AC/Heater Interior doesn't get cool

[le0001]

Hi all,

I own a 2006 EX for 3 weeks now and I think it's hot inside the car.

Having measured it, the temperature smees to stay alway 5-6 degrees above the temp that was set. When I set it on 16 degrees it doesn't get below 22, even at outside temperatures of 15 - 20 degrees Celcius. The vent is on 2 stripes of it's 7 and often the recirculation valves are closed (orange led lit up). Even during a drive of 70 km's they stay closed!

The dealer has already swapped the temperature sensor near the steering wheel. No positive result. Also the cooling stuuf was measured (500 gr.) and the installation was refilled.
When the dealer did some tests/measurements simlilar to mine in another Civic, the conclusions where exactly similar. Are all the Civics airco's bad?

Today for example the outside temp was 21-22 degrees Celcius and it took 10 minutes before the car (which stood in the sun I must admit)cooled down a little bit. And I had used the manual setting, Lo and full speed ventilator! Using Auto would have cost much longer. I my former car, a 2006 Accord, it took a minute and than it always was like a fridge, no matter how hot it was outside!

This is not what I would call a climate control. I have to use it manually in order to get a normal temperature and airflow in the car. Doesn't anybody else think that the airco/ventilation of the Civic is bad?

I hope somebody has a good idea, because this car is like hell on earth.

Greetz, Bert.

[Bungle]

My car is acrtic inside within minutes. I have been happily chillin in my car when the outside temp has been in the high 20s, low 30s.

A quick search will find some old threads from people who have found their civics too cold, and keep needing to turn the CC dial up.

I seriosuly think there is something wrong with the system in your car. Have the filters been checked?

Within moments of starting the car on a hot day, the cold air is rushing through the vents (with re-circ on at first). Is there much air coming out through the vents, and is it cold air?

[le0001]

Old threads yes, but all about 'not warm enough', but mine's on the other side: to hot.

Yes there is cold air coming out (measered 3-5 degrees Celcius) and it sounds like full speed, but it doesn't feel like it.

Which filters do you mean?

[Unknownsoldier]

Charcoal/pollen would be my first port of call.

Tom

[le0001]

I took it out and it retained a lot of herbs and looked mid grey all over. Is it still fresh?

I'll try to drive a day without it tomorrow to see if it helps. For now it feels like the blowers blow more air, but that may be suggestion of course.

The air that goes through the pollen filter is warm air by the way, so it's not been through the airco yet.

[robkian]

hi there,i had my 57 plate 2.2ex back at the dealers a monthago as it was not cooling, after an hour investigation it was found that a pipe was not fully tightened which lead to an escape of gas and hence not cooling adequately.Get yours checked at the dealers.
Good Luck

[le0001]

Thanks. You say that gas escaped from a pipe. Was this a pipe for transport of air or for transport of cooling fluid?

The part of the system that contains the cooling fluid was checked upon leaks last week. It should contain about 500 gr. coolant fluid and it did, so no leaks in there.

[Bob H]

Check out and carry out the tests...

Climate Control - Civinfo Wiki

Would be interesting to see the results of the data...

Cheers,


Bob...

[HappyMan]

I think you need to get your dealer to do a thorough diagnostic check to find the problem. The car is still under warranty.

Put your foot down and insist on them spending some time on the issue is my view

[le0001]

Tom,

You were right: the pollen filter was dark grey, with brown drops of dirt on it and containing lots of dead herbal pieces like little flowers etc. On first instance I took it out, vacuumed the hole it came from and took the car for a ride. Much more air came into the interior. Then I went to the dealer and they fitted a new pollen filter (which they admitted, should have been done when the car was delivered 1.500 km's ago).
Today at 26 degrees C the airco functioned well too, so I'm a happy man.

Thanks Tom!

And the others of course also thanks for your suggestions.

Regards, Bert.

[le0001]

This pollen filter wasn’t the cause after all, cause it’s still hot in the car. So I ran the diagnostic test as described in the Wiki section,

Although the outside temperature was 23 degrees Celcius the airco wasn’t able to cool the cabin of the car below 26 degrees (25 for a very short moment)

Strange or not? Near the engine is a very tiny looking glass (3 x 3 mm) in the thin airco tube. This is not entirely filled with green airco liquid en seems to be boiling. Is that normal?

