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mj's_civic
New User
May 25, 2007, 1:37 PM
Post #1 of 4
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Honda Civic AC condenser
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I just had the a/c in my 1999 honda civic repaired: new compressor and dryer. It cost me $850. But now the mechanic says I need a new condenser because the high pressure is outside of the appropriate range. The pressure now reads 350, he says it should be around 300.He thinks there may be some blockage in the condenser, and that it would cost $330 for parts and labor to replace. Is this really a problem? Should I even bother with replacing the condenser?
thanks,
MJ
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 25, 2007, 3:04 PM
Post #2 of 4
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Re: Honda Civic AC condenser
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300psi is too high also! High side at 1,500 RPM should not exceed 2.5 times the ambient temp in F. measured in front of the condenser. Is fans(s) working properly? Is it cooling well now?
If condenser is blocked can it just be blown out and a receiver drier if equipped would be a more likely blockage after a blown compressor??
If working well now you may be ok. You could rent some gauges yourself and see what's going on or buy some. High side should cut off compressor at pressures in the high300s to save the compressor from overworking. Hmmm,
T
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mj's_civic
New User
May 25, 2007, 4:08 PM
Post #3 of 4
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Re: Honda Civic AC condenser
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Thank you for your prompt response, Tom. They blew out as much debris as possible and then installed a new compressor and dryer. The a/c works well now so I assume the fans are working properly. According to the mechanic, when the compressor blew out, there was metal to metal contact and metal flakes were circulated. He thinks this caused the blockage in the condenser. Is this a common problem? If the condenser is the beginning of the a/c unit, would the blockage eventually ruin the new compressor?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 25, 2007, 5:12 PM
Post #4 of 4
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Re: Honda Civic AC condenser
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Debris from a smoked compressor will be trapped in the first and smallest spots. A drier aka filter would catch much. As much as one teaspoon of junk will stop the show!! Systems with the problems you had should have been flushed out.
They use a flush or lacquer thinner (bad for paint) and blow it out. You never get the last shred without replacing everything in the car. Follow the line from the compressor to the condenser. There may be a drier in that line. Ah ha! That would get messed up first. Some cars (most) don't use those any more. A new condenser would help this but I don't see why it can't be cleared out?? That would require recovering the refrigerant, do the work, add proper amount of oil and vac and charge up again.
If you look again at the high side (smaller of the two) plumbing to the condenser and on to expansion valve it will have a spark plug looking switch with two or three wires that will cut off the compressor at high pressures. If all is working it should prevent blowing up another compressor all by itself.
Compressor would benefit from not having to work as hard as it is right now and will shorten its life so decide what you want to do. I don't think just the condenser will address all the problems,
T
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