I have a 1995 Honda Civic EX and ever since I have owned it the Air Conditioner has only worked when it is below 70 degrees outside (unless it has been in the shade). When it gets above 70 degrees or it has been sitting in the sun, the air conditioner only blows cool air (around 70-80 degree air). I have checked the following:
*Both the compressor and condenser fan run when the AC switch is on removing the possibility of the relays or the AC switch being faulty in high temperatures.
*I have checked the temperature of the lines and the small line is hot and the big line is cold when the car is running with the AC switch on.
*I replaced the compressor a while ago because of a problem with the clutch and that helped it start to cool (before then it didn't work at all), but even right after it was replaced, the AC didn't work in hot temperatures.
*Two AC specialists have tested the pressure in the lines and for leaks and didn't find any issues.

What could the problem be? Any help would be appreciated!

 

I just spent many hours researching this issue all over the net for my '95 DX. My A/C works fine early morning and late night (under 85 degrees ambient temp).
My mechanic and his shop buddies looked hard, measured, leak checked, etc. and they think it's the compressor.
I am not convinced, especially after all my online research. Looks to me like there is at least an equal chance it could be the A/C switch flaking out with an electrical circuit grounding problem in the control panel--only in high temps. My compressor, fan, and A/C clutch all work fine--when it's under 80.
I found several posts suggesting intermittent cooling problems point to the A/C switch. One post I found even says he pulled the circuit board and found some solders broken. He soldered it all and replaced and his A/C works great now.
A/C Climate Control panel takes some hours to pull from the dash. See this easy to follow post on how to https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/%5Bfaq%5D-diy-how-install-civic-92-95-amber-red-dash-lighting-56k-no-no-661308/ . I don't think you need to undo the guages as he did, since he is replacing all his dash light bulbs--just see the control panel part.
I am looking for a new or used control panel to replace mine. Lotta work, but a cheaper option than replacing the condenser +drier +vacuum +freon recharge +labor. I found some posts that give hints on connecting the wiring correctly too. And it looks like it takes mostly patience to pull the Control Panel, so I am considering DIY.
Wish me luck!

 

Broken solder joints is the way I would lean. Here is a short write-up on same: http://sites.google.com/site/hondali...irconditioning

 

Yeah, I thought that might be the problem as well, but if that were the problem wouldn't either the compressor or the condenser fan not turn on during times when the AC isn't working well? In my case, both the condenser fan and the compressor are running, but I still don't get cold air (only cool air, which says to me that it is working, just not very well.) Is there something I am missing?

 

Might be a dirty evaporator. I'm having the same problem with my ej1. Just havnt had the time to do it. I pulled out my blower fan (umber the dash) and it was full of leaves!!! I cleaned it up a little and it feels a little berrtter. But still when it's really hot outside the ac dnt do much! Hope this helps and if u get a chance to check out the evaporater and find it dirty that has to be ur problem. If u decide to pull it out n clean it change the expansion valve while ur there and a new dryer would help also

 

Search my posts.... I don't remember what post it was in but I provided a link to help you out.

Most likely broken solder joints.

 

alright found it. just look under the a/c repair part.

http://sites.google.com/site/hondali...irconditioning

 

What were the high and low side pressures WHEN it's warm outside and the A/C won't blow cold? Post those pressures and what the outside temperature was.

You are correct.

 

OK, problem solved. Mechanic and his shop buddies were ready to replace my compressor and drier, etc. etc. When he couldn't get up before noon on the day he scheduled my job (after 4 previous delays) I told him to forget it. But I was still driving around in 105 degree heat with a puny A/C.
I drove around the used car neighborhood where many repair shops are located and found one that specialized in Hondas. (ok, it's a God thing that I found this shop). The guy told me he would check it out, and in 15 minutes had me come to sit in my cool car. He had found the heat/cool switch cable not working. He manually closed the valve that brings hot water into the interior heater to make it work, and presto: it cools! He did not want to charge me, but I paid him something anyway, I was so happy. I will bring him the parts (cable and hot water valve) and have him do a permanent fix. And I now have a mechanic I can trust! Wow. Sooo cooool!

 

This is interesting. So the hot/cold switch on the control panel wasn't opening and closing the valve located under the hood?

