Hello everyone...any help would be appreciated. 1993 Honda Accord SE 215,000 miles, been in the family since '96 and got my paws on it in 2006. Since I've had it the A/C could blow you out, and my sister said it has never been charged. Now it did seem not to be as cold in the last two years? The first time I tried it this year the compressor did not come on.

My first thought was to get a 12oz can of r-12 off the net and dump some in there, logic told me that after 18 years it was just low...and add some till the compressor kicked beck on and maybe a few ozs more. But I changed the motor oil yesterday and fooled around with it and checked that the valve under the hood going to the heater core was closing all the way from the hot/cold switch inside. It appears it was. I was surprised out of the blue the compressor kicked on for about 15 seconds and then off. I waited another 5 min. and it did it again, this time I checked the sight glass and saw it was clear with alot of small bubbles...I have read this is normal and then goes away or could be an indication of low freon. I also noticed the drivers side fan did not come on with the compressor as I have noticed in the past.

Any thoughts? My first thought is about where I'm going, add some r12...even now based on the bubbles I saw...but the fan not coming on has me puzzled...unless the low freon switch would disable that too???

Thanks...

 

Any time the A/C is turned on, even without the engine running, the condenser fan will turn on as long as the blower is not in the off position. If your compressor runs and that fan does not come on, the condenser is not removing heat, and will cool very poorly, especially when not moving.

Bubbles in the sight glass along with streaking, indicates low charge. You should have a professional that still has R12 equipment service the system and determine the charge level.

Another tip, A/C is not seasonal equipment, use it all year round, regardless. If you let it sit, the seals will dry out, corrosion can occur, and damage to the compressor can result due to seizure. Remember the phrase "Use it, or lose it", applies to a LOT of things in life.

And check this out:
https://honda-tech.com/forums/tech-misc-15/%2A%2A%2Aair-conditioning-c-guide-how-works-when-doesnt%2A%2A%2A-2900177/

 

Thanks Slowcivic2k, need to find out why the fan is not coming on with the blower on and the A/C switch selected...and yes there were streaks in the sight glass along with the bubbles. What makes me think there is something else going on here is how the compressor didn't kick right on when blower turned on as it has done in the past? It just came on 5min. later? and the driver's fan didn't either?

 

Ok, so my question of the day before I go any further...does the low freon pressure switch shut the condenser fan off too? Or is it on it's own system and should come on regardless? When the a/c button and blower are on...

I checked the fuses, the relay-got the car hot and switched the condenser and radiator relay and both are good. Is there something I'm missing? The a/c button bad?

thanks in advance

 

"If the system is low on Freon the compressor and the condenser fan will NOT come on…due to a functioning low pressure switch that is doing it’s intended job."

I got this off another site, fyi, if this is correct...i just need to top off some r-12