How To Troubleshoot Honda Car AC
It's the hottest day of the year. You climb into your Honda Civic, turn the key, and reach for the air conditioning control. But something's wrong. Your AC doesn't seem to be functioning properly. Fantastic! Now what?
Below, we are going to give a few pointers on how to troubleshoot your Honda Civic AC. Why are we looking specifically at the Civic? Well, for one thing, it's a commonly owned vehicle. In fact, over 12 million units have been sold in just the past five decades. At least in America, one of the top three best selling cars is the Honda Civic.
If worse comes to worst, and you simply can't figure out what the problem is with your AC, the fine folks at Honda of Staten Island will be happy to be of assistance. Speak to one of them about getting your air conditioning system checked out and/or repaired.
In the meantime, here are a few things you can do to find out why your Honda Civic AC isn't working.
Why Don't ACs Work?
There can be any number of reasons why your Honda Civic AC is giving you the fits. Some causes can be as follows:
- Electrical system problem
- Faulty blend door actuator
- Defective compressor
- Bad blower motor
- Clogged or dirty evaporator
- Clogged or dirty condenser
- Refrigerant leak
- Dirty cabin air filter
Signs and Symptoms
The following are signs and symptoms the above stated issues may be to blame for your AC not working:
Bad Blend Door Actuator
From under the dashboard, you hear a repeated clicking sound. When you adjust the temperature or turn on your AC, for a few seconds, the sound will be prominent.
Bad Blower Motor
If, from your vents, you notice reduced airflow or no airflow, the culprit could be a bad blower motor. While in operation, you may also hear abnormal sounds if the blower is weakened or worn out.
Defective Compressor
Signs that your car’s AC compressor may be bad include the following:
- Circuit breaker keeps tripping
- Stiff or unmoving compressor clutch
- Moisture leak
- Compressor is making a loud noise
- Temperature in the cabin is high
Bad Blower Motor
- From air vents, a burning smell is detected
- Tripping circuit breaker
- From the blower, strange sounds emit
- From the vents, there’s no airflow or low airflow
Clogged or Dirty Evaporator
- Temperature fluctuations (sometimes warm, sometimes cold)
- Your car isn't cooling despite the AC going on and off a lot
- Cool air comes out but it’s weak, or warm air comes out instead
Clogged or Dirty Condenser
- More fluid than usual is leaking (other than normal condensation)
- Cooling capacity is significantly reduced
- From the unit, abnormal or loud noises can be heard
Refrigerant Leak
- Around the compressor, you notice ice forming
- Failure of clutch to engage
- Air blowing from the unit is warm instead of cold
- Visible leaks (Freon can appear as a greasy, thin liquid on the inside of your car or around your compressor)
Dirty Cabin Air Filter
- Your motor is overtaxed, so it makes a loud noise
- Less effective or ineffective defogging, defrosting, cooling, and heating
- Into the cabin, you notice debris entering
- Smells that are musty or unpleasant
- Poor vent airflow
- Icy or foggy windows
Honda of Staten Island Can Help You Troubleshoot Honda Car AC
We’d be happy to assist you if you need a bit of help with troubleshooting your Honda car AC. To contact our service department, please call 781-701-8268. Our service department is open 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday.
For sales, when you're ready to start shopping for your next Honda vehicle, please call us at 781-701-8269. If you'd like, you can use our convenient online form to begin a conversation with one of our representatives.