just recently my ACs been acting up.... it would turn cold then hot cold then

hot.... sometimes it just completely poops out on me. Summer in socal with out

AC is not fun... any one have any idea what is wrong?

 

You may have a hole in your condensor from a small pebble. It's a common problem with the 8th gen of Civics, and I've also read that it's not covered by warranty (act of God). I suspect it is why my A/C doesn't blow cold anymore either. Lazy to go to the dealer to have them tell me it's not covered by warranty.

 

can it be repaired with some elbow grease?

 

Where did you read that this type of situation is not covered under warranty? I don't think that ac malfunctions would count as normal wear and tear like clutch or brakes.

 

Somewhere in here (H-T) or that "other" unmentionable Honda site.

I guess Honda doesn't consider a pebble through your condensor normal wear and tear. There were many cases of it last time I saw the thread, back before I even knew my A/C wasn't blowing cold air anymore.

 

can it be fixed by myself?

 

If there was a "hole in the condensor from a pebble", there would be no refrigerant in the system and there would never be cold air. Something else is wrong. Your condensor fan may not be coming on in which case it would work pretty good when driving and not so good sitting in traffic. The compressor could be failing. The compressor clutch could be failing intermittently. The pressure switch could be faulty. Pretty much if you have to ask, A/C work cannot be done by you (except for the pressure switch & fan, niether of which require cracking open the system). Honda factory warranty = 4 years 50K miles. You or whomever purchased it may have also purchased extended warranty. The dealer should be able to diagnose the problem and give you an estimate for 50$. If the problem is too expensive, just decline getting the work done & take it somewhere less expensive to get the work done if its out of warranty or save up the money & get it done wherever jives with you.

 

thanks for the info... curses i hate taking my car to the shops.... damn socal weather

 

It sounds like the expansion vavle is going bad. Does it get cold when you start the car. then after 15 20 mins it gets hot. then another 15 20 mins it get cold again.

 

Here's a link to a few people discussing the problem:

http://www.topix.com/forum/autos/hon...2NF40877B57GF6

 

yea it does that