'13 Civic 1.8L - Excessive A/C Compressor AND Fan Cycling?

[tony1679]

New to me Civic (bought a month ago), 50K miles, and I'm noticing the compressor along with the fan cycling an insane amount. It's perfectly predictable, so I used a stopwatch. 7.5 seconds ON, 3.5 seconds OFF, and repeat, and repeat, and repeat... endlessly! It's absurd! The A/C does blow ice cold, but it just seems so excessive. Supposedly the ECON button does affect the compressor cycling, however it cycles like this whether ECON is on or off. What got me to notice it was when I was gently, steadily accelerating from a red light. It would go, shift to 2nd, shift to 3rd for a second then back to 2nd (with no change of throttle on a flat road). I thought it was the trans being temperamental, until I had the A/C off one day and it went away. When it engages ON, it robs the engine power noticeably. I know it's going to, but for example I held the gas deadly still at 1,700rpms in park. It would remain perfectly still for that 3.5 seconds until it engaged, then it rather slowly (NOT instantly) fell to about ~1,250rpms until it disengaged (which instantly returned it to 1,700). I've never had a compressor drag that heavily on a motor, but I've also never owned a 4 cylinder until I bought my Elantra about 7 months ago. But it has almost the same size engine and I don't feel that compressor at all . I just feel like the compressor and/or fan are going to live a very short life like this. Obviously I need to check the refrigerant/pressure on both sides (H and L), but am I missing something? Am I overthinking this? Is 7.5/3.5 seconds normal on newer cars?!? I hope not... Thanks in advance for any help/input/advice!

 

[CharBaby]

I am assuming from you mentioning, shifting to 2nd & back, that you have the LX Manual. I have the LX CVT w/ the same engine as you can see in my signature but, I can't tell you right now as it's still in the 40s F here. May be low on refrigerant & causing the compressor to cycle on/off more frequently. IDK this for a fact but, some ECO/ECON modes turn off the AC compressor at stop lights as in your Elantra but, not the Civic??? And most newer vehicles especially in the small 4 cyls, the AC compressor also shuts off at wide open throttle(WOT) or when more power is needed.

 

[wag123]

Originally Posted by Char Baby

May be low on refrigerant & causing the compressor to cycle on/off more frequently.

+1

 

[Chris142]

Ac could be either low or overcharged. R134a is weird stuff and must be charged by weight and not by pressures.

 

[mk378]

A TXV system that is low on refrigerant will just run and run and not get very cold. This is different from the CCOT systems in most American cars, which will cycle on and off rapidly and also not get very cold. The cooling has to be cut back at some point so the evaporator won't get too cold and ice over. In an economy car this is usually "bang-bang" control which combined with a small engine will be noticeable to the driver.

 

[CharBaby]

Originally Posted by mk378

A TXV system that is low on refrigerant will just run and run and not get very cold. This is different from the CCOT systems in most American cars, which will cycle on and off rapidly and also not get very cold.

My Dad had an '85 Grand Marquis that cycled on/off rapidly as you mention. It was cold and always worked though you'd think there was something wrong in the system.

 

[WyrTwister]

Originally Posted by wag123

Originally Posted by Char Baby

May be low on refrigerant & causing the compressor to cycle on/off more frequently.

+1

No doubt , that is one of the issues that can cause short cycling . Compressor pumps until the pressure drops and the low suction pressure switch turns the compressor off . Pressure equalized and it all starts again , for the next cycle . Take a look around all the A/C components you can see . Any sign of oil leakage ? Throw the gauges on it & srr what the pressures are . Preferably on a warm / hot day .

 

[Dave Sherman]

That may not be so unusual, I had an '04 and '08 CR-V that cycled frequently. The '04 I thought for sure something was wrong, but it was brand new. The pressure gauges indicated all was normal, even had the dealer check it out and assured me it was normal. When I got the '08, it also cycled frequently, maybe 10 seconds on and a few seconds off. Never had any trouble with the A/C in either of them, and it was always cold.

 

[mclasser]

Like others said, it could just be the nature of the beast. See how the A/C performs in the warmer months and take it from there.

 

[JamesBond]

My guess would be that it is a little low on refrigerant. When you first start it on a cool morning is the cycle shorter than when the ambient temperature is higher and the engine is fully warmed up? I had an old beater escort that would short cycle like that but the ac was always cold. When I put the gauges on the pressures were low. A few ounces of 134a brought the pressures up and kept it from cycling as often. As the above poster said, the best remedy is to evacuate the system and recharge by weight.

 

[tony1679]

Originally Posted by Char Baby

I am assuming from you mentioning, shifting to 2nd & back, that you have the LX Manual.

No 5-speed auto. That's why I mentioned it, because it's strange.

 

[tony1679]

So general consensus is normal or refrigerant level is off. I'll have to check on the next hot day. I'll report back with any new info. Thanks!

 

[CharBaby]

Originally Posted by tony1679

Originally Posted by Char Baby

I am assuming from you mentioning, shifting to 2nd & back, that you have the LX Manual.

No 5-speed auto. That's why I mentioned it, because it's strange.

Oh that's right! 2014 was the first yr for the Civic w/CVT.

 

[BryanTDI12]

My aunt's 2015 Honda Pilot and her previous 2007 Pilot does the same thing. I believe it's normal because now when I'm in the parking lot, I can always tell if it's a Honda idling with it's AC on due to the compressor cycling. We have a lot of idling cars here in Phoenix due to the heat, and Honda seems to be the only manufacturer with this unique AC cycling. Unrelated, but you can also tell when it's a Honda starting as they have a unique starter sound.

 

[Panos]

That's how my Ford fiesta behaves. When I had the system drained and recharged it only affected the amount of drag on the engine, made it almost insignificant. But it kept cycling. The higher the engine rpms the more frequent the cycling gets. The cycling almost disappears when engine is in idle rpm. Needless to say, the cooling performance is mediocre in the hot days of Greek summer.

 

[AC1DD]

Originally Posted by Dave Sherman

That may not be so unusual, I had an '04 and '08 CR-V that cycled frequently. The '04 I thought for sure something was wrong, but it was brand new. The pressure gauges indicated all was normal, even had the dealer check it out and assured me it was normal. When I got the '08, it also cycled frequently, maybe 10 seconds on and a few seconds off. Never had any trouble with the A/C in either of them, and it was always cold.

You're correct. Honda do seem to cycle more often compared to many other makes. I have an old 1997 Honda Accord in good shape it was purchased from new and it always cycled fairly frequently as you mention. Now it IS possible that you are a few ounces low or so and that can increase the amount of cycling as well. I bet it needs a top off...NOT MUCH just perhaps 3 ounces. ALWAYS remember with smaller capacity compressors when it comes to guessing LESS is better than more when topping off and not knowing the weight in the system.