AC stopped working

Tiny
CAL MILLER
  • MEMBER
  • 2010 HONDA CIVIC
  • 1.8L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 108,500 MILES
My AC stopped working and I looked at fuses, but the fuse box description for the AC is unclear for the AC system.
Wednesday, March 29th, 2017 AT 9:27 AM

20 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,874 POSTS
We use a test light to test the voltages on both sides of the spade-type fuses that have two test points on top. Larger cartridge-type fuses can be checked visually.

This guide will help us fix it

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

Please run down this guide and report back.

This can be expected on a seven-year-old car. Before you go looking for the less-common stuff, have your mechanic connect a set of gauges to see what the pressure is in the system. If it is "0" pounds, there is a leak that must be located and repaired. If it is just low, the refrigerant has leaked out over time, which is common. Either way, there is a low-pressure cutoff switch or a pressure sensor that prevents the compressor from running when the pressure gets too low. That is done to prevent potentially drawing in outside air through a leak. The humidity in that air combines with refrigerant to form an acid that will attack the metal parts.

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Wednesday, March 29th, 2017 AT 12:55 PM
Tiny
PEGGY62
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2010 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 800 MILES
Would could be the reason the air conditioning iis not working on a brand new car, seems to be blowing warm air. Thank you
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 11:03 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
There could be alot of differnt reasons for it not blowing cold even on a brand new car. Like a leak, electricial problem, bad compressor etc. Just because it's new doesn't mean it doesn't have a bad part or someone miss installed a part when it was built at the factory or even you might have hit something on the road and didn't even know it and lost the charge in the a/c. Your best bet is to take it into the dealer and have them look at to see what's wrong with it.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 11:03 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ICEMAN2255
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I have a brand new civic with same problem - very weak air conditioner. Did you resolve your problem - and how?

IceMan
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 11:03 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BOAZ
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  • 1 POST
I bought my 2009 civic about a year ago and took it to the dealer several times and was told that nothing is wrong with my AC, it seems to run warm/cool when the car is idle or in slow traffic, it runs cold just fine when going 35 mph and above. I was told by another Honda dealer recently that's the way the civic is! I don't know if it's designed so it will get better milage or what! I'm disappointed! I live in FL for Gods sake, my 03 jeep wrangler AC is running freezing cold air, I wonder what's up with that?
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 11:03 AM (Merged)
Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
  • MEMBER
  • 4,540 POSTS
  • 2010 HONDA CIVIC
  • 95,000 MILES
Fan on airconditioner won, t work
what could be the problem?
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 11:03 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
A blown fuse, bad relay, control, power resistor or a bad fan motor. The mileage seems too low for the fn motor to have failed and the basics steps are to check the fuses first.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 11:03 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MSHAIKH81
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2009 HONDA CIVIC
  • 24,000 MILES
My 2009 Honda Civic (24,000 miles) has been blowing hot & humid air for the past few weeks, when idle - at a stop sign or red light, or parked. The air also has a musty odor, and the problem seems a lot worse the hotter the temperature outside. When it's cooler outside(below 90's), it doesn't seem to be as much of an issue (if at all). When driving, it works fine. I went to a mechanic who did a 22-point inspection and topped it with Freon and put a dye through the system to detect any leaks. It worked for a day or two, then same problem occurred. When I took it back they found no leak, but determined that it was a problem with the compressor. They tested it with some gauge and said something about the needle vibrating at idle that indicated it was the compressor. (They didn't offer to show me, but showed my husband instead, who doesn't know any more than I do.) They also said the compressor would be around $1,000. I discovered that it should still be covered under the manufacturer's warranty and made an appointment with the dealership. They checked it out today and said it was just the air filter that was dirty and needed to be replaced. It ended up costing me over $80 for a new air filter, but I'm not even sure now if that was the actual issue or if I got ripped off by the dealership. I had last replaced my air filter at 12,579 miles (August of 2010). The previous mechanic had checked the air filter, and didn't determine that it needed to be replaced immediately. Also, if it was only an air filter, would it cause the AC to blow hot, smelly & humid air only when idle and when it's hot outside, but work fine when I'm driving or it's not as hot outside?

Is it possible that the Honda dealership tried to blame it on a dirty air filter just so they could get some money out of me, when the actual problem may have been covered under warranty and I might not have had to pay anything?

I've only driven it today and it seemed like it was working better, but could still tell the AC was a lot more powerful and cooler when I was driving. I just moved to Houston, TX a few weeks ago and it seemed like that's when the problem started. It's extremely hot & humid outside and I live in an area with a lot of stop & go traffic. My 2 yr old and I are miserable and I don't want to leave the house to go anywhere during the day b/c of this! Please let me know if you have any advice.

