A/C Thermostat or evaporator temp sensor ... same thing?

[swatkaizen]

Hi all,
It's summer, and I'm having my AC fixed. My mechanic says that I need a new "evaporator temperature sensor". He was going to order from a local parts guy, but I asked if I could try to find it online for less. He gave me the OEM part # 80430-SF1-003 for my 91 Honda Civic MT 1.5L DX.
I haven't found it on many sites. The one site that I did find it on was in Russian and referred it as a AC Thermostat. OK, we'll I know very little about cars, but a thermostat is a temperature sensor so it's probably the same thing but I can't very well order in Russian.
So I then try some parts places online. Plenty of AC thermostats for a 91 honda civic, but since I can't order by part number, how do I make sure that it's the right thing for my car? I have no idea what it looks like. Any one care to weigh in if this is right? http://www.thepartsbin.com/catalog/p...ml=cvc-dx4-001

Ordering it here is > $60 cheaper than the local guy (if it's the right thing).

Thanks for any help,
-K

[viper-blue]

Thats definately a lot cheaper than the part you need. That thermostat controls engine temperature, if your getting your car ready for summer its a good part to replace cause they are a constant pain in the ass for any civic owner. The part you need is part of your air conditioning system. Eighty bucks is probably a good deal. Air conditioning parts aren't cheap. Your better off pricing it at your local parts store, or just going with your mechanics part guy

Here is a link, I used your part number and it gave me a result...no picture, but the price is right in the same ballpark as your mechanic..it probably looks cheaper, but remember you have to pay the shipping
http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...er+VIN+Number+

[CRXperiment]

"evaporator temperature sensor"???

I think you are looking for a part called either an expansion valve or Shrader valve. Go to any auto parts store and they should have it. It fits into the evaporator and controls amount of freon let in and out.

[Killa_CRX]

That thermostat you looked up is not at all what you need... just let the mechanic's parts guy order it... you don't know what you need for sure, and if it turns out the mechanic either, it's his bad and returning the part and getting the right one is on his shoulders, not yours.

[FrodoGT]

Both Viper, and Crxexperiment are wrong. Read a little deeper. Your looking for the AC thermostat or evaporator thermostat. Its a very small module with a long "tail" that feeds into the fins of the evaporator, its basically a dual temperature switch, turning the ac on when its too hot and off when it gets to a certain temp (to stop the evap from freezing up. This is not to be confused with the expansion valve, and is not actually directly connected to the ac lines..or evaporator, its just goes between the fins, Like a temp probe.

Its called the Air conditioning thermostat, seen as #30 on the right hand side in this picture. and on estore.honda.com it is $104
http://estore.honda.com/epc/images/p...33Z0400CAH.png
I hope this helps