Hi Folks --

09 CRV with 108,000 miles.

We were on a 500 mile trip and started out with a great A/C = plenty cold.

Half way thru the A/C stopped working totally. Hot air still blew, but just hot = 92 degrees outside.
I replaced the Relay + still not working. Dealership did a quick Diagnostic and said I need a new Coil + Clutch.

#1 Do you know of any other simple tests / checks I can do ?
#2 Would you replace the C+C = $703 at the dealership or
do a complete repair = compressor, etc. = $1,700 at a repair shop that specializes in Hondas

We would like to keep the car for another 100k miles if it is not asking for

a lot of repairs in that time frame.

Many thanks,

Tom

 

Pretty common for the thermal fuse in the clutch to fail. Could be due to clutch slipping or the compressor consuming more power than designed. IE compressor could be starting to fail.

Replace the compressor complete with clutch and call it done. No come backs that way.

 

Thanks Ryan.

Dumb Question - in the last three months we have done bunch of mountain driving with the A/C on -
Running 3k to 4k RPMs to climb the mountains for maybe 15-20 minutes - several times per day
Does this cause any A/C parts to fail ??

 

If low on refrigerant and causing the clutch to cycle a lot, yes. 3-4k revs for extended periods, no. Could check clutch clearances and see if it was just a worn out clutch slipping and building up heat.

Last one I had die was a CVT on a 100+ degree day getting on the highway holding about 6k. Computer decided that would be a good time to whack the AC clutch. Killed it dead immediately.

 

Is that year prone to Black Death? I would check before dumping money into the dealer's parts cannon.

 

Hey Canister -

I opened a "case" with Honda Corporate re the warranty and them paying the cost.
My CRV Compressor + A/C "extended warranty" ended in 2016 = 2009 + 7 years
The first guy I talked to said there was a chance I could get something since the CRV
only has 108,000 miles on it = 8,000 over the "extended warranty" max
I waited 5 business days vs the 1-2 they said they would call me back with a decision.
Talked to the case manager and she gave me a big run around; said I would have to
get/pay for "another" diagnostic from the local dealer, the dealer diag. 500 miles away didn't count.

The local D charges $180 for a full diag, includes freon.

Still researching what to do: Guess so far =
Use dealership, get a Honda remanufactured Compressor+Clutch+Coil
which has a 3yr / 36k mile warranty at the dealership cost est. = $1,430

My independent Honda repair shop said he would also replace the Evaporator + Dryer
His estimate for Compressor+Clutch+Coil+ Evaporator + Dryer is $1,700

I need to call him back re if compressor is remanu and his warranty ... do not want to be paying this kind of money every few years

Thanks for your comments,

Tom

 

All those people blindly told you that you need some parts. But if this is black death then everything has to be replaced, otherwise shavings spread into the new parts.
If you have black death and they replace the compressor and you keep the car, then soon the metal shavings stuck in the condenser and evaporator would kill the new compressor.
This has to be properly diagnosed before firing the parts cannon and proper diagnostics requires more than hooking up the manifold. They have to open the system and see if any contamination exists.

 

Agreed ! My indy Honda repair shop said he could remove one of the lines and check for this = about one hour labor. Do you suggest another way to check for black death shavings ? Thx Much, Tom

 

I had the A/C go out in my 1st gen CR-V. It was the electric connector that activates the compressor, the clutch electromagnet or whatever (the actual plastic connector itself that holds the electric pins) was loose.