A/C condenser fan trouble

1996 HONDA CIVIC
323,750 MILES • 4 CYL • FWD • MANUAL
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AXIS
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The A/C compressor turns on and off repeatedly. It doesnt happen everyday though.Sometimes its working fine no matter what the outside temp is. I found the condenser fan not running when it should be running together with the compressor.Used light tester to check wires going to the fan, no power. On another instance, there was power. I wired fan direct to battery, continuous running.

When there is no power going to fan, i tried interchanging the relays for compressor and fan, still no power. I checked with light tester the sockets for the relay, two points were giving power.

One time while observing the a/c in running condition, thermostat switched off fan and compressor(already cold). When it kicked back in, compressor and fan started ,but the fan immediately lost power and stopped.

One time A/C was switched on, high pressure switch on receiver was disconnected to prevent compressor from running, inside blower was set to #3, condenser fan was not running. When I changed the blower switch from #3 to #1, condenser fan started running.

Suction pres. is 30psi, disc pres. is 200psi. ambient temp. is 28 deg Celsius( 82 deg F)

What should I do next?
Oct 30, 2011 at 4:33 PM
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ASEMASTER6371
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check the connector at the ac compressor. i have seen them corrode and melt causing the same condition.

Roy
Nov 1, 2011 at 3:04 PM
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AXIS
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I have a bit of progress today.Now both compressor and fan wont run anymore. Put a jumper on the pressure switch, still wont run.I brought the car to an a/c mechanic/electrician(not honda specialist). Fuse,relay, connectors in fan and compressor were good. There is supply to relay terminals( 2 points).But there is something odd, even if I remove the key, there is still 1 point with power. I think I have more problems besides the a/c. We found out there was no ground going on the relay terminals( Tested with light tester connected to + of battery.)We connected a jumper wire from the negative of battery to a negative leg of the compressor relay.It run fine. But there is no control from inside. AC would run even if the ac switches are off. We temporarily placed a toggle switch to control the ac from freezing the evaporator. Would a faulty thermostat make this trouble to the ac?
Nov 1, 2011 at 4:41 PM
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ASEMASTER6371
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no, did the tech determine if the ground was controlled by the ecm??

Roy
Nov 1, 2011 at 4:56 PM
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AXIS
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https://www.2carpros.com/questions/1996-honda-civic-c-wiring-diagram

Somebody gave me a schematic diagram for a 96 civic. Im not sure though it is the correct one. Anyway, as the diagram indicates, groung for compressor relay goes to the ecu. Im suspecting ground to ecu might be the cause but dont know how to test and afraid mess with the ecu. Also when we run jumper wires to the compressor, it engages but IAC dont seem to sync and the idle is low.

Last night with the jumpers on the relay,ac was working ok. After a few hours, it was back to the same trouble( compressor engaging, fan not working,low idle). Im going back to the mechanic today(my friend). What would be next step we should do?
Nov 2, 2011 at 4:40 AM
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ASEMASTER6371
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hopefully he has a scan tool that can verify when you engage the ac , he will see the command sent to the pcm. that where i would start.

Roy
Nov 2, 2011 at 4:49 AM
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AXIS
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No scan tool. I have to go somewhere else.tnx again
Nov 2, 2011 at 5:01 AM
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ASEMASTER6371
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good luck

Roy
Nov 2, 2011 at 1:48 PM
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AXIS
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So I brought the car to a shop to get more opinions and to get a scan.They could not find the port to attach the scan tool.I dont know also. I never had a computer scan before. Where is it located?
Nov 3, 2011 at 3:06 PM
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AXIS
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Brought the car to a shop to have a scan today. They could not find the OBD2 connector port for the scanner. Where is it anyway? Never had a scan before.
Nov 3, 2011 at 7:34 PM
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AXIS
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Still no progress on the AC. Im just using a toggle switch to connect ground to negative terminal of condenser fan relay. Idle picks up ok when the cluth engage, so I think ground to ECU is ok. Could the cluster of switches for fan and heater be a cause for loosing ground on the relay terminals?
Nov 6, 2011 at 11:26 AM
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SONDA
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According to my knowledge.. ( i was a Honda mechanic) check the blower resistor which located in the blower motor. & the A/C switch as well.
there are no OBD2 socket in 96 Civic . unless it s an HONDA CVT transmission car. it has a 3 pin connector which you can still connect to the scanner. this socket is situated near the main ECU. next to the front passenger floor. good luck.
Nov 29, 2012 at 12:20 AM