1997 Acura Integra Compressor turns on and off

SGTJACKSON

MEMBER
1997 ACURA INTEGRA
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
153,000 MILES

Compressor turns on and off, will not blow cold air in hot weather. At night when it is cooler it will run like a champ, gets nice and cold and does not turn on and off causing the car to jerk at slow speeds. Also the pump gets blazing hot (doesn't glow but dropped a bit of water on it to see how hot, and sizzle.)

I checked belt backlash to make sure it is not loose, or too tight, its right on. I checked the freon and it was in the green, I used a do-it-yourself (by interdynamics) kit from advance auto. They informed me I could use this due in part that my car is equipped with a system compatible with 134a, they said it came stock in this model/year. (Per their book)

My next (logical) step would be replace the compressor, I'm thinking the clutch is jacked, or maybe the electronics are back.

Any ideas?

3 Replies

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

First ALL cars sold in USA since 1992 use R134a, by LAW, now compressor will run hot, but not at water sizzle stage, remove your seprpentine belt, and see if the pulley will spin freely, do this on a cold engine! If it does, then toss that piece of junk you tested the system with and either get a good manifold gauge set, or go to a competent a/c shop, read the high and low side of the system. You either have a low charge, due to the low pressure cycling switch turning off the compressor, or a faulty part, and a good gauge set and knowledge of taking the readings, will tellus which it is. As you run it with gauges hooked up, the compressor will shut off if the low side goes below 23psi or so, but reading is needed! If the preesure does go that low, you only need a recharge.