What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

03 civic AC diagnosis help

Dabba

Dabba

1/2 ton status
Joined
Jul 27, 2007
Posts
1,839
Reaction score
2
Location
Long Island, New York
So my local shop replaced the compressor last year and it's been working fine until last night. Just died on the way home and looking at the compressor, you can tell it's not engaged. My cousin was over and switched the relay for the compressor with the horn and that didn't help. I haven't checked the condenser fan or fuses yet. Or the pressure.

Assuming I get home and the fuses and pressure checks out, what else should I look for? is there a way to see if the replacement compressor died on me? The ac failed a few days ago for a few minutes but came back after I turned it on and off a bit. It failed again last night and hasn't worked since.
 
clutch? Might try wiring it direct and seeing if it works. I'm not sure how those are wired unfortunately. Might just be a positive in, negative out kinda thing.
 
Got any 134 gauges to check pressure? Check to make sure rock or anything didn't take condenser out!
 
K85 Octane said:
clutch? Might try wiring it direct and seeing if it works. I'm not sure how those are wired unfortunately. Might just be a positive in, negative out kinda thing.
Click to expand...
single wire (+) to engage clutch.

Unplug the plug at the compressor, use a test light harness side, ground the alligator side, turn on the a/c. If the light lights you have a bad compressor.

If it was done last year, I would assume there is a warranty? Did the receiver dryer get replaced?
 
It's not the fuses, and the pressure is fine.

The condenser fan comes on when you hit the AC button (both fans do) but the compressor remains off. If the pressure switch was activated, both should be off.

Im guessing it's either not getting power for one reason or another or it's dead. I don't have a test light, but I was thinking about just giving it 12v and seeing if it spins. Problem is.. it's so tight in there I can even begin to think of how I would supply it power manually, nevermind having one's hand that close to spinning belts...
 
that's exactly what you need to do. since the fans are coming on the pressures switches are working along with the control panel and fuses. if you getting power to the compressor then it's shot. there is a connector right there at it just look for it to test it. see if you can borrow a power probe to preform this test it will help. if you don't have power there let me know.
 
if i remember right connector slides off and then can separate connector which gives you a little more room to work.
That right Josh aka 919?
 
o yeah. that connector will slide right off the holder to make it a lot easier to get at.
 
So, weird thing. I jumped the condenser fan and compressor as such:

QQ20120718182430.jpg


The top plug being the compressor, bottom left being the fan.. and when I connected it to the terminal, the radiator fan kicked on, but NOT the condenser fan or compressor.

Yet, with the relays in like normal, the condenser fan runs (the compressor still doesnt)

Am I missing something? Or did I not jump it right? Should I try tomorrow with just running a wire from the battery just to the compressor relay and leaving the condenser fan relay in?

Really confused.
 
You know everything else works. unplug the plug at the compressor, stick a wire in the compressor side plug, start the car, stick the other end of the wire on the (+) terminal see if the clutch kicks.
 
Dabba said:
So, weird thing. I jumped the condenser fan and compressor as such:

QQ20120718182430.jpg


The top plug being the compressor, bottom left being the fan.. and when I connected it to the terminal, the radiator fan kicked on, but NOT the condenser fan or compressor.

Yet, with the relays in like normal, the condenser fan runs (the compressor still doesnt)

Am I missing something? Or did I not jump it right? Should I try tomorrow with just running a wire from the battery just to the compressor relay and leaving the condenser fan relay in?

Really confused.
Click to expand...

You are trouble shooting from the middle. Follow the power.
The easy way is use a meter or light at the compressor plug or like the other guy said run a 12v hot to the comp.
 
you need to check for power at the compressor plug. if you have power there the compressor clutch is junk. even if you take straight power to that plug if the clutch is junk it still won't come on but you need to know if you have power going all the way down to that point.
 
919jackass said:
you need to check for power at the compressor plug. if you have power there the compressor clutch is junk. even if you take straight power to that plug if the clutch is junk it still won't come on but you need to know if you have power going all the way down to that point.
Click to expand...

I didnt think of that. Well I know it's either the clutch or compressor. At this point I may bring it back to the mechanic who replaced it last year. Was expecting it to live a little longer than this.
 
Most mechanics offer 12 months 12 k warr. Hopefully your in that time if not maybe they can help out either way
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom