AC blows HOT after tightening steering rack bolts

I'm not familiar with the layout. Is the compressor near the half shaft you pulled? I'm still wondering if you disturbed the clutch trigger wire
 
There are several YouTube videos about how to fix the AC clutch on Hondas. From what I have seen watching them, it looks like there were two different designs used over the years, and there are simple fixes for both designs. Apparently high mileage Hondas have this problem, but the fix is simple.

Watch several YT videos about it.
 
It happened again yesterday! Lasted a few hours and then it was back. I didn't hear the compressor clutch engaging. Then, when it blew cold, I could hear the compressor clutch click on. I pressed the relay in, although it didn't seem to be loose. I'll see if there is a clutch trigger wire, and I'll research blend door problems. Thanks for all of the help!
 
D60 said:
I'm not familiar with the layout. Is the compressor near the half shaft you pulled? I'm still wondering if you disturbed the clutch trigger wire
Click to expand...
The compressor on most Honda is down low on the passenger side. The engine in the Integra is flipped left/right; the compressor is on the driver side.
 
joenobodyyet said:
It happened again yesterday! Lasted a few hours and then it was back. I didn't hear the compressor clutch engaging. Then, when it blew cold, I could hear the compressor clutch click on. I pressed the relay in, although it didn't seem to be loose. I'll see if there is a clutch trigger wire, and I'll research blend door problems. Thanks for all of the help!
Click to expand...
If the clutch relay is the problem it won't be due to looseness.
There are a set of contact points inside that become oxidized, or burnt, that send battery power to that "clutch trigger wire" you're looking for.
When they get old they can make a connection one time, but not the next, then again later on.
Good luck
 
It did it again a few days ago. Seems to do it when it's hotter, but when it cools down a little, the ac compressor clutch engages. After some research, it looks like I either need a new relay OR I need to remove one of the washer "shims" behind the clutch plate to allow the clutch plate to engage. Looks like it most likely was a coincidence that it happened when I replaced the CV axle. Maybe I should go ahead and get a new relay and also remove one of the shim washers.
 
joenobodyyet said:
I have a 2008 Honda Civic LX automatic transmission with 144,499 miles. Last night I replaced the passenger side cv axle. I decided to try to loosen then tighten the steering rack bolts, since my car has had the popping/clunking sound. I checked the TSB 09-028

https://static.oemdtc.com/TSB/A09-028.pdf

I figured I could reach some of the bolts from under and with the wheel off and cv axle out. I was able to loosen and tighten the two bolts on the passenger side, but the others I couldn’t access for the bottom. I’ll try to tighten then from the top another day.

BUT NOW MY AC BLOWS HOT AS FIRE. What did I do??! Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
Click to expand...
If you do determine that this is a coincidence and it appears to be a problem with your AC climate control system no longer working properly. I used these guys and am extremely happy. Going to the dealer would’ve cost much more. I took the system out, which was easy, shipped it to them as instructed and they fixed it for what I would consider to be relatively inexpensive and it’s been over a year and works perfectly. The AC puts out cold air and the temperature adjustment works fine. I used them for a 2007 Toyota Highlander. Called Module Master. If the link I attached does not properly display, look up modulemaster.com.
https://modulemaster.com/products/toyota-highlander-2001-2007-climate-control-rebuild
 
Here are your options:

  1. Panic!....j/k don't. Take a deep breath and chillax. You have an AC problem and it isn't going to fix itself by posting about it on the internet. Answer the questions that have been asked over the past month or two.
    • Is the AC Clutch engaging regularly when the AC turns on?
    • If you put the heat on COLD does it blow ambient air temp? When you put it on hot does it get hot? Put it back on cold...does it go ambient? That would be a good test for the blend door actuator.
  2. Check your AC pressure. You could be borderline low on freon. Good enough for when it is cool but when it is hot you might be tripping a high or low side pressure sensor.
    • Get yourself a set of gauges. See if it is within spec. If it is low consider adding some freon from Autozone in there and see what happens.
  3. Go to a mechanic and have them spend a few minutes on it and diagnose it properly.
 
