I traded my 95 Cherokee to a guy yesterday for is 94 Civic.

Over all the civic seems like its in pretty good shape.

Has 200000 miles on the body, 130000 miles on the engine and trans.

It currently has:
BBS rims
Megan Coil overs
Skunk 2 control arms
CAI

The check engine light came on this morning. I really hope nothing is wrong with it. It drives great. Feels like a go-cart. The A/C needs to be recharged. Does anyone know if it takes R134A?

 

Yes, R134a. Should be printed under the hood.

Pull the CEL codes -- click the CEL sticky at the top.

 

I did read the sticky. I figured it would be easier to just have the code read at the auto parts store. I have to go there anyways to pick up a can of r134a. I was hoping there was something common that threw a cel code. I really do not want to have to deal with issues the day after I got the car especially when the Jeep was in perfect condition.

I actually went to autozone yesterday evening after I traded for the civic. It's 103 outside today and only suppose to get hotter the next few days. I told the guy at autozone that I needed to recharge my ac on a 94 civic and he said it uses the old freon and that I would have to go to a mechanic to have my ac system upgraded.... I'm really glad it does take r134a. I'm pissed though that I was given the wrong information and had to drive to work today sweating.

 

Verify the correct refrigerant by looking at the labels under the hood.

You don't want to buy any refrigerant until you know what the problem is. Rule out electrical problems first (does condenser fan run? does compressor clutch engage? does A/C button light turn on? does the blower work? etc.). If none is found, then measure the refrigerant pressures on the high and low sides using a manifold gauge set.

AutZone pulls OBD2 codes not OBD1 codes, which you have. Don't guess. Pull the codes yourself.

 

Sounds like the guy cleared the CEL code before he sold it to you.

 

Does orileys or advance read obd1 codes? If not, I'll grab a paperclip from work

The condenser fan runs, the compressor clutch engages and the ac light does come on. It blows hard just not cool enough. I have the gauge for r134a.

Is it possible a 94 Civic doesn't use r134a? I really do not want to have to pay to have the system upgraded but hate not having a/c especially when I have to go work.

 

I have another question.

The Honda was originally an auto but converted to a manual. I hate looking at the dash and seeing it is in park. Could I grab a dash from a manual? If so is it a fairly easy swap. I work full time and have a 7 month old. I really do not have a lot of time to work on this car. I am also building a Land Rover and most of my extra time goes to that.

 

You most certainly can. Its very simple, 2 screws to take off the surrounding then 4 screws to take the cluster itself out. Everything is plug and play. Shouldn't take longer then 10 minutes to do it.

 

Awesome! What years will fit? 92-00?

Is this what I would need? http://cgi.ebay.com/92-95-HONDA-CIVI...item45f9d087c6

 

Just 92-95. And yeah that would work perfectly.

 

Thank you. I'll tackle the check engine light first.

 

Most auto parts stores will only pull OBD2 codes for you.

Just check the labels under the hood. I believe that all 94 Civics use R134a.

Sounds like the refrigerant charge is low, indicating a leak. Hook up a manifold gauge set to verify and measure the pressures at 1500 engine rpms. If the test shows that the refrigerant charge is very low and that there's no air in the system, then add some refrigerant containing a leak detecting dye. This will allow you to pinpoint the leak if the A/C stops working at a later date.

 

Thanks... I'll just pull the code tonight, seems fairly easy and quick to do.

 

x2, its really easy actually im sure if your rebuilding a land rover you will have no problem pulling the code

 

Not to mention I had built a 666 hp s2000. I'll give it a shot, just lazy. It's tooooo hot outside.

 

Heres an update.

After work the cel was gone. It came back on after driving for 15 minutes or so. I did read the sticky so I know this is common. I got home. Turned the car off and popped the hood. Do civics normally have two separate fans? I noticed on of the fan's wires were burnt not burnt off. The two wires that were ran to the fan were ran horribly. There also wasn't any coolant.

I went to Advance and grabbed r134a and coolant. I reran the wires, added coolant and recharged the ac. The ac is now blowing cold . The check engine has been off so far. Since the wires melted connected to one of the fans, could that have been throwing a cel?

My temp gauge seems to be working and it never go too hot. It was always slightly below half. I am guess the second fan was able to keep everything cool enough.

 

if it never passed operating temperature yea you should be fine, id definitely fix the wiring tho, dont want it messing anything up or catching fire...

 

Fan on the driver's side is for the A/C condensor. Fan on the right is for the rad.

 

I did reroute the wire, but would like to wrap them with something. Any ideas? They were melting a few inches from the sensor.

Could this have been what triggering a cel?

 

Yeah I did the same thing traded my Chevy blazer running good with a cold ac for a civic ex 94 this car has stock everything I had a check Infineon light on which I troubleshooted myself using the paper clip and counting the lights resulted code 42 which is the heated o2 sensor on the manifold...this sensor was fused to the manifold it had to be the original sensor since no mechanic or muffler shop could take it out until I drilled a nice hole through and was able to break it off and threaded again. Put that new sensor in and no engine light was on anymore. My ac don't work tried to charge it and Nada, has to be the condensor.

 

The ac was blowing cold yesterday morning, but not this morning. I was dying on my way to work. I am guessing there is either a leak or I did not add enough r134a.

The check engine light came back on too. I am not sure if they are related or not. I'll have to pull the code once I get home after work. It was so nice driving it to work yesterday. Paid $29 to fill it up, no check engine light and ice cold air.

 

Seriously, it take 5 minutes to pull the code.

 

Do you have a copy of the service manual?

I know it does. I was just stating that it was back on.

 

What is the point of your thread asking for tech help if you won't take good intentioned advice? If you don't want help here and wish simply to document your car problems and attempts to fix them, just say this at the outset so that members won't waste their time.

 

Where did I say I did not want to take advice?