25-6-8 diagnostic test from 17:50 – 18:15 hrs. :
1. Ignition OFF
2. Press and hold down the A/C system's Auto and Mode buttons.
3. Start the engine
4. Release the buttons
5. On the A/C - Radio display you'll see the sensor number and the value for that sensor
6. To advance to the next sensor just press the mirror/rear window defogger button.

Here are the test results. Sorry the table has become a mess, but uploading didn't work (max 19,5 kb and file size is 25 kb...):

sensor description value value value value value value
time elapsed in minutes 0 5 10 15 20 25
1 Cabin temperature 38 31 28 26 25 26
2 Exterior temperature 25 24 23 23 23 23
3 Solar radiation sensor value 77 62 71 70 69 70
4 Temperature air exiting evaporator 14 09 09 08 08 08
5 Drivers air mix opening % open d9 d9 d9 d9 d9 d9
6 Passenger air mix opening % open d9 d9 d9 d9 d9 d9
7 Mode positioning % open f0 f0 f0 f0 f0 f0
8 recirc flap % open f0 f0 f0 f0 f0 f0
9 vent output air temperature C e1 d8 c5 c5 c3 c4


The other test:
1. Ignition OFF
2. Press and hold down the Auto and Recirculation buttons
3. Ignition into II position
4. Release the buttons
You'll see the "88" at the A/C temperature. If you see any letter from A to P then it means an error message. The messages can be read out only from the HDS system at the service.
I just saw 88

[Unknownsoldier]

No worries, glad you found the problem, I hoover mine as part of my weekly cleaning regime, at the moment, I'm keeping her clean with a bucket of soapy water and then just another coat of collinite 8 Robbo!!!!

Cool, perhaps look for an aftermarket filter, I hear K&N will be doing one soon..... this may be easier.

ATB,
Tom

[le0001]

Because Tom and my posting crossed I re-post this:

This pollen filter wasn’t the cause after all, cause it’s still hot in the car. So I ran the diagnostic test as described in the Wiki section,

Although the outside temperature was 23 degrees Celcius the airco wasn’t able to cool the cabin of the car below 26 degrees (25 for a very short moment)

Strange or not? Near the engine is a very tiny looking glass (3 x 3 mm) in the thin airco tube. This is not entirely filled with green airco liquid en seems to be boiling. Is that normal?

25-6-8 diagnostic test from 17:50 – 18:15 hrs. :
1. Ignition OFF
2. Press and hold down the A/C system's Auto and Mode buttons.
3. Start the engine
4. Release the buttons
5. On the A/C - Radio display you'll see the sensor number and the value for that sensor
6. To advance to the next sensor just press the mirror/rear window defogger button.

Here are the test results. Sorry the table has become a mess, but uploading didn't work (max 19,5 kb and file size is 25 kb...):

sensor description value value value value value value
time elapsed in minutes 0 5 10 15 20 25
1 Cabin temperature 38 31 28 26 25 26
2 Exterior temperature 25 24 23 23 23 23
3 Solar radiation sensor value 77 62 71 70 69 70
4 Temperature air exiting evaporator 14 09 09 08 08 08
5 Drivers air mix opening % open d9 d9 d9 d9 d9 d9
6 Passenger air mix opening % open d9 d9 d9 d9 d9 d9
7 Mode positioning % open f0 f0 f0 f0 f0 f0
8 recirc flap % open f0 f0 f0 f0 f0 f0
9 vent output air temperature C e1 d8 c5 c5 c3 c4


The other test:
1. Ignition OFF
2. Press and hold down the Auto and Recirculation buttons
3. Ignition into II position
4. Release the buttons
You'll see the "88" at the A/C temperature. If you see any letter from A to P then it means an error message. The messages can be read out only from the HDS system at the service.
I just saw 88

[Unknownsoldier]

Hmmm, most odd, perhaps it is the system needs refilling/charging???

