AC compressor comes on and off duration
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Honda-Tech Member
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AC compressor comes on and off duration
With the car warmed up, and the ac in the coolest setting, and the fan at the middle setting, the compressor would come on and off every 15 secs. I dont know if that is normal. The air is cool when the comp is on, but not cool when its off.
Low press lines are cold, hi pressure lines are hot. I checked the low press line with a gauge from walmart, and it says 35 psi with the compressor on. It goes down to 25-30 range after some minutes especially when the compressor cycles for a while. I believe it is not accurate because at 28 psi the compressor should go off but it doesnt. It really takes 15 secs of ON, and 15 secs of OFF.
Car is a 2001 accord v6.
Need your advice.
Low press lines are cold, hi pressure lines are hot. I checked the low press line with a gauge from walmart, and it says 35 psi with the compressor on. It goes down to 25-30 range after some minutes especially when the compressor cycles for a while. I believe it is not accurate because at 28 psi the compressor should go off but it doesnt. It really takes 15 secs of ON, and 15 secs of OFF.
Car is a 2001 accord v6.
Need your advice.
Old Fart
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,173
Likes: 18
From: kelowna, bc, canada
Re: AC compressor comes on and off duration
Sounds like it is "short cycling" a symptom of a low refrigerant, [R134a] charge.
The first thing I would try is to swap out the A/C clutch relay, it may be bad, just swap it with one of the other matching relays to eliminate it as the problem.
The other possibilities are a bad A/C thermostat, bypass it for a bit to see if problem goes away, DO NOT run A/C for a long time with thermostat bypassed, [evap. will freeze up], you can do the same with the A/C pressure switch, [bypass it] to eliminate it as the problem.
Any testing should be done with a set of A/C gauges installed so both the low and high pressures can be observed as compressor cycles. 94
The first thing I would try is to swap out the A/C clutch relay, it may be bad, just swap it with one of the other matching relays to eliminate it as the problem.
The other possibilities are a bad A/C thermostat, bypass it for a bit to see if problem goes away, DO NOT run A/C for a long time with thermostat bypassed, [evap. will freeze up], you can do the same with the A/C pressure switch, [bypass it] to eliminate it as the problem.
Any testing should be done with a set of A/C gauges installed so both the low and high pressures can be observed as compressor cycles. 94
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Re: AC compressor comes on and off duration
Sounds like it is "short cycling" a symptom of a low refrigerant, [R134a] charge.
The first thing I would try is to swap out the A/C clutch relay, it may be bad, just swap it with one of the other matching relays to eliminate it as the problem.
The other possibilities are a bad A/C thermostat, bypass it for a bit to see if problem goes away, DO NOT run A/C for a long time with thermostat bypassed, [evap. will freeze up], you can do the same with the A/C pressure switch, [bypass it] to eliminate it as the problem.
Any testing should be done with a set of A/C gauges installed so both the low and high pressures can be observed as compressor cycles. 94
The first thing I would try is to swap out the A/C clutch relay, it may be bad, just swap it with one of the other matching relays to eliminate it as the problem.
The other possibilities are a bad A/C thermostat, bypass it for a bit to see if problem goes away, DO NOT run A/C for a long time with thermostat bypassed, [evap. will freeze up], you can do the same with the A/C pressure switch, [bypass it] to eliminate it as the problem.
Any testing should be done with a set of A/C gauges installed so both the low and high pressures can be observed as compressor cycles. 94
I already swapped the condenser fan relay and compressor clutch relay, i think its okay.
Btw how long should the compressor turn on normally before turning off? is it normal for the condenser fan to turn on everytime the compressor turns on?
If i bypass the pressure switch, how will i know if its bad or not?
Trial User
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 3
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Re: AC compressor comes on and off duration
NEED HELP
Okay, so I recently bought a 2005 Honda Civic LX, everything seemed to be fine except the a/c getting warm then cold again every once in a while. Well, I took it to Tennessee (about 400 miles or so,) and on the way back the a/c completely quit blowing cold air. I had to ride with the windows down in the heat! And when we stopped at a gas station, I noticed a nasty grinding sound... It's been 3 days and still grinding but today I noticed a burning smell when I got out of the car. Can someone tell me what's going on??? It's not a freon issue, we already checked that. Someone thinks it's the compressor, but would it cause the grinding sound and burning smell even when I'm not running the a/c??? I need to get this figured out. I have a baby and it's too hot in my car! Also, it's an automatic, and it stalled while in drive, going up my driveway. Wtf. Please help!?
Okay, so I recently bought a 2005 Honda Civic LX, everything seemed to be fine except the a/c getting warm then cold again every once in a while. Well, I took it to Tennessee (about 400 miles or so,) and on the way back the a/c completely quit blowing cold air. I had to ride with the windows down in the heat! And when we stopped at a gas station, I noticed a nasty grinding sound... It's been 3 days and still grinding but today I noticed a burning smell when I got out of the car. Can someone tell me what's going on??? It's not a freon issue, we already checked that. Someone thinks it's the compressor, but would it cause the grinding sound and burning smell even when I'm not running the a/c??? I need to get this figured out. I have a baby and it's too hot in my car! Also, it's an automatic, and it stalled while in drive, going up my driveway. Wtf. Please help!?
B*a*n*n*e*d
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 12,028
Likes: 5
Re: AC compressor comes on and off duration
It sounds like the compressor is seizing up. You can buy an alternator belt that doesn't go onto the compressor until you can get around to having the compressor replaced. If they made a dx model it's likely that's the belt you need.
For the ac problem is sounds like the expansion valve is bad.
For the ac problem is sounds like the expansion valve is bad.
Old Fart
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 26,173
Likes: 18
From: kelowna, bc, canada
Re: AC compressor comes on and off duration
Is the "grinding noise" there with or without the A/C on?
If it is there either way then the clutch idler wheel bearing is gone, if only when A/C is on then the compressor front bearing is gone or clutch gap is too big.
If the compressor packed it in, [seized] the belt would have burnt off. 94
If it is there either way then the clutch idler wheel bearing is gone, if only when A/C is on then the compressor front bearing is gone or clutch gap is too big.
If the compressor packed it in, [seized] the belt would have burnt off. 94
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