AC is not blowing cold air?

LORETTA

MEMBER
1995 HONDA ACCORD

I APOLOGIZE AHEAD OF TIME FOR THE LENGTH & COMPLICATED EXPLANATION.
I was recently given a '95 Honda Accord. It had an AC leak about 5 inches down from charging ports, 1 on both high & low lines. Here is how I found the leaks. The car was empty of refrigerant when given to me, so I went & bought 2 cans of refrigerant & added them. The AC was HEAVENLY for about 2 days. 3rd day, back to warm. Used gauge, it read low on refrigerant so I knew there was a leak but couldn't afford to get it fixed so bought 2 more cans since it was hot out. It again lasted about 3 days with AC ice cold. I finally came into some money so I took it to a shop. They replaced both high and low lines. The mechanic had a '95 Honda for parts & used AC lines out of that one. Total $320. On the drive home I noticed that it was ice cold when I 1st started the car, but as I got on down the road it blew warm. It was a 15 min drive home. 80% of the time it was blowing warm & did so for about 2 min then switch to cold for about 5 seconds. It did this all the way home. Next day, same thing. I'd even turn off the AC & keep vent running for a sec when it would get warm just to make sure I was hearing the compressor cut off even after it was already warm. The compressor was running the entire time, even when air was blowing warm. Took it back to the shop today & they say it now looks like the expansion valve may be blocked but they think the compressor may still be good enough to keep. They say it will cost $250 parts & labor. My question is this, if I took my car INTO the shop with the compressor ALWAYS ON & always STEADILY blowing cold air up until it leaked out of the holes, (days at a time), then wouldn't it have been something THEY did to cause it to all of the sudden not blow consistent cold AC? I don't understand what could have happened? When he hooked up the gauges to the AC lines the static pressure read high on high side (I believe around 400) and the low was 40 if not mistaken. He showed me the fluorescent green that was all around the compressor too. He didn't explain very thoroughly what the problem was though. They now want to charge me more to fix a problem that I didn't even have when I brought it in. ANY HELP or advice would be GREATLY appreciated. Trying to get some answers pretty quickly since I need to call the shop back tomorrow. Thanks :-)

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Friday, August 26th, 2011 AT 5:01 PM

32 Replies

DRCRANKNWRENCH

MECHANIC
3,380 POSTS

Generally when a compressor the expansion vale and the drier/filter. This is done to eliminate metal in the system.
It sounds like you need a new compressor and compressing refrigerant to much will turn it into a heater. Same thing will happen if you put in too much refrigerant.
Did you get oil put into the system when expansion vale changed?

When you turn the A/C on, do you hear the compressor engage under the hood? Also, have you checked Freon levels?

Take a look through this link and let me know if it helps.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-air-conditioner-not-working-or-is-weak

and

https://youtu.be/4UjfQKvrB6Y ac not working video

Also, if you want to add Freon to the system, here is a link explaining how it's done:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/air-conditioner-how-to-add-freon

Let me know if that helps. Also, let me know if you hear the compressor click on and off when the system is on.

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Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 AT 4:27 PM

ROCKET GUY

MEMBER
1 POST
1995 HONDA ACCORD

95 honda accord EX, auto, 4cylinder, VTEC with 150,000 miles. The A/C comes on along with both fans when I push the button, it works thru the first cycle and shuts off (I assume this is temp controlled from inside the vehicle) When it tries to cycle on again the compressor starts briefly ( 1 second) along with the fans, it bogs down the motor and cycles off, it does this about 10 times and then will finally just bog down and work. The air is cold when the compressor and fans are on. When I am traveling at highway speeds, the compressor kicks on and off until it works then the air is cool for a couple of minutes. I have filled the 134a and checked the fan and compressor relays. The book doesn’t go into much detail after that. I plan on taking it to a mechanic soon if I can’t figure it out...

