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A/C condenser fan trouble

Tiny
AXIS
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 323,750 MILES
The A/C compressor turns on and off repeatedly. It doesnt happen everyday though. Sometimes its working fine no matter what the outside temp is. I found the condenser fan not running when it should be running together with the compressor. Used light tester to check wires going to the fan, no power. On another instance, there was power. I wired fan direct to battery, continuous running.

When there is no power going to fan, I tried interchanging the relays for compressor and fan, still no power. I checked with light tester the sockets for the relay, two points were giving power.

One time while observing the a/c in running condition, thermostat switched off fan and compressor(already cold). When it kicked back in, compressor and fan started, but the fan immediately lost power and stopped.

One time A/C was switched on, high pressure switch on receiver was disconnected to prevent compressor from running, inside blower was set to #3, condenser fan was not running. When I changed the blower switch from #3 to #1, condenser fan started running.

Suction pres. Is 30psi, disc pres. Is 200psi. Ambient temp. Is 28 deg Celsius( 82 deg F)

What should I do next?
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Sunday, October 30th, 2011 AT 4:33 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Check the connector at the ac compressor. I have seen them corrode and melt causing the same condition.

Roy
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Tuesday, November 1st, 2011 AT 3:04 PM
Tiny
AXIS
  • MEMBER
  • 107 POSTS
I have a bit of progress today. Now both compressor and fan wont run anymore. Put a jumper on the pressure switch, still wont run.I brought the car to an a/c mechanic/electrician(not honda specialist). Fuse, relay, connectors in fan and compressor were good. There is supply to relay terminals( 2 points). But there is something odd, even if I remove the key, there is still 1 point with power. I think I have more problems besides the a/c. We found out there was no ground going on the relay terminals( Tested with light tester connected to + of battery.)We connected a jumper wire from the negative of battery to a negative leg of the compressor relay. It run fine. But there is no control from inside. AC would run even if the ac switches are off. We temporarily placed a toggle switch to control the ac from freezing the evaporator. Would a faulty thermostat make this trouble to the ac?
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Tuesday, November 1st, 2011 AT 4:41 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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No, did the tech determine if the ground was controlled by the ecm?

Roy
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Tuesday, November 1st, 2011 AT 4:56 PM
Tiny
AXIS
  • MEMBER
  • 107 POSTS
https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1996-honda-civic-c-wiring-diagram

Somebody gave me a schematic diagram for a 96 civic. Im not sure though it is the correct one. Anyway, as the diagram indicates, groung for compressor relay goes to the ecu. Im suspecting ground to ecu might be the cause but dont know how to test and afraid mess with the ecu. Also when we run jumper wires to the compressor, it engages but IAC dont seem to sync and the idle is low.

Last night with the jumpers on the relay,ac was working ok. After a few hours, it was back to the same trouble( compressor engaging, fan not working,low idle). Im going back to the mechanic today(my friend). What would be next step we should do?
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Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011 AT 4:40 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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Hopefully he has a scan tool that can verify when you engage the ac, he will see the command sent to the pcm. That where I would start.

Roy
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Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011 AT 4:49 AM
Tiny
AXIS
  • MEMBER
  • 107 POSTS
No scan tool. I have to go somewhere else. Tnx again
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Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011 AT 5:01 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good luck

Roy
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Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011 AT 1:48 PM
Tiny
AXIS
  • MEMBER
  • 107 POSTS
So I brought the car to a shop to get more opinions and to get a scan. They could not find the port to attach the scan tool.I dont know also. I never had a computer scan before. Where is it located?
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Thursday, November 3rd, 2011 AT 3:06 PM
Tiny
AXIS
  • MEMBER
  • 107 POSTS
Brought the car to a shop to have a scan today. They could not find the OBD2 connector port for the scanner. Where is it anyway? Never had a scan before.
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Thursday, November 3rd, 2011 AT 7:34 PM
Tiny
AXIS
  • MEMBER
  • 107 POSTS
Still no progress on the AC. Im just using a toggle switch to connect ground to negative terminal of condenser fan relay. Idle picks up ok when the cluth engage, so I think ground to ECU is ok. Could the cluster of switches for fan and heater be a cause for loosing ground on the relay terminals?
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Sunday, November 6th, 2011 AT 11:26 AM
Tiny
SONDA
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
According to my knowledge. ( I was a Honda mechanic) check the blower resistor which located in the blower motor. & The A/C switch as well.
There are no OBD2 socket in 96 Civic. Unless it s an HONDA CVT transmission car. It has a 3 pin connector which you can still connect to the scanner. This socket is situated near the main ECU. Next to the front passenger floor. Good luck.
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Thursday, November 29th, 2012 AT 12:20 AM

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