progekSiR

97 Honda Civic LX

AC compressor clutch keeps opening and closing like hell and causing the motor to stumble to low idle and bounce. I just recently moved to Phoenix, AZ from utah and am only having this issue on hot days 100+. Wasn't sure if elevation or heat could be affecting anything. Any ideas what could be causing this? bad compressor? bad clutch?

vegas4x4

Can you put a manifold on it to check pressures? The two things I know of that will cause the AC clutch to disengage is:

1) High pressure cut off
2) AC thermostat when it gets cold to prevent the evap coil from freezing up

Not sure if perhaps too wide of a AC clutch gap could cause what you're seeing. How cold is it coming out of the vent when you're getting the cycling? My system cycles quite a bit once the AC evap thermostat kicks in when it gets cold, which for my car is around 50 degrees vent discharge temp.

My first thought is it is possibly overcharged since the pressures increase when the temps increase. Have you added any refrigerant yourself? A manifold gauge will answer that really quick. I'm a newb on the forums tho!

Former User

This^

Also check whether the condenser fans runs when the A/C is on.

progekSiR

yeah i dont really got much technical tools. yeah my first thought was pressure overload. i was told the pressure in the low side was supposed to be between 30-40 and im in that range. havent checked high side yet

progekSiR

what do you guys mean by manifold? like a pressure valve or something?

progekSiR

valve? dee de dee. i meant gauge

Former User

A manifold gauge set has two gauges, one to measure high side pressure and the other to measure low side pressure.

progekSiR

alright. do you know the specs on what they should be at?

Former User

Does the condenser fan run???

Depends on outside temp/humidity and engine rpms.

Do this:

https://honda-tech.com/forums/showpo...54&postcount=2

...and then post the high and low side pressures.

progekSiR

i believe the fan runs but im not positive. ill have to check tomorrow.
im gunna see if any of our classes at school have a manifold gauge i could use and ill post temps asap.

2004civiclx2dr

I would definately check the pressure. Go to walmart and pick up a AC recharge kit and see what your pressure is. It will be a cheap easy check off to the list.

motegicivic

That will do you no good. You need a gauge set, high and low side readings. It does depend on outside temp and humidity.

When it cycles on and off like crazy there is a possibility the system is over charged.

progekSiR

Ill be testing the system with a manifold gauge hopefully Friday. Will post readings asap.