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Thursday, December 17th, 2020 AT 11:52 AM (Merged)

CODY-ODY

MECHANIC
57 POSTS

It souonds like you might have too much r134 in your system or possibly the retro fit you did to you vehicle wasn't done properly and you still have excess mineral oil in your system on top of PAG oil from thr new gas(which was supposed to be refilled during the retro fit) Also it could just be a lack of freon (which also is the only thing that carries oil to your compressor)
Have your system evacuated and refilled by a professionel(someone who HAS CERTIFICATION IN AC) even ask if taking it to a dealership to see the technician's certification in ac before! Don't accept "oh he's very good or he's been doing this for years....These are just excuses(there are just as many idiots at dealerships if not more!
if your ac system still doesn't work after the efvac and refill the tech should be able to tell you from there what you need
Just as a heads up the pressures in a normal operating ac system on a moderately humide day at say a temperature of say 80 f the high should be about 160-210psi and the low should be about 25-40 or stay at about 32 depending on the type of compressor( variable holds a constant pressure 32 f)
if pressure in the high side are significantly higher and there are no internal restrictions and the fans are operating normally your system is contaminated and should be purged!

These guides and videos should help

https://youtu.be/4EqdrBVb0sY

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-air-conditioner-not-working-or-is-weak

Please run down these guides and report back.

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Thursday, December 17th, 2020 AT 11:52 AM (Merged)

JEANNA EIDEN PIPOLY

MEMBER
1 POST
1994 HONDA ACCORD
2.2L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
200,000 MILES

Condenser fans come on and has plenty of Freon pressure. Replaced relay with no change. Has power going to relay, can jump relay to make clutch engage. Any help?

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Thursday, December 17th, 2020 AT 11:53 AM (Merged)

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Hi,

What are your high and low side pressures? If you are able to jump it and the compressor comes on, this normally means there is something preventing it from coming on. This means it is a control issue. However, before condemning the control module let's get the pressures and make sure they are correct. Then we can move onto the pressure switch as a possible issue. This is going to monitor the pressure and will prevent the compressor from engaging.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/re-charge-an-air-conditioner-system

Image (Click to make bigger)

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Thursday, December 17th, 2020 AT 11:53 AM (Merged)

ROMEOOG

MEMBER
22 POSTS
1993 HONDA ACCORD
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
143,332 MILES

Hi,

I have an 93 Accord, Before I fix the A/C it was running fine, then one day I had an extra can of a/c refill which I put it in. Next day my wife call said that the a/c been running for long and its not cold anymore when I got home I left it next day the battery is dead.

After that I hear the compress making noise I thought it might need oil so put in a can still doing the same thing so I bought a used compressor and put in new cans and everything and its not cold the clutch is running but hot air coming out.

Also now if I leave the a/c run max and running for a while it drain the battery down and the car just shuts off.

The battery even drains when just leave the headlights on and the car idles it will drain and it shuts off.

Where can I start?

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Thursday, December 17th, 2020 AT 11:54 AM (Merged)

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Hi RomeoOG,

You overfilled the freon which started it all. This video will help us

https://youtu.be/4EqdrBVb0sY

If the battery is being drained, you need to check for parasitic drain or a bad charging system. Check if any of the lights are remaning on, brake lights etc. Get the charging rate tested.

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Thursday, December 17th, 2020 AT 11:54 AM (Merged)

ROMEOOG

MEMBER
22 POSTS

Ok so, how do I take out what I overfill? Because the new one is doing the same thing also. I gues I should of ask on here before I bought a new compress, but lession learned.

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Thursday, December 17th, 2020 AT 11:54 AM (Merged)

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Put a pressure gauge on the low and high side. Note the pressure without starting the engine. It should be about 90 psi at both ends. Some difference might be there if the A/C had been stopped only for a short while.

With engine ans A/C running, note the low and high pressure. Low shouldbe around 30 psi, high around 200 psi. If both are higher than specified, there is excessive freon in the system.

You should get proper equip equipment to discharge the excessive freon.

After replacement of the compressor if you did not vacumn the system, then you need to recover all the freon, vacumn the system and refill with the correct amount.