 

Can anyone explain how I can do what his mechanic did?

 

If I understand correctly, the heat/ cold valve located under the hood was sticking. This valve is located near the firewall behind the intake manifold. It allows hot water to enter the heater core and blows hot air on the interior of the car on those chilly days. If this is sticking whilst the control panel is set on "cold" the blower will not blow the coldest possible air. A good way to determine if this is happening to you is have a friend move the "hot/cold" switch on the a/c control panel back and forth slowly and watch whether this valve opens and closes under-hood hood. Make sure it opens and closes to both extremes as far as possible.

 

Interesting idea, I'll check it out and let you know if it solves my problem. Does anyone have any pictures/diagrams of where this valve is and what it looks like?

 

Should look similar to your application.

 

Great report. I am adding this to my feeble web site on a/c. Also here is the online OEM parts site drawing of the water valve (#2 below):



bstice, very cool of you to tip the mechanic when the mechanic did not want to take anything.

 

honda.lioness, I wish I could take credit for that, but it was civicsaver who did that.

After performing the test:The valve opened and closed just fine, I think I am going to double check on the pressures and post what is found.

 

I just found this thread and it describes a problem very similar to mine except its on a 96 Integra ac works fine in cool temperatures but after its been in the sun a while it won't cool i can't hear or feel the system working at all the fans just blow air. I wanted to know if resoldering the circuit board worked

 

On my 94 CX, it's actually the AC-button that has a poor connection inside the climate control unit. When it's hot out, the button fails to engage the compressor. The button's light always comes on, but the compressor won't fire I figured this out when I realized the compressor would momentarily kick on if I pressed & held the nearby buttons in very hard with my finger.

To get mine to kick on and stay on, I actually pulled the AC button-face out, and jam the sharp end of wooden kabob skewer into the space above the circuit board inside. This pressure on the circuit board causes, what I imagine to be, a poor/cracked solder joint inside to make contact. I keep that piece of the skewer in my ash tray when I don't have the AC running.

This is the only way I can get my 94's AC system to run when it's over 95* outside. I plan on taking the unit apart in the future to re-solder all the joints, but that climate control is a bitch to get out and my workaround is doing fine for the last couple seasons.

 

Hello. I've been researching this for some time also. I'm having the exact same issue on my 2008 Honda Civic. One added piece of information is the compressor keeps cycling rapidly. I know the compressor is supposed to cycle but now it cycles faster than usual. Other than that I have the same exact symptoms as described in this thread. Does any one have any info on getting the switch out of a 2008 civic?

 

Try asking your question HERE. It's the forum for Civics 2006-Current year.





eH.

 

That sounds like the pressure switch is detecting a pressure spike or pressure drop. Most likely nothing to do with the button.

 

Thank you for this picture. I have the same problem(maybe). Mine turns on and off randomly, and I will certainly check this.(seems to me some hot water might be seeping in, because sometimes i feel cold air on some of the vents and hot air on the others- usually the center ones)

 

Similar problem. My 95 LX's A/C works randomly, and I suspect hot water seeping into the heater core inside( at the worst possible time, not only it does not blow cold but it blows hotter than the air around).
I will run a diagnostic with all the info I got from this page. Thanks to all for the input.
I hope it's not the expansion valve( though I would not know how to recognize what would happen if the expansion valve were acting up)

ps. this is the second summer with this problem and it's enough.

ps2. my 2 cents of wisdom.
With older cars (15 years plus)change: starter, alternator, spark plugs ,spark plug cables, battery, and distributor. Flush and change radiator and hoses. Fuel injector cleaner every so often( and seafoam once).

 

Check the hoses that run from the firewall to the engine. Those are the heater hoses. One of them has a sort of square black plastic valve. Have someone open and close it by moving the switch insede the car from hot to cold. You will see that the cable that goes from inside the car moves that valve.
Push it all the way, as far as you can to the cold position; and then manually push it some more in that direction. In the engine area, see how far it will go in the cold position and move it in the same direction, as far as it will go. You will see that it goes just a bit more.
I did that with mine this morning but I yet have to check on a hot day if it is working.
Hope it helps.

 

Make this your last bump of an ancient thread. You're responding to issues that are long gone. And create your own thread for tech problems you have.