AdmiralYoda said:
Here are your options:

  1. Panic!....j/k don't. Take a deep breath and chillax. You have an AC problem and it isn't going to fix itself by posting about it on the internet. Answer the questions that have been asked over the past month or two.
    • Is the AC Clutch engaging regularly when the AC turns on?
    • If you put the heat on COLD does it blow ambient air temp? When you put it on hot does it get hot? Put it back on cold...does it go ambient? That would be a good test for the blend door actuator.
  2. Check your AC pressure. You could be borderline low on freon. Good enough for when it is cool but when it is hot you might be tripping a high or low side pressure sensor.
    • Get yourself a set of gauges. See if it is within spec. If it is low consider adding some freon from Autozone in there and see what happens.
  3. Go to a mechanic and have them spend a few minutes on it and diagnose it properly.
Click to expand...
The AC clutch doesn't engage sometimes, and that's when it blows hot. Today it worked fine. Last week, one day it didn't engage, and it blew hot. I think I need to remove one of the washers "shims" from the AC clutch plate. I can also try replacing the clutch relay.

Thanks for your help!
 
joenobodyyet said:
The AC clutch doesn't engage sometimes, and that's when it blows hot. Today it worked fine. Last week, one day it didn't engage, and it blew hot. I think I need to remove one of the washers "shims" from the AC clutch plate. I can also try replacing the clutch relay.

Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...
That was your conclusion ten days ago. Give it a try and report back.
 
I do think my issue is NOT related to anything I did. I'm thinking it's my AC Clutch plate.

Now that winter is over, I'm in need of air conditioning. It seems that when my car heats up, the ac compressor clutch does NOT engage. I have a few gauges that you connect to R-134A canisters, so I tried them on the low port. Earlier today, it was around 80 degrees and my car was hot and the clutch would not engage. I tried the gauges, but I don't think I'll get PSI readings when the ac clutch is not engaged. So then I waited a few hours and came out in the dark when it was 65 degrees. My air conditioning turned right on. I had the AC on Max, coldest setting, and recirculate. The AC clutch was engaged and I got readings from three different gauges: 22psi, 27psi, and 7psi. Not sure why they all gave different numbers. They were all low. But the AC seemed to be blowing cold. I assume I should add more refrigerant? Will adding R-134A to the low line help the AC clutch engage?

I was thinking I should add refrigerant AND try to remove a shim from behind the ac clutch plate. I swapped the relays and nothing happened. I have watched videos on youtube, and it looks like I need to remove a 14 mm nut from the clutch plate, then remove a shim, then put the ac clutch plate back on.

Any tips and incite would be appreciated. I don't really know much about ac compressors, but I have watched a few YouTube videos to get an idea of the air conditioning system. Thanks
 
The clutch doesn't need to be engaged to read pressures. They will just be incorrect. The pressure readings you're posting make no sense, especially a third reading.

You are adding complications you don't need with the gauges. Figure out why the clutch isn't engaging, before you start looking at things like pressures.
If the clutch doesn't engage it isn't going to cool. --- Period.
If it cools after the clutch engages - don't worry about the pressures.
 
I missed this thread when it was originally posted - does your AC run "HOT AS BLAZES!!" or does it just not cool?

If it is indeed hot as blue blazes - if it feels like someone turned it to full hot, then it's certainly a blend door problem.


If your compressor is not running and you have even a small amount of refrigerant in the system, you will see pressure (on both high and low sides) that is equal to the vapor pressure of the freon at your current ambient temps.

Here is how I would troubleshoot:

1. Measure the voltage to the clutch - is the clutch getting electricity and not turning on?

2. If the clutch is not getting voltage, should it? Is the clutch relay defective? Are the pressure switches working correctly?

Do you have a set of gauges so you can read both high side and low side pressures? If not, you can loan-a-tool them from Autozone. But understand how they work before you put them on the car (keep both knobs closed).

IMO - DO NOT ADD REFRIGERANT until you figure out what is going on. If it runs fine at 65 degrees but not at 80 degrees, that is not a normal sign of is being undercharged. The kind of intermittent issue you are seeing sounds to me like something electrical.
 
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Last night I removed one of the shim washers from behind the clutch plate. When it's hot again, I'll let you know if the compressor engages. When the compressor wasn't engaging, it felt like warm air (not super hot) was coming from the vents. But the hotter it is outside, the hotter the air seems to be. Hopefully removing a shim fixed my issue. It's supposed to be cooler and rain all week, so I'll try to send an update next week. Thanks!
 
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