A/C compressor replacement

Unfortunately these compressors are just very different and are not interchangeable. They will not bolt up in the Honda's location nor will the belt be aligned so it will not stay on when the engine is turning.

I am attaching the process on how to change the compressor from the manual. Please review the material below.

Also, here is a guide on how to replace the compressor which should help as well:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-air-conditioner-compressor

Thanks

I have a blown hose and filter requiring replacement (approx $700). My mechanic is recommending I also replace the compressor since it will save me money in the future IF the compressor breaks down. Can you provide any information on the likelyhood of the compressor going out any time soon.

Hi there,

I would be replacing the hose and filter, then charging the system and checking the system pressures if all is ok, i would not touch the compressor as the chances of a failure are some what slim.

mark (mhpautos)

Your site is wonderful and down the the point. I have 2002 v6 Accord sedan 114K miles, which has been working wonderfully until this spring. The AC unit has never had any problems. During winter I always had AC button Off, but with the warmer months coming, I figure I try it out. Turning AC button ON or setting to Auto on the console has the fan working properly without having the air cooled. I checked the compressor - it simply does not turn it self on at all. I checked the fuses - all working. I checked the computer with my little autoxray device - no fault codes at all. I checked for loose wiring or connectors unplugged - everything seems to be in place.

Again, heating and the fan work fine, but the compressor does not even budge when turn AC on. Perhaps you may advice me regarding next 2-3 steps I should undertake. Your help is sincerly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Marek

The same thing happened to my car, I had to purchase a new a/c compressor and a new a/c belt. When it freeze up like that it's nothing you can do. I spent all together about $500.00. Now my a/c works like a charm. You may want to have your mechanic take a look to see if yours is frozen. :D

Thank you honda Gurl. I presume that when you mentioned your car the compressor was figure of speech frozen (as in motion, unable to move). I have not had my compressor working this warmer season at all.
I am willing to take a shot this weekend to see if perhaps the relay switch at or going into the compressor is an issue. Perhaps the clutch in the compressor is a problem? In any case, thanks for the advice and sharing your experience.

Sincerely,

Marek

the simpler route is to be sure it has enough 134a in it to turn on. There are pressure switches that wont let the comp engage unless there is enough pressure

I'm replacing the compressor & it was recommended I also replace the expansion valve & filter drier. Is this necessary? If so, where is the expansion valve located? I've found the filter drier, but not the expansion valve.
Are there any hints or tips for replacing the compressor? Thank you for any & all help!

Yes it is necessary as well as back flushing your a/c system form orfice to compressor to get all the debris out. It's also imperative to pump the system down with a vacuum pump for at least 30 minutes

My A/C compressor went out while driving. I flushed the system using flush solution and compressed air, replace the Dryer, Cycling Switch, Expansion Valve, and Compressor with a remanned compressor. After charging the system, the compressor clutch would not engage. After swapping relays, checking all fuses, and power to all points, the only way to get the clutch to engage was to jump the relay contacts. I replaced the compressor again and the same problem existed. The low side showed up to 110 psi without the clutch engaged and would only get down to 45-50 psi with clutch jumped at the relay. The high side would get up to 210 psi with clutch jumped. The clutch will not engage unless jumped. Any idea what is going on? Do I need to go to a new compressor? It is still hot in Texas and my daughter sure would like some A/C again (so would I).

Hi lpesek123,

The compressor relay is activated by a ground from the PCM and if the relay is not being grounded, you need to check the PCM.
You seem to have overcharged the system slightly.

How do you replace a ac compressor on 1995 honda accord.

Disconnect negative battery cable. Discharge A/C system, using approved refrigerant recovery/recycling equipment. If equipped with 4-cylinder, remove alternator and power steering pump (leaving hoses connected to pump).

Disconnect condenser fan connector. Disconnect compressor clutch coil connector. Remove condenser fan shroud. Disconnect suction and discharge hoses from compressor. Cap the fittings to keep moisture and dirt out of system. Remove compressor bolts and compressor. To install, reverse removal procedure. Evacuate and charge system

ok my compressor clutch would not turn on so i ran a jump wire to it and it fired right up, also checked freon with gauge and it read fine cold air began to flow. soon as i took off jump wire it turned right back off. also i have noticed my compressor fan would come on when i hit the a/c switch(when a/c still would not come on) , now i can hit the a/c button as many times as i want and fan does not come on. also i have noticed the cooling fan will not come on. I've ran jump wires to both and they both run fine so i know its not the motors that are bad.. i changed out thermostat and coolant temp sensor and still nothing.i have checked relays and they click when jumped and i have checked fuses to the best of my knowledge and they seem fine. can u please help me

seems like a fault with the A/C clutch relay. Relays clicking does not necessarily mean they are good. The coil for working the relay is good but the contacts for power transfer to the clutch relay could be bad. Try swapping the relays first.

