Any A/C Experts here?

[SVO]

Just had the old R134 vacuumed out of my 1993 Civic system today, due to the fact I had some moisture and alot of air in the system. Anyway, ran by the NAPA Store and got some new R134 and the proper lubricating oil. While I was filling the system, I only had 125 psi on the High Side gauge and couldn't get the compressor to come on even though:

a. Car was at idle with the A/C selector switch on and the fan on high.

b. I had a jumper in the Pressure Switch terminal.

I finally stopped filling when I had 3 cans (36 oz. total), in the system and still no compressor engagement. So, I let the car sit for a couple of hours and come back to the garage, start the thing up and push the selector switch.......WAA-Laa! The compressor starts cycling and now I've got 350-400 psi on the High Side Gauge and 65 psi on the Low Side. Ooops too much charge, so I let some back out of the Low Side until I get it to 35 psi and then 250 on the Low Side.

Now it starts cooling down, with engine at idle, looking good for about 2 minutes and compressor clutch dis-engages and never to return. I've been fighting this compressor for about a month and about to pull out my hair. I can run down the road and it'll cool for about 3 miles and then it'll kick out. Roll down the windows for about 20 minutes and push the A/C button on and I'll have cool air for about another 3 miles.

Any suggestions would sure be appreciated! Oh and by the way,...I've checked out the Pressure Switch......it has good continuity. The A/C Relay switch is good, pulled that and checked for continuity throughout it's (4) terminals. I have good voltage coming into the A/C Relay and good voltage being supplied to the Pressure Switch. Also pulled the glove box and checked the A/C Thermostat switch and it's got good continuity.

[i_a_n112784]

I'm not sure about the 5th gen civics, but I know I had a problem on my 4th gen with the ground on the compressor itself. (along with a bad condensor). I also had some funny things going on with the pressure that was caused by a bad evaporator.

I'm not an expert, but if you leave the pressure switch jumpered, and it does the thing where it kicks on for 3 miles and then shuts off, I would say that it is an electrical problem rather than something in the system.

And just a thought, but do the compressors have a thermostat sort of thing so that they won't overheat, or did honda assume that if there's pressure that it wont happen?

[SVO]

I'm going to check on the thermostat at the compressor on my electircal diagrams and also jumper the pressure switch to see if the compressor will stay on. If the compressor continues to run with the jumper then I'd say it's the pressure switch, if not then I'm looking at:

a. The reciever/dryer replacement

b. Expansion valve

c. Thermostat at the compressor itself.

I'm about to go nuts with this thing!

Thanks for the advice!

[sageuvagony]

umm.... I completely took out my compressor and drained out the oil (PLEASE TELL ME YOU DID THIS) and cleaned everything out. I have a 92 LX. I converted my system to R134. From what my manual says, 94+ civics have R134 and anything before that has R12. I just hope you didnt use the wrong type. Overfilling the system will cause the compressor to turn on and off due to there being too much pressure. It has a sensor to shut off the compressor if there is too much pressure. My car under the hood says to only use 20 or 22 OZ of freon so I have no idea where you got your numbers from. The compressor clutch engages and dissengages for a reason. Please do not keep it jumped You dont want anything to explode on you. 2 cans of freon was already to much for my car. I only used about 1 can and 6/8ths of a second can and that was perfectly fine. I kept a thermometer in my vent to test the temp and after so much tweaking and trying different amounts, the thermometer hit 32 degrees I think that is cold enough for me and I stopped there. Works like a beauty now. Pay attention to how much is in there. Too much, wont engage or will very shortly, Too little, will never engage. Good luck

[SVO]

I had the system completed evacuated to 22 in Hg before re-filling it. I'm familiar with the procedure, as I've done the R134 conversion to a 95 Civic EX and my '89 Mustang 2 years ago. No problems with those 2 cars.

It's the '93 that is baffling me,,,,,,,,,well causing me to almost go insane anyway.

[grizzlyadams]

I have a '95 civic and it is doing the same thing, go figure.
Anyway, I am a parts advisor at a Dodge dealership and i have been talking to some of the techs here at my store and at Honda and they all say that based on those symptoms it is the compressor clutch coil that needs to be replaced.
It is damaged and when it gets heated up, it expands too far and causes the clutch to disengage. That is why your a/c works for a few minutes when you first turn on the car, because it hasn't warmed up yet and caused the coil to over-expand.
In some vehicles you can replace just the coil, while in others you must replace the compressor clutch, and in some, you must replace the entire compressor(expensive). In 92-95 civics you have to replace the compressor clutch, due to the fact that they do not service the clutch coil by itself.

Hope this helps, and good luck.