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Thursday, December 17th, 2020 AT 11:54 AM (Merged)

ROMEOOG

MEMBER
22 POSTS

Ok, yesterday I let out some refrigerant and the compress was running it was getting cold on the passenger side then, I play around with the buttons and it finally got cold on everything. Then I went inside the house and let it run for a while.

I came out and it stop being cold I notice that the compress is coming on and off.

So I thought there's a leak, might need some oil or something so I got some oil put it in it does the same thing.

Today I got the professional gauge has the blue, red and yellow wire, and 2 gauges. Hook everything up and I saw it went up to 110 PSI, So I open both red and blue side and let all the air out. I did that couple of times

Then went and got some new refrigerant 2 cans pump it in and it still doing the same thing turn on and off. Thought its not enough and got 1 more can and still doing the same thing LOL

Now i'm back to square one. Did I screw up the compress?

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Thursday, December 17th, 2020 AT 11:54 AM (Merged)

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

You screwed up the whole process and do not know what you are doing by discharging the gas to the atmosphere.

You did not vacumn the system and when problem occurred you did not check the pressure. Nor did you try to find out what is wring.

I am not going to help you do more harm to the earth.

You are on your own now.

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Thursday, December 17th, 2020 AT 11:54 AM (Merged)

ROMEOOG

MEMBER
22 POSTS

Thanks for all your help so far. I can take it from here. I order a vacuum pump its on its way when I get it I can start all over.

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Thursday, December 17th, 2020 AT 11:54 AM (Merged)

BLKJUSTICE

MEMBER
1 POST
1992 HONDA ACCORD
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
206,000 MILES

I recently changed my ac fan and recharged the system and the ac still does not work

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Thursday, December 17th, 2020 AT 11:55 AM (Merged)

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Hi blkjustice,

If the fans works when the AC is switched on and the compressor is not working, then most probably the compressor clutch is faulty.

If the fans and compressor don't work, then you need to check the controls or relays since you have charged the system.

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Thursday, December 17th, 2020 AT 11:55 AM (Merged)

TSPRAGGS

MEMBER
2 POSTS
1990 HONDA ACCORD
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
92,000 MILES

I recently changed the ac over to 134a. After the mechanic took everything out and refilled, it was still not getting cold. The compressor was working, the fan was working on the air side, but not on the radiator side. The mechanic thinks I need to change the AC expansion valve. Another mechanic didn't think that was it. He thought it had to do with the radiator fun not running. I need to get this repaired asap. What do I do next?

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Thursday, December 17th, 2020 AT 11:56 AM (Merged)

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Hi tspraggs,

The radiator fan needs to be working in tandem with the AC fan so first prirority is to get the fan running and see if it helps.

If the AC works well on highways, the fan issue should solve the problem.

If not you need to get the pressure reading of the low and high side for analysis.

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Thursday, December 17th, 2020 AT 11:56 AM (Merged)

JIM GIBBS

MEMBER
2 POSTS
1986 HONDA ACCORD
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
110,000 MILES

My ac started blowing warm so I bought a recharge can from the store. (I have done this before). It will not take the charge and the can actually gets hot when trying to charge. Any suggestions The fans are working and the clutch engages and stays engaged.

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Thursday, December 17th, 2020 AT 11:57 AM (Merged)

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Hi Jim Gibbs,

Without understand what is wrong, the practice of charging the system and hoping that everything turns out well is very wrong.

Did you check if the compressor is engaging when it fails to cool?
Are the cooling fans working?
What are the low and high presusre reaidngs?

The system refuses to accept any more gas because it is already overfilled and that can affect the cooling.

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Thursday, December 17th, 2020 AT 11:57 AM (Merged)

JIM GIBBS

MEMBER
2 POSTS

The compresser engages and stays engaged. Yet the system blows hot and will not accept a charge on the low side. I can see the coolant floe in the sight galss and all fans are working. Any one have any knowledge on this.

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Thursday, December 17th, 2020 AT 11:57 AM (Merged)

KHLOW2008