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Should I try the relay?

AC/Heater 
4K views 29 replies 8 participants last post by  jonnyh89 
#1 ·
Usual story with the AC not working at all. I haven't got a clue how to tell if the compressor is running or not.

When I turn the AC on I can hear another fan and engine note changes slightly is this the compressor starting and my relay is fine?

If you look straight down from the alternator is that something to do with the AC, the pulley is spinning with the belt but the shaft isn't.

I tried to remove the relay but it wouldn't budge. Is there something to removing these or just grab and pull?
 
#4 ·
when I first bought my car, the AC wasn't working. took it back and they re-gassed it, still not working. so they then changed the relay and hey presto... nice cold air.

that was years ago, but last week same thing happened. after a few months not using the AC, I flipped it on and I was just getting air the same temp as outside.

I thought, hmmm perhaps getting a new relay again would be a cheap fix instead of taking it to a garage... so I bought the new Mitsuba one.... but that didn't fix it either.

needed to get a garage to look at it in the end, they re-gassed it and charged me for the pleasure... so now I have 2 x relays here, both working fine lol
 
#5 ·
Im not that bothered about it tbh, it worked well last year when I was setting to low. Since then it's been left around 20 auto but getting a few days now where it would be nice to have again.

Don't suppose you want to sell a mitsuba one cheap?
 
#8 ·
Yea not expensive but I'd still rather not buy one if I don't need to. Wouldn't leave in to garage to change a relay, I'm slightly more competent than that lol. Just wanted to make sure there were no clips or anything holding it in before I try and yank it out.

Ordered a set of mats at the dealer earlier, so when I pick them up I'll ask if they have any I can try.
 
#14 ·
Got a relay from Honda and an independent place tried to gas it but compressor still not kicking.

The independent place want the car on Monday to look at it better but I'm not sure I trust them to do much more. They seem a bit rough, just let the gas out of low side and then tried filling it. I thought they should have been checking pressures and stuff on both side before doing anything.

Is there anything I can try looking at myself or should I just go to Honda?
 
#15 ·
Was the indi a general garage with an A/C recommendation or A/C specialist?

Did they allocate you a slot to investigate or just take a quick look and ask you back for a further look-see?

Yes their kit should have first performed a low pressure EVAC test to check for leaks. Then pressurize the system, without doing this either the low or high pressure switches might not allow the compressor to kick-in.

If relay didn't help then someone needs to check if the compressor is kicking in, can you hear the relay click when the A/C is set on?

There's a few 'How To's floating around on what can be checked and options you have.

Good luck getting it sorted.
 
#16 ·
They are radiator and air con guys not general mechanic. They asked me to come in at 3 today where he released the gas straight away and then tried to top it before I went and got a relay.

Never mentioned any pressure switches just said they would need to check where and what was getting power. Said to leave it in on Monday morning.

Spoke to dealer and they wanted 75 for an hours diagnostic but their mechanic said the other guys were pretty clued up on the air con stuff so I'll just let them look at it.

I'm not even that bothered about AC but don't like thinking that something's broke on the car.

Will they need to take much off the car to look at it? I'm worried they'll scrape the bumper or something if it has to come off.
 
#17 ·
Without a FMIC up front they should be able to check the condensor/drier by only removing the slam panel and possibly the under tray.

The front bumper should be able to stay put. However if they need to swap out the condensor/drier then the bumper may have to come out if they struggle with the lower hose fixing.

Now you have a relay, have you tried it?
 
#22 ·
#26 ·
Hi when u look down from the alternator u see the compressor, if the outer ring is not turning the compressor is not engaged, to test this take a feed direct from the battery pos terminal to the clutch which is adjacent to the alternator.if u are not sure use a fused jump lead. There are two fans under the bonnet, left one is AC right one is engine cooling. AC fan will start when u switch AC on, which u hear from the cab.
 
#27 · (Edited)
The pulley is turning but the clutch plate isnt. I've been out and without even having the key in tried to turn the clutch plate but its rock solid, should it be?

The A/C fan starts as soon as I turn the A/C on in the car and I can hear the new relay click.

Been going through the troubleshooting from the workshop manual. Next step it says is check clearance (as suggested) and field coil as I'm not getting a click when I put the jumper between 1 and 2 in the relay socket.
 
#28 · (Edited)
Can someone with working A/C see if they can move the clutch plate without the car running please or anyone in the know confirm if it should move?

I'm stuck between replacing coil/clutch and replacing compressor.

Haven't had a chance to get under to check the gap and coil resistance, chucking it down and me worried about A/C :facepalm:
 
#29 ·
Hi sounds like u have a sized compressor, normally u can reach down and turn thcompressor outer plate.stil may be worth jumping from battery pos terminal direct to clutch feed which is just above alternator body, try this with engine at rest and ignition off.alternatively if u have a multi meter measure the clutch do resistance which I think is approx 7ohms. But my main concern is the sized clutch plate!!
 
#30 ·
Thanks, it would not budge at all. Too much stuff to pay and other more exciting things to buy for the car (coilovers, carbon bonnet, flashpro etc etc... lol).

I think I'll leave this til next summer, that way I can put some money aside until then to soften the blow of a new compressor. I will measure the resistance of the coil some day out of interest.

thanks all for your responses.
 
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