texas6023

Hi,
I seen a post on this forum where you guys gave pretty good advice on a similar problem I am having with ac.. Would like a little guidance and hope you do not mind responding nor mind me messaging you either? I have a 1998 honda civic lx and my ac used to work fine but belts would squeal alot.. So i replaced all belts and squealing stopped.. Well a couple months after I started have ac problems.. IT seems I might be loosing refrigerant because last time I added a can of refrigerant It last for 2 days but I only used ac to work which is 15 minutes away and it just started blowing less and less cold till it finally stopped.. Well.. when ac stopped blowing cold I noticed ac condenser fan fuse had blown... So I replaced fuse and would try to start ac but would blow this fuse almost instantly.. It was blowing it too fast for me to try and add refrigerant.. ONe thing I did notice while my ac is off because I cannot get it to work now is that the armature plate will turn on its own and I can hear it spinning while I have gone to the bank and wait in line... I do not even touch the armature plate and it will spin on its own with ac off and me not even touching it.. IS this normal and could this possible lead me to the problem or is this bit of info irrelevant? Please help and would really appreciate a little bit of guidance before I open up the check book on my lovely civic... Thank you in advance and look forward to hearing from you..

Oh and I believe the condensor fan was running the last time I used ac but not sure the speed of it? I can test this if you are willing to help me out here.. thanks

fcm

Which fuse is blowing, fuse 17-7.5A or fuse 56-20A?

If it is fuse 56-20A, it powers the condensor fan and the A/C compressor clutch, you will need to narrow down the circuit that blows the fuse.

The simplest way to do that is to pull the condensor fan relay and the compressor clutch relay, [in engine bay fuse/relay box] jump the terminals, [one at a time] by installing a paper clip and then plugging a fuse in, the one that blows the fuse is the problem circuit.
Feel free to IM me if you have questions. 94

texas6023

Hi,
Ok it is a 20 amp fuse that is blowing in the box right next to the battery.. And how do I jump the relay with a paperclip if it is a four prong relay.. Relay has a schematic with prong numbers but I have no idea which ones to put the paper clip on? Shows numbers 30, 87 and 85 and 86

Muckman

iTrader: (2)

I have the same problem. Ive isolated the problem to the compressor. When its unplugged the condensor fan comes on. If I plug in the compressor as soon as it kicks on the 56-20a fuse blows.

fcm

The terminals you would jump would be 30 and 87, or just pull the condensor and A/C clutch relays and turn A/C on and plug the relays in one at a time, the one that blows the fuse is the problem circuit.

Also, what do you mean by, "the armature plate will turn on its own" are you talking about the A/C clutch? 94

Former User

Sounds like a bad compressor clutch coil. Measure its resistance.

Muckman

iTrader: (2)

I did and it was fine. It turned out to be the clutch wire was loose at a butt connector.

Gieto

fcm, if you are still here on the forums, can you finish the other side of the diagnosis, mine is blowing the 7.5amp fuse. or is there someone else who can help. $1300 is not an option. Tia!

car: 1998 accord ex v6

story: i left for vacation, ac was and had been working like a champ all summer. came back a week-1/2 later, car cranks right up. pull out onto street with the windows down to cool it off, kick on the ac, turn the corner, rolled up the windows and smothered...

check the fuses and the 7.5 is out. replaced and got a few seconds before popping again... where can i go from here? other research says a clutch replacement kit is the way to go, but the info wasn't backed with facts or tests. anyone gone this route?

DCFIVER

Unplug the compressor,does it still pop the fuse? Then try the fans, and blower motor until you find the culprit. If none of these prevent the fuse from poping,then you have a direct short in the wiring or control panel. A diagram will be helpful in this case...