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updated air-con compressor relay to prevent failure

AC/Heater 
392K views 643 replies 222 participants last post by  culzean 
#1 · (Edited)
This is a common cause of failure of the A/C on our civics.

In fact just a week ago Honda issued a Bulletin about it. The original fit Omron relay is suseptable to moisture ingress. This can form nitric acid in the presence of the normal arcing as the contacts operate. This will lead to corrosion and eventual failure. The Bulletin warns that the relay can fail either open or short circuit. If the latter this forces the compressor on to 100% duty cycle and can burn it out.
The remedy is a replacement relay from a different manufacturer - Mitsuba - that is a better quality item. The bulletin warns that the EPC is not yet updated, so you have to order this countermeasure part number directly to recieve the new part, otherwise you will just get the "old" part. I'm surprised they are not doing a campain over this considering if can fail in a way that might lead to screwing up other parts of your aircon

This the bulletin number:-

SM-10-002-00

It affects ALL civics (and CR-V and jazz) upto and including 2011 model year

Here is the countermeasure part number:-

39794-SDA-A05

RELAY ASSY., POWER (MICRO ISO) (MITSUBA)



The datasheet for the original Omron part is here:






The specific part is G8HL-H71 which appears to be a Honda specific version not listed on Omron's website - the standard relay is 180ohm and the Honda version is 120ohm coil resistance.​


The Mitsuba part seems to already be used on other Hondas. I found this link for example​


 
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#95 ·
Had a Honda dealer service at the weekend and incluging the 3 year a/c service.
I've just checked my relay and it is the suspect Omron one. So my question is about this bulletin number SM-10-002-00.
Does it mean that it should have been changed during a service - a/c or otherwise.

I can't get google to come up with anything on that bulletin either.
 
#96 ·
My AC wasnt working and so I thought I would get it regassed. Got it done in kwik fit for free because it didnt work.

They said the compressor wasnt clicking in and so I would need a new one. I would have to take it to another branch of kwik fit for a full diagnostic though.

Anyway, I read about the relay on here and ordered one from ebay. Replaced it and I am nice and cool again.

So two things:

1) Thank you for the advice.

2) I'm not sure how the re-gasing process works. When kwik fit re-gassed it but it didnt work does the gas stay in the system or would they drain it? Basically did I just get my system regassed for free?
 
#97 ·
My AC wasnt working and so I thought I would get it regassed. Got it done in kwik fit for free because it didnt work.

They said the compressor wasnt clicking in and so I would need a new one. I would have to take it to another branch of kwik fit for a full diagnostic though.

Anyway, I read about the relay on here and ordered one from ebay. Replaced it and I am nice and cool again.

So two things:

1) Thank you for the advice.

2) I'm not sure how the re-gasing process works. When kwik fit re-gassed it but it didnt work does the gas stay in the system or would they drain it? Basically did I just get my system regassed for free?
Sounds like a free re-gas :) as kwik fit have that promise saying if it doesn't work they don't charge.
 
#101 ·
My AC failed this week, and a regass didn't fix it (but true to their advert Kwik Fit didn't charge)

I suspected the relay after reading this post, and replaced it with a new one from Honda which cured the problem. When I dismantled the duff relay this is what I found:




The resistor had turned partially to dust and the remaining half and one post were rattling around.

Thanks to all on the forum - saved me getting more expensive diagnostics done.
 
#103 ·
Here is another Civic owner with an air-con issue!

We had the fuse replaced with the different brand a couple of years ago now so Honda did know about it for a while. Since then it had continued to fail on and off with the Honda dealer being able to fix it temporarily.

We have just had the car serviced and they helpfully said the air con wasn't working. They now want £80 to perform a diagnostic on the car to find out the problem.

I have just checked the fuses and all OK, so have just disconnected the battery and am currently waiting the hour to reconnect up and test.

I suspect this isn't going to work, so, if there is anyone in Fareham, Hampshire area, can you recommend a specialist, or do you think I should stick with the Honda dealer?

Also, what it the cost of purchase and fitting of a new compressor?

Thanks

Adam.
 
#104 ·
Here is another Civic owner with an air-con issue!

We had the fuse replaced with the different brand a couple of years ago now so Honda did know about it for a while. Since then it had continued to fail on and off with the Honda dealer being able to fix it temporarily.

We have just had the car serviced and they helpfully said the air con wasn't working. They now want £80 to perform a diagnostic on the car to find out the problem.

I have just checked the fuses and all OK, so have just disconnected the battery and am currently waiting the hour to reconnect up and test.

I suspect this isn't going to work, so, if there is anyone in Fareham, Hampshire area, can you recommend a specialist, or do you think I should stick with the Honda dealer?

Also, what it the cost of purchase and fitting of a new compressor?

Thanks

Adam.
Guess you mean relay? What did they do to provide you with a temporary fix?
 
#106 ·
Sarah: Sounds like a slow leak... I would have a moan at the Honda dealer to trace it and come up with a fix... It could be a simple repair like replacing a seal for example...

Please keep us updated...
 
#108 · (Edited)
Ive had a reply about a suitable relay:-
The 0 727 13 will suit; provided that the coil polarity is correct, the differences in the coil resistance is negligible and will little or no bearing on the circuit operation.

Regards

Les Dorrian
Technical Services Manager
Gordon Equipments Limited
 
#115 ·
Make sure you go to kwik fit for a free re gas before fitting your new relay - saves 50 quid


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#117 ·
If you have the faulty relay and you take the car to kwik fit and get it re gassed, your air con still won't improve. KWik Fit say that if your air con doesn't improve wth their re-gas by a certain % then they won't charge you.

So the idea would be get it done by kwik fit, they don't charge you then fit the relay and all is well.
Unless the problem with your air con isn't the relay and is that it needs re gassing...
 
#118 ·
You'll know if its the relay, because if you stand near the fuse box in the engine bay & switch the air con on, you should hear a click from the relay if it is working. Got my re-gas from kwik fit yesterday, looked disappointed when they told me the air con still didn't work........& then fitted the new relay in 2 mins & now all is well :D
 
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