2000 Integra Air Conditiong Sudden Failure
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2000 Integra Air Conditiong Sudden Failure
Car: Acura Integra 2000 GS 1.8 auto, 87,300 miles
On 7/20/07. I used my air conditioning. It was working OK but not strong. It has not been all that strong on very hot days since I bought the car at 75,000 mi in March '06, but worked OK with recirculated air.
I next tried to use it on 7/27/07. No cold air, not even cool. I had a mechanic look at it: clutch engaging, hi-low pressure test numbers OK (but mechanic suggests this does not say anything about HOW MUCH refrigerant is in system).
When I turn on AC, the box on lower right makes a hissing noise, a cross between "SSSSHHHH" and "SSSSSSS". When I turn it off, it briefly gets louder, then ceases, although you can still hear fan. This noise may have always been associated with AC, but since there was nothing wrong, I never noticed it.
I looked at linkage from manual slider to box at lower right (is this the blend door?). All linkage seems to be OK.
Mechanic (not dealer, but experienced factory-trained Honda mechanic) suggested trying a purge and recharge as first step - cost about $140.00.
Before I spend the money - is there anything else this could be? Is it not kind of sudden to go in 1 week from reasonably effective cooling to none at all? When there is still 80# pressure on the high side?
Could there be a sudden leak? How would you find it?
On 7/20/07. I used my air conditioning. It was working OK but not strong. It has not been all that strong on very hot days since I bought the car at 75,000 mi in March '06, but worked OK with recirculated air.
I next tried to use it on 7/27/07. No cold air, not even cool. I had a mechanic look at it: clutch engaging, hi-low pressure test numbers OK (but mechanic suggests this does not say anything about HOW MUCH refrigerant is in system).
When I turn on AC, the box on lower right makes a hissing noise, a cross between "SSSSHHHH" and "SSSSSSS". When I turn it off, it briefly gets louder, then ceases, although you can still hear fan. This noise may have always been associated with AC, but since there was nothing wrong, I never noticed it.
I looked at linkage from manual slider to box at lower right (is this the blend door?). All linkage seems to be OK.
Mechanic (not dealer, but experienced factory-trained Honda mechanic) suggested trying a purge and recharge as first step - cost about $140.00.
Before I spend the money - is there anything else this could be? Is it not kind of sudden to go in 1 week from reasonably effective cooling to none at all? When there is still 80# pressure on the high side?
Could there be a sudden leak? How would you find it?
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Joined: Nov 2005
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I had the same loud "breathing" noise coming from my evaporator. The air kinda worked but not really when it got real real hot. I bought a can of r134a and put about half the can in about a month ago and so far so good, the evaporator is quiet and the air works quite well. I probably have a small leak but it's cheaper and much easier to put a can or two of r134a a year than diagnosing and fixing the leak.
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Buffalo, NY
The hissing sound you're hearing is probably the expansion valve doing its thing-normal.
You can either just get the can with hose and try it or get the can with hose and little gauge on it. The gauge will tell you if it's charged up at a certain ambient temp. If you do buy a kit, get the hoses with metal fittings, the plastic tees tend to break after one or two uses.
You can either just get the can with hose and try it or get the can with hose and little gauge on it. The gauge will tell you if it's charged up at a certain ambient temp. If you do buy a kit, get the hoses with metal fittings, the plastic tees tend to break after one or two uses.