stingray7

I started to have this problem 2 years ago when I had to fill one can of R134a. Then the next summer, which is last year, I put 2 cans of 12oz. The air got colder, but the gauge only showed little pressure. I put 2 more cans, but the gauge never hit the green area. That was 4 cans of 12oz, because I thought maybe I was not doing right. It lasted the whole summer. Now I am facing another summer... My 2002 4-cylinder accord only has 100K miles.

1. Why was that (low pressure)? Is it because the compressor is not keeping the pressure and about to die?
2. How can you tell if the compressor is going bad? I don't hear any unusual noise. Last year it did get cooler, thought it was not super cold.
3. Where can I go to get a replacement part? Do I order at a Honda dealer?
4. With this situation, if I don't want to spend the money for the complete fix, and keep filling the R134a, then should I keep 2 cans each summer, or should I put more like I did last year? The more the better?
5. Youtube has some videos for replacing compressor, not for 1998-2002 model, but 2003-2007 I think. Is this something I can do myself?

I bought me a 2 cans of 12 oz, and a UV dye to see any leakage, but maybe it is the compressor.
Please advise.

holmesnmanny

sounds like you got a leak, have someone recover the system and then pull a vacuum to see if there's a leak

stingray7

It does not sound like it is the compressor? Great!
I have 2 cans and UV dye. I have a UV light, so I will check the leakage next weekend.
But I still do not understand why the pressure rarely went up after 4 cans. Any idea, please?

Thanks!

holmesnmanny

If the leak is big enough it could be leaking out as you put the can in. Leaks tend to grow over time. Not ruling out the compressor but compressors don't really fail too often, normally either the pulley bearing seizes up or it seizes up internally. But it can go bad in terms of failing to produce a suction.

stingray7

I hear what you are saying. It may not apply to my case, because it lasted the whole summer last year with 4 cans of R134a.
When gas is empty, do I put one can of Ra134a, and then a can with dye, to check the leakage?
This is what I have:
https://www.pepboys.com/product/deta...264?quantity=1

Thank you!

stingray7

I put a full can of R134a, and then the UV dye. It was not a hot day but the air got very cold! So it is not the compressor, I don't think.
Hopefully it is not leaking from the compressor.
Just need to wait for a few more days to see how bad the leak is. This time I used one with "stop-the-leak."

Now, again, the gauge showed no pressure, even though I used another gauge (it was not the professional one, but one that comes with a can as a kit) It is still a mystery.
This honda hold 19oz, so I put 19oz, and 1.7oz of dye.
My (small) mistake was that I did not check and see how it was with the UV light, before I put the dye in it. So on one side, I cannot make a good comparison of "before and after."
However, the leak must be small, so either it does not make difference, or I can never find it.