Fit's A/C blows cool, cold, cool, cold...

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Pajamarama

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Since it's summer where I live, I've been using the A/C quite a bit when I drive. I noticed for a long time that in my Honda Fit, the A/C will blow relatively cool air for about 30 seconds, followed by very nice cold air for about 10 seconds. Then the cycle will repeat. Cool, cold, cool, cold, etc. It has been like this for as long as I can remember so it's not a recent thing.

The only reason I wonder if this is normal is my (ex)wife's Taurus wagon blows cold all the time -- it's cold within seconds and blows cold air constantly. Within about 10 minutes of driving you could hang meat to age in the back seats.

I just performed a self-recharge of the R-134A refrigerant so I know the pressure in the low system is normal. Is this just one of those things, is it indicative of a problem, or does my Fit just have a low quality A/C system?

Thanks.
 
My grandmother's Trailblazer was having issues with it's A/C, it needed a new fan clutch, so not enough air flow.

Are your electric fans working properly?

Is it doing it on the highway as well?
 
My wife's '13 Fit Sport does that too.
I haven't checked the charge but I don't like it much. Compressor cycles on and off
rather rapidly compared to other cars I've owned. Maybe on 1 min, off 15 sec. Then repeats.
 
Originally Posted By: Pajamarama
I just performed a self-recharge of the R-134A refrigerant so I know the pressure in the low system is normal.

Thanks.

Unfortunately, no you don't. :-/

That gauge isn't calibrated nor accurate. Low side pressure is also different for all makes, and is arbitrary without relation to high side pressure.

There's a lot of things it could be. Could be as simple as a clogged cabin filter.
 
Originally Posted By: Pajamarama
Since it's summer where I live, I've been using the A/C quite a bit when I drive. I noticed for a long time that in my Honda Fit, the A/C will blow relatively cool air for about 30 seconds, followed by very nice cold air for about 10 seconds. Then the cycle will repeat. Cool, cold, cool, cold, etc. It has been like this for as long as I can remember so it's not a recent thing.

The only reason I wonder if this is normal is my (ex)wife's Taurus wagon blows cold all the time -- it's cold within seconds and blows cold air constantly. Within about 10 minutes of driving you could hang meat to age in the back seats.

I just performed a self-recharge of the R-134A refrigerant so I know the pressure in the low system is normal. Is this just one of those things, is it indicative of a problem, or does my Fit just have a low quality A/C system?

Thanks.


Charging from the low side is hit or miss at best. W/O readings from both sides you have no idea what is going on. I'd suggest getting readings from the high and low side of the system before you go any further.
 
Just because the low side pressure is where the gauge on the can says is OK it's not OK. You can't properly recharge a system that way.it must be sucked out , vacuumedand recharged by weight. Your car has a very small charge capacity. 1oz off either way and it won't work properly
 
Originally Posted By: Pajamarama
Since it's summer where I live, I've been using the A/C quite a bit when I drive. I noticed for a long time that in my Honda Fit, the A/C will blow relatively cool air for about 30 seconds, followed by very nice cold air for about 10 seconds. Then the cycle will repeat. Cool, cold, cool, cold, etc. It has been like this for as long as I can remember so it's not a recent thing.

The only reason I wonder if this is normal is my (ex)wife's Taurus wagon blows cold all the time -- it's cold within seconds and blows cold air constantly. Within about 10 minutes of driving you could hang meat to age in the back seats.

I just performed a self-recharge of the R-134A refrigerant so I know the pressure in the low system is normal. Is this just one of those things, is it indicative of a problem, or does my Fit just have a low quality A/C system?

Thanks.


I had one of those Taurus - ice box! If I was wearing Sandals on and had the AC on my feet would go numb it was so cold.

Some cars have stronger AC than others.
 
My 2012 Rogue does this too. I took it to the dealer when it was under bumper to bumper and they said it was normal. My neighbor who does have professional gauges and who used to work as an ASE certified mechanic tested it for me and said it was good on high and low side. But it does cycle off and on a lot.
 