Reply from Secondfret via e-mail:

Ok I check each relay with a light up checker and they both click and light up my light. So I got curious and checked for power to the switch that goes to the relay and nothing.... Turned on the car and still nothing so I piled off the relay to the other plug and checked it and it had power to I pulled the plug for the fan on the same side, same wiring harness and nothing... Do u think my harness went out or do u think the problem is the a/c button it's self. It lights up when pressed but I was reading something about right behind the button is some sort of another relay do u think that could have burned out

When ignition is turned on, power to the rrelay should be available when A/C switch is operated. If you are not getting power from the switch, test the switch, if power goes in and does not come out, the switch is bad.

the after market header that i purchased will not clear the a/c compressor. the a/c doesn't blow cold, and i live in denver anyway. is removing the compressor reasonable? aside from a reclaimer, what would i need? will i need to aquire a shorter serpentine belt? and if so, where could i find one?

If you don't plan on using the a/c ever again, just remove the compression. It's 4 bolts and 2 lines. I would try and plug the lines as best as I can, if you ever want to use the system agian.

Took it into the shop about a rattle. Its the AC Compressor and they want $1400 to fix it. Is it possible to do it on my own? If so what do I need and how do I do it?

You need a recovery tank for the refrigerant--a set of good air conditioning pressure gauges for high and low pressure--wrenches and stuff like that. If replacing the compressor you should also replace the accumulator and (if equipped) the orface tube. You also need to measure the amount of refrigerant that is evacuated in order to put the proper amount in. It's not like just adding a can or two of refrigerant. The system must be flushed so the new compressor does not get clogged up. The reason your compressor failed is probably because there was too much wax build up inside of the system. This happens when the system is not serviced properly.
Yes you can do this yourself, however you need expensive equipment to do it right. You also need to know what you are doing. A/C systems in cars operate at very high pressures and can be dangerous. I suggest purchaseing an air conditioning srevice manual for your car before you attempt this.

Ok thanks. Looks like I've got some books to read. I assume that I can rent this equipment at Autozone or somthing though right?

Autozone has the pressure gauges, but I think you must buy them. As for the recovery tank--I dought it.

hmm ok well i'll do some looking arround and see if i can get away with buying as little as i can

I want to remind you that A/C systems run on high pressures and discharging and recharging them is dangerous if you don't know what you are doing...

ok well i'll deffinately be careful. thanks for the heads up.

My air conditioning no longer cools the air. According to the Car Care mechanic who examined it, the problem is that the compressor is leaking. He says that it has to be replaced, at a cost of over $500 (plus about $500 in labor), because working on it requires special tools that almost nobody has.

The same mechanics last August replaced valves and o-rings and did a retrofit from R12 to R134 when the air conditioning was no longer working.

More disturbing, the mechanic says that even if I have the compressor replaced, there are no guarantees, and if I do not use it regularly, it may start leaking again because the coolant is very corrosive. In fact, I do not drive very much - often my car will sit in the garage for a week or more between uses.

Comments on what the mechanic told me, and whether it would be worth it to have the compressor replaced?

Hi there,

I would be getting a second opinion. I do not believe that there are special tools to replace the compressor, and if the system is vacuumed down correctly & the receiver dryer is replaced, corrosion will not be a factor, it is when moisture is allowed to enter the system as it causes a chemical reaction that is very corrosive then.

Mark (mhpautos)

i have a 2001 honda accord vp and it has around 77,000 miles. two years ago i replaced the air compressor (new) and it had worked fine since a month ago. the mechanic put in about a pound of freon and recharged the air conditioner. he also put in a dye to see if there were any leaks - the air was cool for about a day after that and was warm again (actually it feels like the outside air is cooler). i notice a whirling sound when it's on and a couple of seconds after i have turned it off. the mechanic said that i need another compressor b/c he saw no leaks and the freon was still full. he said that honda's tend to have weak compressor and this is common to change them every 3 years. has anyone else experienced this with their honda? what would be your advice - i don't want to replace another compressor if it's going only going to last three years?

I just posted a message about my 1987 Honda Prelude compressor, it was the original one and lasted about 19 years.

Thank you for your response. I have been talking with other honda owners and they have mentioned that they have not experienced the same type of problem with their compressor.