Thanks!
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 11:03 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
I s no connection at all between the air filter and the A/C cooling properly. You might want to try either a different dealer or escalate the complaint to the district level.

This guide will help us fix it

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

Please run down this guide and report back.

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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 11:03 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JOE AUTO
  • MEMBER
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I am a technician at a dealership. I have been for 17 years. I want to inform you thast the repair of your air filter was absolutely needed. The problem is yourunderstanding that the vehicle has two air filter one for the engine that you are thinking of and one for the cabin/ A/C. Called a Cabin Air Filter. The Cabin Air Filter filters all the inside air that passes over the evaporator coils. Please be informed be bashing the technician. The dealer wants your buisness. They could have replaced the compressor under warranty and made you angry because it didnt fix your problem. Had you went to them to begin with you would not have ad to pay for the freon to be supposedly topped off. In my opinion the mechanic you paid to put freon in your car should have referred you to the dealer knowing you where under warranty he took advantage of you.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 11:03 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
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The Cabin air filter is going to make the A/C blow hot, huh?

Yep, typical dealer.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 11:04 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JOE AUTO
  • MEMBER
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Ok let's think about it together if the filter is restricted so is the air flow of the air flow is restricted then there is not enough air crossing the evaporator coil to cool the air going into the cabin and the evap gets so cold it nears or actually freezes causing the compressor to cycle. I also noticed you didn't mention how the first "mechanic " ripped them off. Amazing only take it to the dealer " technician "when you actually want it fixed and after you let someone else try first. My question is did it fix it or is she still having the same problem. Yea a dealer charges more but done right the first time is priceless. :) :)
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 11:04 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MSHAIKH81
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thanks for still responding to this thread, although it has been almost 7 months. I went to the original mechanic with a Groupon deal and had paid under $20 for the 22 point inspection. They didn't charge me anything extra to check for the leak and top off with freon. They actually suggested for me to check if the compressor was still covered under warranty, since it would be over a grand to get a new one through them. So I don't believe they were being dishonest... As for the Honda dealership, I spoke to the manager and did more investigation through the Honda bulletins online and discovered that this is a pretty common complaint with the 2009 Honda Civic. It seems like that's just how it was designed for fuel efficiency, when in idle. Mine just seemed especially unbearable in the middle of Houston's summer heat, so my husband graciously offered to swap cars with me so my preschooler and I wouldn't have to suffer. I'm now driving his 2011 Honda Accord, which has tinted windows and no issues with AC not cooling properly even when idle. He drives to work in the morning before it gets too hot and back home in the evening, so luckily he doesn't have to put up with midday heat and we resolved the issue for now. Our lease will end in a few months, and needless to say we will not be getting another Honda Civic.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 11:04 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,110 POSTS
One of the biggest problems here is the humidity level. The clogged cabin air filter restricted air flow across the evaporator to the extent that the refrigerant was able to get cold enough to cause the condensation to freeze. When the condensation from the humidity freezes, it stops the flow of air across the evaporator coil and forces it around the coil.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 11:04 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ANGELO87
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2009 HONDA CIVIC
  • 1.8L
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 146,000 MILES
My problem I have is when I am driving the A/C stops blowing cold air and switches to hot air. Shut off the system wait for fifteen minutes and it working sometimes. Both of the fan turns on, the clutch does engage. I am just stuck I live in Arizona the weather here hits 115 degrees F so anything help helps.

This is what I have done to the car, replace the A/C clutch, the fuses, the low pressure switch.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 11:04 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
There is still some serious question as to whether that was the problem at all. The cooling is still not satisfactory to the poster and that is not the norm for a Civic. It sounds like the problem has still not been resolved.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 11:04 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
From what it sounds like is that your system has moisture in it. You will need a new drier/accumulator and system will need to be evacuated to get the moisture out and recharged. This is commonly called freezing up.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 11:04 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CICICURE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
This is exactly what happened to me and it Is the air filter!
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 11:04 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RAINEBURNS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Angel087 were you able to figure out what was wrong with your vehicle? I am having the same exact issue with an 06 Honda Civic and also live in AZ.. Trying to figure out answers.
Fans work, compressor and clutch engages, just replaced the sensor last year and the condenser about a month ago and recharged the system. It worked great for a month and now it's back to blowing warm/ hot when the car is in stop and go traffic or idling. It seems like many Honda's are experiencing this same issue. Frustrating
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 11:04 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,690 POSTS
It sounds like you have a leak in the system. lets confirm the issue by following this guide:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/air-conditioner-leak-detection

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 11:04 AM (Merged)

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