Originally Posted By: mcrn
My 2012 Rogue does this too. I took it to the dealer when it was under bumper to bumper and they said it was normal. My neighbor who does have professional gauges and who used to work as an ASE certified mechanic tested it for me and said it was good on high and low side. But it does cycle off and on a lot.


Some of the newer AC systems cycle on and off frequently by design. Years ago that would be considered short cycling and a low charge, today in many vehicles it is considered normal.
 
Newer cars cycle a lot on and off for fuel economy believe it or not.

Also, some tend to cycle based on throttle position.

Also, if you WOT a lot, most cars it disengages the A/C to give maximum power.

If the A/C is CAPABLE of blowing cold air when it cycles ON, it is a good bet that it is working properly, you would need to read the Description/Operation of your specific vehicle to know the cycling philosophy.

If it is really bad it could be a temp sensor issue in the system, I'd have to look them up to see where they are and what they are called (been a while).

But if it blows icy cold you can rule out a leak.

A/C is one of the things on a car that is very precise for what it is, everything everyone else is saying has merit.

Up in Quebec you need a license/card to work on this stuff because they don't want people to just "top up" a leaky A/C system as this isn't a "fix" it is a leak, and it isn't good for the environment.

The simplest thing to do is to not just leave it on MAX A/C all the time, most people do this because they figure they want as cold as possible.

Reach over and turn the temp knob to mid-cold!!! Still too cold?? Turn the dial a bit more to the right to mix in some heat!!! Check your cabin air filter!!

Hope this helps
 
^^^What Falken said!
Also, it's my understanding(intervention needed) that A/C compressors do infact cycle on & off so that they don't burn themselves out. In addition, the system my indeed need a top off and maybe a pressure plate cleaning(remove any rust) along with a shim removed as the electromagnet may be getting weak(er) when the clutch is trying to engage the pressure plate!
 
Last edited:
if i had a penny for every honda ac complaint i would be richer than buffett.
 
I have a 2012 Honda Fit Sport. First off the a/c compressor is very small compared to other vehicles..so technically it cant keep up on hot or very warm days. If you notice your dashboard is very large...mine is black so on hot days its like a solar panel for attracting heat in the cabin.. so both of those factors along with an air cabin filter that gets very dirty in a small amount of time, cold cold a/c is tough in this little car.

I have hooked gauges up to mine to see whats up and on a very hot day the compressor is working its [censored] off just to keep up.. so IMHO its a design flaw that the compressor is too small to have good cold air consistantly.
 
I thought all newer cars used variable displacement compressors that didn't cycle on and off like the old days.
 
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: mcrn
My 2012 Rogue does this too. I took it to the dealer when it was under bumper to bumper and they said it was normal. My neighbor who does have professional gauges and who used to work as an ASE certified mechanic tested it for me and said it was good on high and low side. But it does cycle off and on a lot.


Some of the newer AC systems cycle on and off frequently by design. Years ago that would be considered short cycling and a low charge, today in many vehicles it is considered normal.



Thanks Demarpaint......what is the advantage of this?
 
Wow. Thanks very much for everyone's repsonses! I appreciate the input.

I'll change my cabin air filter for now. Will have to consider my options for the rest.

It's not a big problem I have to admit. Just something I noticed and wondered if other people experienced the same thing or if I had a problem.
 
You have an enviable problem if the condenser doesn't ice up!

Max cool on my Fit is only so-so
frown.gif
 
A/C also works better at higher RPMs, and of course, when the car is moving.

I just recharged my Accent last year and the A/C feels cold again, except when idling at a light (Las Vegas).
 
Originally Posted By: Char Baby
^^^What Falken said!
Also, it's my understanding(intervention needed) that A/C compressors do infact cycle on & off so that they don't burn themselves out. In addition, the system my indeed need a top off and maybe a pressure plate cleaning(remove any rust) along with a shim removed as the electromagnet may be getting weak(er) when the clutch is trying to engage the pressure plate!




The AC on my '15 Outlander, with auto temp (even with it off), can cycle on/off within thirty seconds based on temperature.
 
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