jc2801

I have a 97 civic lx stock d16. The A/C was working fine and all of sudden it stopped throwing cold air. I checked everything and the condensor fan fuse keeps blowing (the fuse box under the hood next to the battery). I replace it with a size 20 fuse and it blows right away so I put a 30 fuse and the compressor start working for about a minute and then blows. I checked the wires and there is no shortage. The condensor fan spins and the compressor works until the fuse blows.....I'm not sure if its the condensor motor or fan or something else, anyone know what's wrong or any advice? Thanks in advance.

fcm

Never replace fuses with bigger ones, you can burn your car to the ground.

Fuse 56 - 20A, [hot at all times] in engine bay fuse box is power for the condenser fan and the A/C compressor clutch, through the condenser fan relay and the compressor clutch relay, power to the compressor clutch also goes through the "A/C Compressor Thermal Protector".

My guess is the condenser fan is good and the problem is the A/C compressor clutch coil or the A/C CTP switch.

A simple test is to unplug both the A/C compressor clutch relay and the condenser fan relay, using a jumper wire with a 10A fuse in it, jump the in/out terminals of the condenser fan relay plug, condenser fan will turn on, [ign. switch does not need to be on] let it run, if fuse does not blow remove jumper, plug condenser relay back in, start car and turn A/C on, install fused jumper on the in and out terminals of the compressor clutch relay plug, compressor will turn on, condenser fan will also turn on, my guess is the 10A fuse in the jumper will blow turning off the compressor, meaning the problem is the compressor clutch coil or the A/C CTP switch, the switch will be mounted to the compressor and is not removable on most compressors, wires on plug can be jumped for testing, reinstall compressor clutch relay, jump the A/C CTPswitch plug and turn system on, if fuse no longer blows it is the A/C CTP switch that is bad, if fuse still blows it is the compressor clutch coil that is bad, if it is the A/C CTP switch you can take your chances and leave the plug jumped if it is not the removable kind of switch, the coil will be replaceable, either way, coil or switch, the compressor will have to be pulled and that means a recovery and a recharge.94