Rep Power: 0

My car (2009 Honda Civic) is having trouble with the air conditioning. It was recently checked by my mechanic. He swapped out the condenser and recharged the system but it is still intermittent. If it’s really hot, the AC temperature may get a little cooler when moving but not AC cool. When the car is idle for more than a few minutes, the air becomes warm. I have looked at the compressor and the clutch. It looks like the clutch is engaging the compressor (both are spinning). The clutch doesn’t seem to cycle off at all but I assume that is likely due to the heat and the compressor has to work continuously to cool down the air.

What else could be the problem? Could it be as simple as my mechanic overcharged the system or if there is a further issue with parts like the evaporator core, expansion valve, temperature sensor and/or pressure switches?

 
Rep Power: 224

You would need to have the low/high side pressures measured while the A/C is on. With that info, your mechanic should be able to tell what's wrong.

Could be a faulty expansion valve, a bad compressor, over/under charged, bad clutch. Really anything without proper troubleshooting.

 
Rep Power: 0

Thank you!

I ordered manifold gauges and will be checking the pressures tomorrow once I get them. I do have a gauge hooked up to one of the recharging kits (which I never used to charge). It always showed the system as being in the red (which is partly why I never attempted a charge) but the gauge, even when not hooked up to anything, never resets to zero and always stays in the red. So likely it’s defective.