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Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

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Old Apr 11, 2009 | 06:02 PM
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Default Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

Howdy,

I have a 2004 Accord 5sp LX that my wife drives. Has about 90k miles on it and we bought is as a CPO (she wanted it) from a Honda dealer. I had a 2002 TDI Jetta until recently and also tinker with an old 300D diesel Mercedes. You could say I'm a DIYer but I'm kinda old school and don't know much on this Honda other than oil changes.

A problem cropped up a couple weeks ago where when the A/C compressor is on in any configuration (recirc, max, temp not set to coldest position), the air out of the drivers side vents blows noticably warmer than the air out of the passenger side vents. The A/C compressor is definitely engaging.

I searched a little bit on this forum and found 2 or 3 threads with similar examples but no conclusive evidence. One thread did reference a DTC diagnostic on the climate control unit - can anybody post that procedure for me to try? I would REALLY like to avoid going to the dealer or anybody else if this is something I can troubleshoot or fix myself. $$$ are tight right now, as everybody can probably sympathize with. There's a junkyard near here with 2 03-05 cars with complete dashes if it turns out to be some sort of motor or door problem. How hard is it to remove the dash on these cars if the problem is under the dash?

THANKS.
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Old Apr 11, 2009 | 06:29 PM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

The only time I've heard about this type of problem, it turned out to be a vent connection under the dash that had come apart. He did mention that someone could have hit it with their foot, causing the disconnect, so it was probably visible from the floorboard. Take a look, you might get lucky.
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Old Apr 11, 2009 | 06:43 PM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

does your car have duel climate control ?
if so the freon level is most likely low. very common on the acura side.
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Old Apr 11, 2009 | 06:50 PM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

Nope, it is a single plain-Jane LX climate control. Because one side still blows ice cold air, I suspect the refrigerant is fine, as are relays and electrics to the compressor and fan. It seems to be a blend problem. I don't know if the same occurs with heat selected or not. Guess that's one place to start.

Does anybody know if the doors behave differently with the A/C selected on than if it's off?
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Old Apr 11, 2009 | 06:51 PM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

Originally Posted by dtapia
does your car have duel climate control ?
if so the freon level is most likely low. very common on the acura side.
It's an LX, so I don't think it has dual climate control.
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Old Apr 11, 2009 | 07:05 PM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

ok you can manually control the blend door . you can disconnect the mode motor and move the linkage but if you have some a/c gauges i would check the psi.a much faster check unless you have access to a hds and monitor the sweep percentage to see if its a mode motor or something else.
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Old Apr 23, 2009 | 06:24 PM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

Does anybody know the procedure for the HVAC diagnostic check?
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Old Apr 23, 2009 | 08:22 PM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

Originally Posted by roundout
Does anybody know the procedure for the HVAC diagnostic check?
How to Retrieve a DTC
The audio-HVAC display panel has a self-diagnostic function for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. To run the self-diagnostic function, do the following:

Turn the ignition switch OFF.

Turn the fan switch OFF.

Set the temperature control dial on Max Cool, then push the mode control button to select Vent.

Turn the ignition switch ON (II).

Press and hold the recirculation control button.

While holding the button down, press the rear window defogger button five times within 10 seconds. The recirculation indicator blinks two times, then the self-diagnosis will begin.

If there is any problem in the system after self-diagnosis is finished, the recirculation indicator will blink Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) 1 through 6. If there are any problems in the evaporator temperature sensor circuit, the A/C indicator will blink DTC 7 or 8.

If no DTC's are found, the indicator will not blink.


Cancelling the Self-diagnostic Function
Turn the ignition switch OFF to cancel the self-diagnostic function. After completing repair work, run the self-diagnostic function again to make sure that there are no other malfunctions.
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Old Apr 24, 2009 | 01:31 AM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

Can you get a thermometer and measure one vent vs the other? I'm curious to know the difference.

I remember working on an old mans 03-05 accord with a similiar complaint but can't remember what the outcome was.
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Old Apr 24, 2009 | 09:23 AM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

Originally Posted by spoonfedcrx
Can you get a thermometer and measure one vent vs the other? I'm curious to know the difference.

I remember working on an old mans 03-05 accord with a similiar complaint but can't remember what the outcome was.
NICE useful info.
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Old Apr 24, 2009 | 04:59 PM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

Originally Posted by dtapia
NICE useful info.
As is that. I was asking the op a question in concerns to his problem. I'll stay off your forum from now on. Sorry to upset you sir.
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Old Apr 24, 2009 | 07:21 PM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

Originally Posted by spoonfedcrx
As is that. I was asking the op a question in concerns to his problem. I'll stay off your forum from now on. Sorry to upset you sir.
hey no big deal was only posting their is a lot of guys on here posting things that dont help the op. your post didn't make any sense so i was not sure of the posting my bad.
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Old Apr 24, 2009 | 07:38 PM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

Originally Posted by dtapia
hey no big deal was only posting their is a lot of guys on here posting things that dont help the op. your post didn't make any sense so i was not sure of the posting my bad.
Too late. You chased me away. Boo hoo
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Old Apr 24, 2009 | 07:52 PM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

lol
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Old Apr 27, 2009 | 10:23 AM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

so any news on the car ?
any dtc's
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Old Apr 27, 2009 | 10:59 AM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

Howdy:

I have a 04 Accord EX with the exact same problem. Did you ever find out what the problem was? Thank you
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Old Apr 27, 2009 | 11:12 AM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

you should have it checked out it could be low on freon or have another problem.
take it to a shop for repair.
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Old Apr 27, 2009 | 12:29 PM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

I plan to do that. Just wanted to know if there are some setting that I missed to cause that. If it is low on freon, why is it cold on one side not another?
Thank you
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Old Apr 27, 2009 | 12:32 PM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

since the evap is on almost in the center of the dash. just the design of the system but very common complaint.
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Old Apr 30, 2009 | 08:07 AM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

I had the same problem with a 2002 LX and it turned out to be a mode door problem.
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Old May 20, 2009 | 05:08 PM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

I have same problem on 05 Accord LX.
Ran the DTC check and no DTC's are found.

When running the DTC, I hear squeaking noise from moving parts, I am not familiar with the door that was mention in the postings, but I guess the squeaking may be from the door moving. Is the squeaking normal ?
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Old Aug 14, 2009 | 11:01 AM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

My 2004 Accord has the exact problem. Driver side blows warm air and the passenger side is fine. Driving the Mustang on hot days to avoid fixing this summer.

ABS light also ON which I see a lot of complaints.
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Old Aug 17, 2009 | 06:00 AM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

Originally Posted by dtapia
ok you can manually control the blend door . you can disconnect the mode motor and move the linkage but if you have some a/c gauges i would check the psi.a much faster check unless you have access to a hds and monitor the sweep percentage to see if its a mode motor or something else.
I have the same problem with my 03 LX. Where is the "blend door" and how can I access the linkage.

Any updates?
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Old Aug 17, 2009 | 06:57 PM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

Finally took my Honda to the shop. Turns out that I had a leak in my condensor. The AC blows from Passenger side to Driver vents.
Since the AC was weak, it was cooler at Passenger side and gets warmer as the air travels further towards the driver side.
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Old Aug 20, 2009 | 11:09 AM
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Default Re: Help a Honda newbie - a/c not working right 2004 accord LX

Originally Posted by lol88
Finally took my Honda to the shop. Turns out that I had a leak in my condensor. The AC blows from Passenger side to Driver vents.
Since the AC was weak, it was cooler at Passenger side and gets warmer as the air travels further towards the driver side.
Can I ask what this service cost?
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