A/C blows hot at idle

[JBYRD2215]

I have a '97 DX Civic coupe, 5MT. The A/C blows ice cold, but when you stop and just let it run at idle the a/c compressor will start cutting on off real sparatically for about ten seconds. The car continues to idle and every two-three minutes it will go through another ten second cycle of cutting the compressor on and off. When you start driving the car will start blowing cold air again. What gives?

 

[VSP]

Is your A/C condenser fan working?

 

[JBYRD2215]

yea...everything seems to be working properly until the car sits for a few minutes(i.e a long light or sitting in a parking lot). If you rev it up while it is sitting still it will start to blow cool again, but it takes driving down the road to get it back cold.

 

[Puma]

Sounds like the fan or compressor. My compressor just died a day after being recharged a couple weeks ago. They're not cheap either..

 

[Deezy]

Pop your hood, and watch the compressor clutch, and a/c belt....Are they slipping??

 

[VSP]

^^ This. Specifically, do it when you notice the air stops blowing cold.

 

[1997EK]

Is your A/C condenser fan working?

I had the exact same symptoms as you with the sporadic compressor and all. Replaced the condenser fan motor and all was well again.

 

[1997EK]

Also worth mentioning, an improper freon level can damage the compressor as well. Some local (stupid) mechanic overfilled my freon to twice the proper amount one time, and it resulted in the sporadic compressor engagement/disengagement as well. Even though I'm running the right amount of freon now, the compressor still is louder than I think it should be.

 

[zammykoo]

I had the exact same symptoms as you with the sporadic compressor and all. Replaced the condenser fan motor and all was well again.

yep this is probably the problem, the condenser fan MAY look like its working but it may be dying... get that checked that out

I replaced my condenser fan today and it fixed the similar issue.

a quick test that i did to discover it is to run the AC at idle normally, if the compressor starts cycling on/off then pop the hood immediately with it still on... the heat from the engine bay should escape and the compressor should stay on (assuming the condenser fan is semi working)

again, its just a quick and dirty test.