Try these pages....

http://www.airconcars.com/

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/po...ex.htm?t=17944

Tom

[le0001]

One of the actions the dealer took to be sure was a refill with the coolant stuff, 2 weeks ago.

[Unknownsoldier]

Hmmm, should be fine then.... perhaps a faulty temp sensor (its on your steering column housing, a small grill bit). Perhaps try taping a cloth over it and see if the car gets colder???

Tom

[Bob H]

Originally Posted by le0001

Because Tom and my posting crossed I re-post this:

This pollen filter wasn’t the cause after all, cause it’s still hot in the car. So I ran the diagnostic test as described in the Wiki section,

Although the outside temperature was 23 degrees Celcius the airco wasn’t able to cool the cabin of the car below 26 degrees (25 for a very short moment)

Strange or not? Near the engine is a very tiny looking glass (3 x 3 mm) in the thin airco tube. This is not entirely filled with green airco liquid en seems to be boiling. Is that normal?

25-6-8 diagnostic test from 17:50 – 18:15 hrs. :
1. Ignition OFF
2. Press and hold down the A/C system's Auto and Mode buttons.
3. Start the engine
4. Release the buttons
5. On the A/C - Radio display you'll see the sensor number and the value for that sensor
6. To advance to the next sensor just press the mirror/rear window defogger button.

Here are the test results. Sorry the table has become a mess, but uploading didn't work (max 19,5 kb and file size is 25 kb...):

sensor description value value value value value value
time elapsed in minutes 0 5 10 15 20 25
1 Cabin temperature 38 31 28 26 25 26
2 Exterior temperature 25 24 23 23 23 23
3 Solar radiation sensor value 77 62 71 70 69 70
4 Temperature air exiting evaporator 14 09 09 08 08 08
5 Drivers air mix opening % open d9 d9 d9 d9 d9 d9
6 Passenger air mix opening % open d9 d9 d9 d9 d9 d9
7 Mode positioning % open f0 f0 f0 f0 f0 f0
8 recirc flap % open f0 f0 f0 f0 f0 f0
9 vent output air temperature C e1 d8 c5 c5 c3 c4


The other test:
1. Ignition OFF
2. Press and hold down the Auto and Recirculation buttons
3. Ignition into II position
4. Release the buttons
You'll see the "88" at the A/C temperature. If you see any letter from A to P then it means an error message. The messages can be read out only from the HDS system at the service.
I just saw 88

le0001, I note you have seen bubbles appearing in the liquid line sight glass, after how many mins was the system running?

It is normal to see bubbles from first starting the system and when under heavy load, however, the glass should go clear (full) after say 5 mins... From the sound of it, and bearing in mind refrigerant was added a couple of weeks ago, I think the system is again short of refrigerant. Hopefully still under warranty so take it back, if it needs topping up again then you have a leak that the dealer needs to find and correct.

I note that you mention "green airco liquid", normally you wont see a colour, however the dealer may have added a dye to help find a possible leak when exposed to ultraviolet light, if this is the case then he is expecting to see you, trust me...

Hope this helps...

Cheers,


Bob...

[pcr]

You mention bubbles in the sight glass. As far as I know, this indicates that the coolant is low. So if the dealer really did top it up, then a leak must be suspected. On the other hand, if a leak is the problem then it should have worked when topped up, unless something else is wrong.

From your description, it is certainly faulty and you need to tell the dealer to fix it, and don't take the car back until you are satisfied.

[le0001]

A faulty temp sensor was wat I expected too, so I've had the dealer swap it with another one in the showroom. No difference.

The bubbles in the liquid sight glass were there already (still) 2 hours after the latest ride, when I opened the engine hood for a visual inspection of airco parts. Then I started the car and the bubbling increased and held on for at least 10 minutes. Then I closed the hood, so for the rest of the time I don't know.

When the coolant stuff was replaced, I saw the report of the machine, which said that 500 grams of coolant stuff was taken out before refilling it. 500 grams is about the max says my dealer, that obviously doesn't make leakage a real suspection.

I've got an appointment at the dealer this afternoon and already emailed him the diagnostic report, so I am curious what the result will be.

Greetzz.. Bert.

[Unknownsoldier]

HMmmm, so would I this sounds very odd.

Tom