> "decoy@right.here.com" <decoy.016@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1154399681.133006.151530@b28g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
> > Hi all!
> >
> > I've got a 2002 Civic EX and the AC isn't quite working right. When I
> > turn it on, it will blow cold air for several minutes before blowing
> > outside temperature air. If I cycle the AC on several minutes later, I
> > may get cold air again.
> >
> > Does it sound like I need to charge the system to get the R134 into the
> > correct pressure range? Does anyone have any experience with the kits
> > you can buy at the auto stores? How are they? I'd take it to the
> > dealer, but they want $150 just to charge it with refrigerant/dye and
> > then have me come back if it fails again. I figure if I can get the
> > R134 level back to where it's supposed to be, I can at least see how
> > much of a leak there may be.
> >
> > I haven't checked out the kits yet, but are there specs for the low
> > pressure side included for Hondas? I understand that too much
> > refrigerant can be worse than too little as far as the system goes.

Woody wrote:
> What country are you in? US go to Wal-Mart or parts store and get a kit that
> has a charge hose with a guage on it. Check the pressure on the low side per
> the instructions on the card. It should be in the blue area around 40 pounds
> with the system running at full on and engine about 1500 rpm. Just follow
> instructions on the package..
>
Don't mind the rearranging, above....

I'm in the US. I went to Wal-Mart yesterday and picked up one of those
kits. It sounds really simple. I tested the pressure with the AC
running full/recirculate yesterday afternoon and it showed right in the
middle of the blue region. I was expecting a lower reading than that,
but thought it might've been because it was 95-ish degrees yesterday.
This morning I tested the pressure again and it read about 25 psi or on
the low end of the blue region.

I thought everything looked ok, but I figured I'd add a little
refrigerant to get it to the higher end of "normal". It took maybe 1
second of recharging (with everything running) before the needle was at
40 psi. That didn't seem right, but I unhooked it and left it alone.
It worked for awhile earlier today, but now seems to be back to where
it was. I also noticed some surging when I'm guessing the compressor
kicks in. I noticed similar surging earlier in the week prior to me
"charging" it.

Help! It's still hot here in the Northeast!
decoy