2001 Honda Civic AC not working

MAURO21PL

MEMBER
2001 HONDA CIVIC
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
80,000 MILES

Hi
I have a honda civic of 2001. M y AC stopped working a while ago and finally I decided to fix it.
Here is a quick description of the problem I have. When I press AC button inside the car, the green light comes on, and you can actually hear increasing idle of the engine. Up to this point everything seems to be fine, with one exception: the warm air is comming in out of the vens instead of the cold one.
I checked the fuzes and they are fine. The condenser, the radiator, and the relay seem all working just fine. I simply don't have a cold air.
I bought a refrigrant with the gauge on it. There are fopur leveels marked on the meter with a short dicription of them. Firt level: the level of refrigrant is too low; Second : the refrigrant level is OK ; Third: Alert, don not put any more of refrigrant; and Fourth: Warning, the problem is different than a reffrigrant.
When for a first time I plugged the refrigrant the meter pointed the fourth level. Because of that I decided to purge the low side bleeder valve. After that process, I plugged it again, and this time the gauge pointed the first level (that seems to be fine). So I started to put the gas into, but after maybe like 10 seconds, the meter was pointing the third level already. And this idicates to me taht it is something not right. But what that would be?
Does anyone has any ideas? Did I miss anything. I appreciate the answers.

1 Reply

TED-E-DEE

MECHANIC
109 POSTS

Do you know where your A/C Compressor is located? It's under Alternator I think. It has the "Blades" type looking things on outside of pulley. Have a helper start the car with the A/C off. Then, while you watch the A/C pulley, have helper turn A/C on. Do the "Blades" on the pulley start turning when A/C turned on? This would mean the Compressor is comming on. You will then know the refrigerent is full enough to turn A/C on & that part of the system is working. Now, check your Hot/Cold control & the water valve to make sure when you move control that this valve & cable are working. I have seen Water Valves rust-up, so the hot water may still be flowing through the heater core, blowing hot air. The Water Valve is useually under the hood, on the top hose coming out of the Firewall from Heater Core. The cable could have a problem too. The knob itself can also be broken. Pull knob off & insp. The inside peice Center that has the "Half Moon" shape in it, that may be broke also. Please let us know what you find. Good Luck !