I own a 94 civic dx. This week me and my co worker recharged my a/c, nothing. Then he put direct power to wires for the compressor and the compressor kicked on, lines started getting cold, cold air was blowing. Then today I replaced my climate control unit b/c the a/c button wasn't lighting up, but the a/c compressor didn't kick on. Any suggestions? Is their a switch that can be replaced? My co worker said that there is a possibility that the compressor dried up and it's bad if it hasn't been used for a while. (but it kicked on when I put direct power). Thanks!

 

Find the A/C pressure switch and jump it, if compressor turns on either the pressure switch is bad or the A/C charge is low. 94

 

Called Honda and the pressure switch is only $40 so I'll try that, thanks

 

Jump it before buying it, if the problem is the pressure switch the compressor will turn on when you jump the plug. 94

 

Relaced the a/c pressure switch, didn't work. I did the A/C compressor clutch relay this morning, didn't work. I'm going to do the other relay (condenser fan relay), even though the fan turns, just to make sure b/c the red wire that connects to it doesn't seem to be producing power from the relay to the compressor.
What's the a/c diode? What does that do? Should I try replacing that also?

 

have you checked to see if there is still refrigerant in the system? Did your co-worker jump the AC pressure switch or did he just jump 12v to the compressor? Might want to check the fuse to make sure it isn't blown also.

 

Throwing parts at a problem will eventually fix the problem, but it is an expensive way to go about troubleshooting a system.

Jump the pressure switch, if that does not turn on the compressor, jump the clutch relay, the condenser fan relay has nothing to do with the A/C compressor turning on.

The condenser fan will not turn on until A/C compressor has turned on an built up the head pressure.

If the compressor turns on when you jump the relay or the pressure switch and you do not get cold air out of the vents the refrigerant charge is low, if however you do get cold air from the vents then it is an electrical problem. 94

 

I dont mean to hijack but, I am having a similar problem. I know all of my relays are good, and when I jump the relay the clutch engages, but when it does engage I do not get any cold air out of the vents and the low side pressure drops pretty low. When I remove the jumper, the pressure jumps back up to 50~ psi. Is my compressor bad?

 

Is the refrigerant low in the system?

 

I couldn't agree more.

OP: Check whether the ECU gets battery voltage from the clutch relay.

 

Hey guys great forum, I did a search and found this thread so I signed up to post.

My question is on a 1993 Del SOL D16Z6 which side is the low pressure for the AC system? My system needs a recharge , I found a couple cans of R12 and would like to put in at least one can 12oz. The system doesn't leak, compressor turns on,etc.

It just needs some R12, which nozzle is the low pressure one that I attach the can to? Thanks in advance, also I have a can of oil for the system to, I believe the mineral oil/r12 mix.(EBAY)

Basically there's 2 nozzles one facing the front and one just behind it. I have an R12 system that hasn't been converted yet and found a case of R12 in my grandfather's garage (sealed case at that).

I'm pretty certain it just needs a refill of r12.

Thanks for your help, BTW I am the second owner I purchased the car from my mother in 2003 and we both have never had the system recharged.

 

Haven't checked the high side because my walmart gauge doesn't fit the port, but the low side is ~50. Just purchased the car, the previous owner said he thought the clutch was bad. Could this be true even though the clutch cycles when i jump the relay?

 

Under what conditions do you measure 50 PSI on the low side?

If the clutch engages, then it is fine.

 

With the engine off/on and without a/c running. When I got it, there was only ~25 (previous owner drained it) so I figured I would try to charge it myself to troubleshoot it. But like i said, when I force the clutch to engage, pressure in the low side drops real low (around 20 or so). Then when I remove the jumper wire and the clutch stops ticking, the pressure goes back to what it was to begin with.

 

What year? My 97 and 00 Civics show 105-120 PSI on both sides with the A/C off. I think your system is undercharged.

Add refrigerant that contains a leak detecting dye so that you can locate the source of your leak. Absolutely don't overcharge the system.

 

It's a 2000 SI, I don't think theres a leak though. Today I charged it up to just under 100 and PSI the compressor still didn't kick on(ran out of refrigerant). When I forced it to come on, the pressure on the low side dropped to 15 PSI.I also noticed that when I jump the relay and the compressor kicks on, the rpm's don't pick up at all.

 

There may be a block in the system. What is the pressure on the high side?

The rpms don't pick up because you bypass the ECU by jumping the relay. Does the condenser fan run when you push the A/C button?

 

I'm really not sure. my gauge only measures the low side pressure I'll have to go and rent one from autozone. I'm pretty sure the condenser fan runs when the A/C button is pressed.

 

You really should vacuum the system first and then charge it, if not you will be adding the coolant to the air and not get a propper charge. You should have a sticker in the engine bay that tells you how much coolant the system should have. Charge to as close as possible if you don't have a scale to assure the correct amount. Now check the system, start with easy to hard parts ie fuse, relay, binary switch and so on, if the system has been empty because of either a leak or the system being open, you should replace the drier. They go bad if exposed to the atmosphere. they are cheep(20-30). If you jump it and it works than it may be the switch or low coolant.With the system in woking condition the pressure should be pretty equalized,