Ok here’s the deal. My compressor turns itself off when the condenser (radiator looking thing that is in front of the radiator) gets too warm, like when the car is sitting at idle, the compressor will turn itself off, and my a/c will cease to blow cold air. But whenever I spray water on the condenser, the compressor immediately kicks back on.

I have the OEM condenser fan, but a smaller aftermarket radiator fan with no shroud, just zip tied to the radiator. Both work fine, but the condenser fan only turns on when the a/c compressor is on.

Can this other, non OEM fan be the reason my condenser is getting too warm and causing my a/c to shut off? Do Hondas have a pressure cycling switch?

The aftermarket fan runs all the time, and the car never gets anywhere near too hot. Hell it never even gets above half way on my gauge. If any of you have had a similar problem and found the solution, please let me know! Thanks!!!

to those who help

 

does the fan blow the right way? If its blowing air from the engine bay out, then that might be an issue

 

yes, they are both pulling air through the radiator and condenser

 

There is a pressure switch in the drier. the drier is located on the drivers side, just behind the headlight, its round and aluminum about 2.5inchs in diam, 5inchs long. You can only see the top of it with both a/c lines and the switch. It is almost directly below the power steering resivoir.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Slothy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There is a pressure switch in the drier. the drier is located on the drivers side, just behind the headlight, its round and aluminum about 2.5inchs in diam, 5inchs long. You can only see the top of it with both a/c lines and the switch. It is almost directly below the power steering resivoir.</TD></TR></TABLE>

what is the power switch hooked to on the drier?

 

my drier only has to the 2 metal hoses connected to it. there is no electrical switch/thing of any type on mine.

the metal line going to the drier from the condenser has an electrical plug on it, im assuming that is the pressure sensor. im gonna try unplugging that and see if the compressor stays on.

 

If the pressure inside the AC system gets too high, it will turn off so save the parts from damage. Cooling it down by driving (air blowing through) will decrease the pressure and it allows the system to turn on.

Also if the pressure is too low (no charge in the system) , the compressor will not turn on. Unplugging the switch will tell it that there is no charge.

Pressure has to stay within a certain range.

Only a theory:
You might have a lot of pressure in the system right now. With it getting warm, it will pass the pressure threshold and shut itself off. You might relieve some pressure to "give the system some room" to operate. Put a gauge to see if that could be the case.


Modified by D50boy at 1:58 PM 6/30/2006

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by D50boy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Pressure has to stay within a certain range.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

what pressure should the a/c system be at? i am going ot evac my system with a vacuum and a a/c manifold...i just dont know how much refrigerant to put in the system when everything is vacuumed out.

 

If it is an R134 system, no more than 19 oz. of freon is to be put in.

 

I filled mine yesterday, it was completely empty. Book called for 22oz.

 

we filled mine up, but i have no idea how much refrigerant is in it. the guy at the shop i know does it all the time (he was in charge of filling it). i'll ask him how much he put in the thing. maybe mine is too full.

that could explain why when i spray cold water on the condenser to cool it off, the compressor kicks back on and blows ice cold.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Slothy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I filled mine yesterday, it was completely empty. Book called for 22oz.</TD></TR></TABLE>

what if you totally evac your system with a vacuum pump? will u need 22oz?

wont you know by the gauges telling you 25-45 psi on the low pressure side?

 

If you evac your system, it will be dry, same amount of r134a, 22oz. If your system has any r134a in it, they re-use it and add to it what ever is needed to equal a total of 22oz.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Slothy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you evac your system, it will be dry, same amount of r134a, 22oz. If your system has any r134a in it, they re-use it and add to it what ever is needed to equal a total of 22oz.</TD></TR></TABLE>

alright so if i use a vacuum pump to bring it to a deep vacuum with a vacuum pump, it will have no 134a(or so little that its not significant) so i would need to put 22 oz in when i fill it up? I am guessing that the oil will still stay in there since at a vacuum the refrigerant will turn to vapor and will be sucked out by the pump?

 

Exactally. Bring it to 30lbs of vac for 15-30min to be sure of no leaks, @ 28lbs, moisture evaporates.

 

i think im narrowing it down to my little shitty slim radiator fan not moving enough air through the passenger side of my condensor, cuz when i spray water just on that side, it cools it down enough and tne compressor kicks on. now its off to the junkyard to find a new fan.

 

ey!! i have a problem..i got freeon..yesterday but the ac wont kick in!! wtf...they guy at the shop told me that the compressor is not turning on. also, he said it can be the electrical and or the compressor. how do i fix this? i really need AC?!

 

quick question..can you charge your ac if the compressor isnt on?


Modified by andthenlarrysaid at 11:53 PM 7/3/2006