Rep Power: 0

I dont know much about engines, but I have a 2002 Honda Civic EX. My mechanic told me i need to replace my ac compressor...and if I dont that it might seize up and snap my timing belt. My brother who is also a mechanic said that my ac compressor might run on a different belt, in which case i might not need to do anything... I tried to research some diagrams on the interenet but its been a bit confusing.

One other thing...i bought the car in 2008...the ac only worked for about a year and its been broken ever since. My mechanic said that i should not use the ac whatsoever- but when i put the air on in my car and put it on defrost, my ac light automatically goes on. So ive been "using ac" daily for about 5 years now (even if the dial is turned all the way to the hottest heat setting) and havent had an issue.

I sort of question my mechanic...

 
Rep Power: 209

your ac has nothing to do with your timing belt, completely seperate belts,

your a/c runs on the same belt as your alternator, if you do not want your a/c and are afraid the pulley might seize then you can install a shorter belt which will by-pass the ac and only run the alternator,

 
Rep Power: 518

Why?


Wrong.




As Mikey said, the compressor shares the same belt as the alternator.

Broken how?
I get that it doesn't work. Why doesn't it work?

Broken AC really sucks.


Why not?


The AC switch will light up even if the compressor does not work.


As long as the bearing inside the AC pulley is good (no noise or play), there isn't a problem with leaving the belt on it and ignoring it.
I'd let it go until such time as it becomes a problem or it's time to replace the belts...THEN get the shorter belt if you want.

 
Rep Power: 0

Well I had gone in for an oil change and asked if they knew what the sound was coming from my engine. Later when I picked it up they told me it was the ac compressor. The "secretary" who sometimes relays info from the mechanic, was wrong when he told me the timing belt would snap- you are right, and I also did some research- they arent on the same belt. But yes i did initally ask because of a noise i was hearing. Another mechanic friend said what I should do is take it to an AC specialist and have them make sure the bearings arent off axis? because so long as the bearings are lined up properly...I wont have an issue with it. He also told me if it were his car he would probably just disconnect the wiring entirely from the ac compressor (tape it off to the side so it doesnt get caught up in anything) and then the compressor would just act as a "really heavy tensioner" . I also think that the quote of a 600 dollar part and 3.5 hours of labor was completely wrong. Pretty sure they run from 200-400 and can be done in an hour or two...

 
Rep Power: 0

I dont know why the AC is broken...Its a 2002 Honda Civic...I bought it used in 08 and the AC stopped blowing out cold air in 09. But It doesnt bother me that much I just put the windows down...it only sucks when I need to be on the phone and have to put all the windows up to hear.

But so for 5 years my Ac hasnt worked. I dont know if that means for 5 years my ac compressor has been broken? My brother charged it up once for me and I had AC for a summer...Im pretty sure it just means I have a leak somewhere? not really sure...

 
Rep Power: 209

if the a/c compressor is not making any noise then just leave the belt alone, its not affecting anything, the pulley is just "free spinning",

if its making a loud rattling noise then that means the bearings are shot, so replace your belt with a shorter belt to by-pass the a/c pulley

 
Rep Power: 518

Yes. Sounds like if you fix the leak and recharge it, the AC would work again.

 
Rep Power: 0

Just a 7-year bump to this thread..

Could someone tell me the length of the belt needed to bypass the compressor? And is this possible with a 2010 (8th gen)?

Thanks!

 
Rep Power: 222

∆ Don't do this ∆
Get some string or use the old belt and measure

 
Rep Power: 0

What do you mean, 'don't do this'?

Also, the old original belt includes the compressor pulley, so that's not the length I need... I'm looking for a shorter one to bypass it..

 
Rep Power: 222

Don't bump old threads......

You use the old belt to measure the length needed for the new belt

 
Rep Power: 367

ask for a DX model belt, they don't have AC (they are in the threads named bypass AC)

 
Rep Power: 125

Is that with the 8th gens as well? He also posted in the wrong subforum. It appears AC was either an option or came standard on 8th gen.

Never mind. It appears the DX did not have AC.

 
Rep Power: 0

Thank you all for the quick responses, and sorry for my low caliber forum etiquette, I am a noob here.

Just wish the mechanic I saw listed this as a possibility..