in a heap of trouble.

HTH

 
Rep Power: 0

Can confirm, I just got mine done at the Honda dealer and they replaced the same belts as part of the package deal.

 
Rep Power: 0

Well, a top-up would only take a few ounces. That's cheap. Five bucks, probably.

Sure, but they gave me an oil change as a freebie. On that scale an a/c topup is pretty minor.

This was a $900 job. A couple of ounces of R134 is in the noise.

 
Rep Power: 0

might of just banged the dirt out of the AC clutch for you

but it is possible!