Hey guys, this is my first post, so forgive me if I lack any etiquette common around here, I will learn I promise! I am the boyfriend/mechanic of a proud Honda Fit owner, and I am stumped on this one. Here is the issue my girlfriend is having:

Her AC is cold when we are on the freeway, but it blows "room temp" when we are on city streets or idle. My first thought was condenser fan, but it seems its just radiator fans on these cars, and they are both blowing (well... sucking) fine. So I took the car to a shop to have the freon evacuated and recharged, they also pressure and leak tested the system, and tested compressor functionality, all was well. The service adviser's conclusion was that it is summer and "These small cars take longer to cool off when it's 105* outside". This was not an issue last summer, so please tell me someone has an idea besides "it's hot outside"?

Additional info, it's a 2009 fit, base model. AC fan blows strong at all times, just not cold. Radiator fans are both blowing (Towards the motor, since this was a question in a similar post about the fans blowing the correct direction).

Thanks for your time, and any suggestions offered.

 

Without knowing what the A/C gauge pressures were when being tested it is hard to tell what he problem may be.
Because of the higher RPMs at freeway speeds points to the compressor as the problem, to test bring the RPM up to freeway speeds when parked and if vent temp. drops, replace the compressor.
If temp. does not drop get a fan, [big one] and place in front of car, [blowing through condenser] and at high idle, [city speeds] see if vent temp. drops, if so the problem is most likely a condenser issue, check for restrictions. 94

 

Cool, I will try the freeway-rpm-in-park test tomorrow afternoon, and see how that goes. I don't know why I didn't think of that, thanks man. If that doesn't tell me anything, I will try to find a fan big enough to simulate freeway speeds. I was even thinking of fabbing up some sheet metal to close in the sides between the condenser and radiator to ensure the fans pull air through the condenser. Of course, I haven't been too anxious to do any work on this car, since as I mentioned, its like 105* outside... yuck.

 

Well, just to post an update, I didn't get a chance to try to raise RPMs in park, or increase air flow to condenser in park. The problem went away... for now. So fingers crossed it stays gone, but I know better than to get my hopes up. Thanks for your input guys, and I'll be back if it comes back.

 

The only thing it can be then is a sticky expansion valve, the only A/C part that can be intermittent with a working system. 94