I searched, and couldn't find this answer. My 'new to me' 89 Crx HF has never had an air conditioner. Can I add one at this point? Will it drag on the engine? Obviously I am new to this process, so any help will be appreciated! I am learning as I go.....

Thank you!
Lori in TX

 

yea you can, im not sure if there are the ***** that come out of the firewall for the piping to hook up to and you will need to get a climate control with the ac button.. of coarse the ac motor and compressor, and if it didnt come stock your gonna need a crank pulley with enough places to power your ac and alternator and or if your power steering

 

It can be done, although it will be alot of work. I recently moved to San Antonio and I had AC installed in my 89 CRX also. I paid close to $700 dollars for my setup (used) since I didnt have the time or place to do it myself.

And yes when the A/C is on it is parasitic on the motor but I cant complain, I can now sit in my car with the windows up and enjoy cold a/c

Mig

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Silver_Rex &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And yes when the A/C is on it is parasitic on the motor but I cant complain, I can now sit in my car with the windows up and enjoy cold a/c</TD></TR></TABLE>

You bastard! hahah, well i shouldnt bitch, i took mine off for the sake of space and a cleaner bay. But it's not too bad here in socal. it doesnt get ovenish like in texas. Enjoy bro.

 

No A/C = four to five months of misery. I'll deal with an extra 50 pounds of weight!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by StorminMatt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">No A/C = four to five months of misery. I'll deal with an extra 50 pounds of weight!</TD></TR></TABLE>

exactly that's what i'm going through right now with my std. in the disgustingly muggy and humid georgia weather.

 

its very easy to add a/c back in. its pretty straight forward and worth it for a daily driver. i have to sets of a/c systems for ef's. every part ya need. let me know if you need any of it.

 

Okay, yes, it is HOT here, so I don't mind the extra weight. My CRX will be my daily driver for approx 190 per day. I currently get about 52 mpg in the city. How much do you think I am looking at killing that great gas mileage?

Also, can anyone tell me what an AirCon is? I see one on Ebay for the Climate Control panel. It looks different than my panel, but says it fits my car. Is that thing actually an air conditioner in itself? My dad mentioned that he thought those exist for my car. Any thoughts? BTW my climate control panel is cracked and will have to be replaced anyway. They seems quite expensive (for my current budget). Anyone know a good place for this part, used or new?

Thank you so much for your input!
Lori in TX

 

My HF came with AC and when i turned it on it would bog the car down. I mean it made it hard to make it up some hills..lol. guess i cannot complain though with a car that only had like 60-70 hp.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by eargirly &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Also, can anyone tell me what an AirCon is? I see one on Ebay for the Climate Control panel. It looks different than my panel, but says it fits my car. Is that thing actually an air conditioner in itself?</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's just the climate control panel from a JDM CRX...if there was a way to fit an AC system in that kind of space, I'd be pretty excited to hear about it! There are "Factory Air" brand systems for classic cars that fit up under the dash and run AC and heat and everything, but they are pretty good sized.

 

I am learning so much! My husband chuckles and thinks I can't do this, but don't ever tell me I can't do something!

I don't think I will go for the large ac/heat unit! NO thanks! I actually found an 89 CRX HF at a local salvage yard that is fairly intact. I am going to pick it over today for a new driver's side door panel, drivers side door mirror, AC unit? Seats? Who knows what all I will find on that little baby!

Thanks guys for the help so far. I'm sure other things will come up. Hopefully they will be in the search function and I won't have to bug you.

Any ideas on how much it would be to get my little project painted? What is a good price?

Lori in TX

 

I think it is a lot of work to put AC into a CRX that never had it. I did that for my girlfriend's 91 Civic Si, and I would never do it again. I would rather just buy another car that already came with AC and sell the one I have. But if you are up for a challenging project then go for it!

When you are taking the AC system out of the car in the junkyard, just remember to get all of the stuff under the dash too. If you car never came with AC, then you will need the evaporater and some other parts located right under the glove box. Make sure you also pick up the complete wiring harness with all relays. Just fallow the wires to make sure you get it all. You really don't need to get a new climate control unit, unless yours is cracked. All you need is that AC button, which will pop out.

One problem I had was reusing the old AC lines. Half of them started having leaks. You can try using those old lines, just remember to get new gaskets for them. Also, the used old condensor located in front of the radiator will probably be no good too. You will need to buy a brand new dryer also.

Good luck.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 90_EF_Si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

You bastard! hahah, well i shouldnt bitch, i took mine off for the sake of space and a cleaner bay. But it's not too bad here in socal. it doesnt get ovenish like in texas. Enjoy bro. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Well I am from San Diego so not having a/c wasnt a problem. But after sitting in traffic one day with 99 deg temps here in San Antonio I didnt care what it was gona cost to add a/c.

As for adding a/c, I had mine done by a shop that was next to the junkyards. If there are junk yards around your area look around to see if any shops can do the same thing.

Mig

 

i just finished up A/C class at school (yes.. a whole semester of A/C... man it was hell)

i could try to exaggerate how much work this is but i may come up short. Especially on a factory non a/c car.

there are many parts to the system on this car.
compressor with brackets and pullies
evaporator with TXV
condensor
receiver/dryer
lines/fittings
crank pulley for extra belt
controls with AC button
the WIRING (you can get all this from a donor car) Remember you will have pressure switches etc..

i recommend starting with the compressor/pullies/belts and lines, then bolt your high press. gas line to the condensor. Then run the high press. liquid line from the condensor into the firewall. Then rip apart the dash/ducts and take care of the controls, evaporator, txv, and the line back out. The low press. gas coming out of the evaporator goes to the receiver/dryer over by the driver headlight. Then one more line back to the compressor. Once you get it all done... then you have to buy a retrofit kit to convert it to HFC134A.

I would like to say that I would rather sell my car and buy one with AC than deal with this. I wish you luck!

 

Thanks for the help y'all. I think I have decided on not adding AC at this point. Went to the salvage yard and got the things I needed (interior panel, driver's side mirror, driver's door trim) Heater/AC control panel was cracked like mine, so I haven't gotten that yet. Not ready to tackle the AC unit just yet. I need to learn more and get my hands dirty a little. Hubby still thinks I can't do all this stuff myself, but I know I can. I have been studying my manual, and surely I can follow a diagram. I guess we'll see....

Thanks guys for all the info so far!

Lori

 

here you go!



dont get into an accident though, somebody might get hit with a flying generator!

 

now that would weight your car down

 

lol...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ham &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">here you go!



dont get into an accident though, somebody might get hit with a flying generator!</TD></TR></TABLE>
LMAO!

 

Hey, guys............... that's my OTHER car! How did you find me?

LOL ! I think that guy lives in my town!

Do you think the weight of the unit and compressor would change my gas mileage?

OKAY....JUST KIDDING!

Lori

 

I love the tail light

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bmg123 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think it is a lot of work to put AC into a CRX that never had it. I did that for my girlfriend's 91 Civic Si, and I would never do it again. I would rather just buy another car that already came with AC and sell the one I have. But if you are up for a challenging project then go for it!

</TD></TR></TABLE>

An Si that came stock w/o a/c?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by philkehn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

An Si that came stock w/o a/c?</TD></TR></TABLE>


If I remember correctly in California the a/c was optional it did not come standard on Civic or crx's

Mig

 

hmm i could be wrong but i thought that all Si came with ac

that picture is the funniest thing i have ever seen though..that might just work..

 

you could do that but with a 100amp power inverter instead of a generator. haha