First off slightly long winded but if you care please read I feel like in my slightly inebriated state im being quite informative on this.

Ok check it, I'd love to hear some ideas on WTF is wrong with my car.

1995 4dr Honda Civic DX (170k miles, and still kicking *** and taking names)

As of last summer, my car suddenly decided to stop blowing cold air on me. I'd push the AC button, it would light up, but there would be no effect (couldn't feel obvious drag on the motor etc, obviously clutch wasn't engaging) After many weeks with this problem I noticed it mainly happened when it was hot outside, or if I had driven in heat for a while.. I'd push the button, it would blow hot air.. sometimes if I was angry and sweaty enough id mash the button 10-20 times and occasionally id feel the clutch engage (drag on the engine) and boom cold air.. but this was often short lived (at least till I turned the car off).

I took it to a place in town, told them the scenario and left them my car... after 5 hours I called them back to see what was up, and they said "Oh well we turned your car on and your AC worked fine.. so we let it run.. its still going, you can come pick it up if you want" so got my car, said F it and finished the summer sweating...

Here we are summer #2.. I have a new job that requires pants and dress socks and mild road trips in my car... obviously having working AC would be A HUGE DEAL right now...

So the other day I took it to a Honda specialist in town.. I told them the following:

FACTS:

#1 Early morning (pre 80degrees); Car parked in shade (cool engine bay), or night time (also cool engine bay/car) AC turns on INSTANTLY blows PERFECT cold air.. no problems..

#2 Mid day (post 80degrees); car parked in open sun, car driven in hot weather. AC WONT TURN ON AT ALL, IF I JAM BUTTON IN ANGRY RAGE 50000 TIMES 1/5000 i will feel the clutch engage and it will sometimes go for a bit, often just cutting out again...

They wasted a day, told me my compressor clutch was spaced a bit far apart, charged me for 3 hours labor (160 bucks) and supposedly moved it closer and the AC worked... I got there, picked car up, and proceeded to get hot magma shot in my face.. went back told them that it wasnt working... they sent a guy out who was shocked, got a big long pry bar, jammed at my compressor clutch, then noticed my AC fan wasnt working... proceeded to test connections and asked if i could bring it in the next day..

I really want it fixed so i do.. so later the day they call me and say "Oh we think your AC control panel in your dash is broke, and quote me 250 for the part... i quickly notify them that on ebay they are 25-45 Dollars and tell them to go F themselves...

Moral of the story...

WTF is wrong with my car?

Heat is a HUGE 100% reason of why it doesn't work most of the time. I think its something electrical or relay or switch between the button (which lights up fine and all *****/sliders on AC panel work perfect) and the clutch/compressor itself...

Like maybe some electrical tape that when it gets hot expands/loosens and the wires seperate a bit?

ANY IDEAS!??!?!

HALP!!!!

 

welcome to the forum. Have you checked to see if there is sufficient freon in the system, if low, sometimes work sometimes hot air. Also there is a pressure switch that goes bad, ( my 90 accord switch went bad, freon pressure was good ) If you go to hondaautomotiveparts.com and look up the a/c system, you'll find the switch. Also if you go to a pep-boys, auto zone, kragen, checkered, etc parts house, you will find a kit to check your pressure. Be sure to read the instructions good if you are going to do it yourself.

 

Damnit, the one thing I forgot to mention in my rambling.

My coolant is full, and when the compressor turns on it blows perfect cold air.

Not sure if freon is the same thing you mean

 

samething, a/c coolant = freon. Still might check the pressure switch, this also tell the compressor to go on or stay off. Then the compressor clutch itself may be going bad.

 

Fixed it myself, its sad when I (Computer Engineer) is better with cars than any of the mechanics in town... And they charge 80 bucks an hour labor, buncha useless bums lol.

After more deliberation I figured it had to be something electrical pertaining to loose connection or bad solder joint.. due to heat causing the problem..

Pulled AC unit out, took it apart, noticed 4 cracked solder joints coming from AC button, resoldered, plugged it in.. and voila!

AC works perfectly every time.

I win!

 

Thank you for your rely on a good fix. Go job. now we also know this can happen. You save a lot of money doing the trouble shooting.