ok, so its a 96 6 cyl accord. all the a/c controls function properly, lights all come on, fans come on, power at the a/c clutch. but it blows hot air. put a pressure guage on the low side port and it says it has high pressure, which tells me there is freon in the system. anything else to check before i replace the a/c clutch????? please help.

 

How are you checking for pressure? With the A/C on or off? Read the pressure when the A/C is on and running then see if it is still reading high.

If you have done that, I would guess it was the compressor. I'm no A/C expert, but I have worked on several A/C systems (all honda) and have been able to fix every one of them.

 

ya i read it with the a/c on, i was tolod if the compressor osnt fuctioning then the pressure will show high. im thinking the clutch on the compressor is bad, which is cheaper to replace then the whole compressor........

 

So you are saying that the AC clutch plate does not engage when there is voltage to the clutch coil?
The coil creates a magnetic field when working correctly, and a screwdriver will be attracted to it.
Carefully tap the face of the clutch plate while running to see if it engages?
have you checked the clutch plate air gap? Less than .5mm/.020" ?
There are thin shims under the clutch plate hub to adjust the air gap.

 

Have it drained and refilled?

Sometimes you just need to get it recharged. It can lose it after x amount of years.

 

it doesn't sound like is engaging at all. i did tap it with a wrench but did not see if it was actually attracted to it. have not checked the air gap, it is the stock compressor that has never been removed.

 

i tried to put some freon in and it wouldn't take any, i could drain and refill but i think there is another issue. if the system was empty would it show high pressure when running on the low port side??

 

Ahhhh didn't see that you wrote it wasn't engaging at all.

I did see that you said the buttons are working, lights are working and the fans are coming on though correct?

Just dumping in more probably wouldn't do it, it's possible the freon in there just went shitty and you'll need to drain it all out (dealers/mechanics have a pump) and then refill it.

It's possible the clutch is not engaging as well, though with mine the pressure safety bolt on the front had busted, leaked out 99% of the freon but still had some pressure in there. The fans worked, etc but blew warm air.

It's possible that your safety bolt thing blew and leaked it out but retained some pressure like mine. The easiest way to check that would be to either go and have them try to drain and recharge it or to remove the bolt yourself.

The problem with removing the bolt yourself though is if it's not the issue you could have a lot of freon leaking out haha.

 

lights and fans are all working.... if i unplug the pressure switch harness the fans go off. plug back in they work as they should....

what is this "bolt" u speak of? where is it located?

 

At least for the 4cyl Accord.

There's a small overhang on the front of the compressor and there's a small 10mm bolt on the front of it but it's underneath the overhang, I'll try to find a pic.

It's called the pressure safety bolt or something along those lines.

 

If the compressor will not engage and you have power at the clutch like you said, the coil is bad. Easy repair for an experienced A/C tech, but (not trying to be an *** or anything) it doesn't side like you have much experience with A/C.

 

not a ton, but have replaced coils before on a few fords. im new to hondas tho. Im a chevy guy and do manily classics with new LSx motor swaps.

 

They're not too bad. Nothing is pressed on. You have a bolt and retaining clips. You tap off the clutch with a soft dead blow hammer. That's it. No special tools needed.

I replace them without removing the compressor, but you might want to do your first one with the compressor off the car.

 

so it is possible to do it in the car..... it loocked like there was room

yeah the fords are bolt/retainer clip.

do you know the cost (approx) for the coil? went to a few auto parts stores and they dont sell them, just the compressor with coil. guess its a honda thing???