2007 Honda Civic A/C

Tiny
AROWNIOUS
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 95,000 MILES
I've got a 2007 Honda Civic and the A/C likes to work off and on. When it does work it blows cold and everything works as it should, when it doesn't work it blows hot air (engine compartment + East Texas = Not good) and there is no cold to be found, but no noise, or anything acting out of the ordinary. Any clue as to what could be causing this or how I might troubleshoot?
Monday, April 18th, 2011 AT 1:09 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
You would have to get high and low side pressure readings during the problem to determine if the compressor and the rest of the gas system is working properly.
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Monday, April 18th, 2011 AT 2:15 PM
Tiny
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I'll see if I can rent/buy some gauges from the auto parts store tonight or tomorrow morning, however, I had bought one of those cans of freon from walmart with the included pressure gauge a few weeks ago hoping that it was low on coolant. Granted, I realize those little gauges are hardly ever trustworthy, but while the system was not cooling the low pressure side read around 66psi according to the little plastic gauge.

Now assuming that it is at all accurate, and assuming that Honda's have a common issue (according to what I'm finding on forums) of low pressure switches going bad - would a low pressure switch not functioning cause this issue?
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Monday, April 18th, 2011 AT 3:42 PM
Tiny
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You can take that gauge you bought and leave it in the driveway and drive over it and you will be better off. You need ACCURATE high and low reading simultaneously. We're looking for the relationship between the two.
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Monday, April 18th, 2011 AT 4:01 PM
Tiny
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Haha gotcha. I'll try to get some gauges tonight, though I'm not sure when the issue will crop up again. It appears to be on a week off a week kind of thing. Will get back to you as soon as I have something.
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Monday, April 18th, 2011 AT 4:03 PM
Tiny
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You might want to determine if the compressor is even kicking in at that time first if you know how to do that. We need to find out if this is an electrical or gas problem.
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Monday, April 18th, 2011 AT 4:05 PM
Tiny
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If you are referring to seeing when the clutch actually engages, yes. Though I'm not sure how easy it will be to see. Its been quite awhile since I popped the hood and can't remember how visible the serpentine belt was much less the clutch on the a/c compressor.
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Monday, April 18th, 2011 AT 4:17 PM
Tiny
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That is the first thing I am trying to determine. You have to see if the center part of the pulley is turning or not when this happens. If you determine that it is not turning, that tells us the problem is electrical and you probably won't need the gauges. If you can't tell by looking, I can tell by the gauge readings (both).
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Monday, April 18th, 2011 AT 4:21 PM

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