Air conditioning problem... must be a valve

[levstar1]

Hi
i have had a similar problem with my 2004 euro, first time the air compressor blew at about 65k -80k cant remember and it was fixed under warranty, a year and a bit later funny noises would come from the engin compartment and i knew it was the air cond again as it was the same noise before it died. took it too the dealer ship they said nothings wrong all good. a while later once the whether started to heat up again same prblem again but more frequent and took it to the dealership and they said it was the idler tensioner as my car would vibrate on idle when the air con kicked in, it cost me $100 for them to tell me that, so i got after market parts and got another mechanic to install the new parts and he said to me there was nothing wrong with the old part and guess what i still had the same problem as before.

So i took my car into the auto electrictian and finally got some answers.
# my air cond is stuffed. Apperntly a very common problem with honda cars, and what happens is that metal shavings/fillings is produced from the air compressor over time and the small metal bits get into the system (condenser and TX valve), and when it makes its way into the tx valve it starts to cause a blockage so the compressor has to work harder and so the car starts to vibrate a bit on idle as the air cond is sucking all the power and hence my fuel econmy is shite, and i get the funny noises like a squealing noise.

To fix this is to replace the tx vlave condenser and the air cond compresser and the whole system needs to be flushed so there is no metal bits left anywhere other same thing will happen again. the job is to cost $1800, $1200 of that is on parts but i am getting the parts aftermarket so it will cost me less then half for parts but labour is still going to kill.

currently the air cond once it hits 25degress outside stops working and starts blowing hot air instead and then it will start working again, so its stuffed.

hope this info helps as i had a hard time trying to find information this problem and the dealership were hopeless had no idea all they could say to me was "never heard of that before" and i say pigs arse.

cheers
lev

[john23]

Hi
i have had a similar problem with my 2004 euro... my air cond is stuffed. Apparently a very common problem with Honda cars, and what happens is that metal shavings/fillings is produced from the air compressor over time and the small metal bits get into the system (condenser and TX valve), and when it makes its way into the tx valve it starts to cause a blockage so the compressor has to work harder ... the air cond is sucking all the power and hence my fuel econmy is shite, and i get the funny noises like a squealing noise.

To fix this is to replace the tx vlave condenser and the air cond compresser and the whole system needs to be flushed so there is no metal bits left anywhere other same thing will happen again. the job is to cost $1800, $1200 of that is on parts but i am getting the parts aftermarket so it will cost me less then half for parts but labour is still going to kill.

currently the air cond once it hits 25degress outside stops working and starts blowing hot air instead and then it will start working again, so its stuffed.

hope this info helps as i had a hard time trying to find information this problem and the dealership were hopeless had no idea all they could say to me was "never heard of that before" and i say pigs arse.

cheers
lev

So after reading this, I get the distinct impression that it would be in your best interest to sell/trade in the car... Have you done so?
Being honest, it's kinda scary reading this, and thinking mine might be on its way to becoming something like you had.

Need help guys! I'm unsure of who/where to take it to get diagnosed AND FIXED!
Any ideas as to what shops are specializing in (Honda) air cons, and wouldn't charge me the moon?!?!