Honda Car Forum

Made the mistake of not doing the work myself. Took my 92 Accord EX to have
A/C looked at. The A/C was working in January, during the regular runs to
keep the compressor oiled. Then the A/C stopped. At the same time I had
the timing belt changed so I thought a connection might have gotten knocked
loose. I did not spend much time looking as the days were still cool. Now
the days are NOT (Arizona). I noted there was no pressure in the system and
suspected a leak. I took the car to a local shop and asked them to see if
the system would hold a vacuum. They said they pulled it down twice and it
held for 45 minutes. Figuring the system was intact and puzzled by the lose
of pressure, I had them convert to R-134a. When I picked the car up, I was
told the conversion failed and was shown that the A/C would not put out cold
air. Their diagnosis was a bad compressor.
Being the disbelieving person I am I went to the parts store, bought a r-134
charging system with a gauge and a 12 oz. can of r-134 with stop leak, leak
detection dye and 2 oz. oil charge. I also got two additional 12 oz cans
that were the r-134 and 2 oz oil but not the stop leak and dye. I charged
the system first with the stop leak can and started the A/C system. I
immediately started getting cold air output. I added the second can and
looked under the car. There was a puddle of reddish oil and a fairly steady
drip coming from the compressor area. The oil had a reddish ting which I
attributed to the lead trace dye (non-UV type.) The drip tapered of to
almost nothing. Peering around the alternator, I could see oil on the top
of the compressor but not where it was coming from. The system was at first
losing pressure and I could hear a hissing. this slowed then became
inaudible. I figured the stop leak was doing it's job. The pressure loss
slow down dramatically but there was still some. I bought the Interdynamics
Maxi Seal two can stop leak kit, added the Metal Fix then the Seal Fix cans.
The pressure seemed to be holding. So I topped the system off with two more
cans containing r-134 and 2 oz of oil. This all happened over the course
of the weekend. Monday I drive the car to work and notice the A/C
compressor is making a very obvious whirring noise ( about like the sound of
the engine when revved over 4K.) At idle I opened the hood and listened to
the compressor and there is a noticeable sound of each compression stroke.
Thinking there may be not enough oil (easier to check then too much) I added
one 2 oz oil charge can. Seemed to make no change in the sound.

The question at the end of all this is: Is the compressor bad, too much oil
or too little? I would like to avoid the cost of replacing the compressor,
but will if that is what it takes.

"AKinAZ" <AKinAZ@nasty.com> wrote in message
news:fDOpe.2228$xr.1147@fed1read05...
> Made the mistake of not doing the work myself. Took my 92 Accord EX to
> have
> A/C looked at. The A/C was working in January, during the regular runs
> to
> keep the compressor oiled. Then the A/C stopped. At the same time I had
> the timing belt changed so I thought a connection might have gotten
> knocked
> loose. I did not spend much time looking as the days were still cool.
> Now
> the days are NOT (Arizona). I noted there was no pressure in the system
> and
> suspected a leak. I took the car to a local shop and asked them to see if
> the system would hold a vacuum. They said they pulled it down twice and
> it
> held for 45 minutes. Figuring the system was intact and puzzled by the
> lose
> of pressure, I had them convert to R-134a. When I picked the car up, I
> was
> told the conversion failed and was shown that the A/C would not put out
> cold
> air. Their diagnosis was a bad compressor.
> Being the disbelieving person I am I went to the parts store, bought a
> r-134
> charging system with a gauge and a 12 oz. can of r-134 with stop leak,
> leak
> detection dye and 2 oz. oil charge. I also got two additional 12 oz cans
> that were the r-134 and 2 oz oil but not the stop leak and dye. I charged
> the system first with the stop leak can and started the A/C system. I
> immediately started getting cold air output. I added the second can and
> looked under the car. There was a puddle of reddish oil and a fairly
> steady
> drip coming from the compressor area. The oil had a reddish ting which I
> attributed to the lead trace dye (non-UV type.) The drip tapered of to
> almost nothing. Peering around the alternator, I could see oil on the top
> of the compressor but not where it was coming from. The system was at
> first
> losing pressure and I could hear a hissing. this slowed then became
> inaudible. I figured the stop leak was doing it's job. The pressure loss
> slow down dramatically but there was still some. I bought the
> Interdynamics
> Maxi Seal two can stop leak kit, added the Metal Fix then the Seal Fix
> cans.
> The pressure seemed to be holding. So I topped the system off with two
> more
> cans containing r-134 and 2 oz of oil. This all happened over the course
> of the weekend. Monday I drive the car to work and notice the A/C
> compressor is making a very obvious whirring noise ( about like the sound
> of
> the engine when revved over 4K.) At idle I opened the hood and listened
> to
> the compressor and there is a noticeable sound of each compression stroke.
> Thinking there may be not enough oil (easier to check then too much) I
> added
> one 2 oz oil charge can. Seemed to make no change in the sound.
>
> The question at the end of all this is: Is the compressor bad, too much
> oil
> or too little? I would like to avoid the cost of replacing the
> compressor,
> but will if that is what it takes.
>
>
Taking all that together, I'm sure you will have to replace the compressor
soon. IIRC those things in the early 90s Hondas are expensive, so a lot of
shopping around would be worth it. You should start searching now, although
you can wait for a more convenient time to do the replacement - what can it
hurt?

The last time I replaced a compressor, it was on our '84 Dodge 600ES
(LeBaron). $300 for the compressor without clutch or magnet, and it was on
July 3 in Phoenix... 118 degrees, even in the garage. A memorable
experience, I assure you.

Mike