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2005 TSX Broken A/C

PaHonda on Wed April 03, 2013 8:36 PM User is offline

Year: 2005
Make: Acura
Model: TSX
Engine Size: 2.4
Refrigerant Type: R134a
Ambient Temp: 73 °F
Pressure Low: 60 psi
Pressure High: 60 psi
Country of Origin: United States

Hey everyone.

I noticed that the a/c would work intermittently on my TSX over the last year and a half.

When I turned on my a/c a week ago (73 °F with 62% humidity outside), my a/c wasn't cooling at all.

With the engine running, the compressor clutch is engaged and spinning. Both fans on the radiator are running. Blower in the car is working.

Hooked up the pressure gauge on the high and low side. Both read 60 psi with the engine running at idle (750 rpm) and is stable.

When I shut the engine off, both sides read 75 psi.

I think I have a bad compressor and wanted to hear if everyone agreed. Is there something else that can cause this? Something with the expansion valve or a low charge?

I'm worried that I have debris throughout the system, so I'm wondering if I should replace everything? Is there an easy way to verify that the whole system is contaminated? Are there any aftermarket brands you endorse or avoid?

Thanks for your advice.

-------------------------
2005 Acura TSX Manual Transmission

Edited: Thu April 04, 2013 at 1:22 AM by PaHonda

GM Tech on Thu April 04, 2013 8:44 AM User is offline

Good be as simple as a wide air gap on compressor clutch- tap on it while it is supposed to be running- see if it engages-

I'd suggest you do an electrical diagnosis first- would be really bad to put on a new pump and the same result.....

-------------------------
The number one A/C diagnostic tool there is- is to know how much refrigerant is in the system- this can only be done by recovering and weighing the refrigerant!!
Just a thought.... 65% of A/C failures in my 3200 car diagnostic database (GM vehicles) are due to loss of refrigerant due to a leak......

AutoCool on Thu April 04, 2013 12:55 PM User is offline

PaHonda, about your question "Are there any aftermarket brands you endorse or avoid? "..

Your cars AC compressor is a Keihin HS110R. This compressor is also used in the Honda CRV, though it may have a different pulley or some other differences. A major US AC parts distributor has a replacement model for the CRV that's actually a denso compressor.

Found a video on youtube from an Indonesian user, I slept through my "Conversational Indonesian" class but you can see a bit of the compressor Keihin compressor guts in the video. Just search "Honda N-CRV Keihin Air Conditioner" and it should come right up. It's a scroll compressor, not a piston design.

Since that company I mentioned went to the trouble to find a denso (non scroll) replacement model for the Keihin in the CRV, I would take that as a good sign that they go bad and fairly often. So IF yours is actually bad, it may be something to think about.


Reprinted without permission:

An interesting example of a replacement compressor was
Sunair Products’ answer for a failed Keihin HS110R on Honda
CR-V. You could install a new HS110R, but the aftermarket
has never reported good results with that approach. In fact,
failed Keihins on Hondas long were replaced with Sandens by
dealers. Sunair’s answer is to install a Denso 10PA15C-based
compressor with a seven-groove pulley and clutch assembly. It
is not only is known for its reliability, but at 150cc displace-ment it is larger than the 110cc Keihin so the performance is
better. What makes this work is that new heads were made for
the Denso-to-CR-V application—the compressor bolts right
onto the Honda, although the gut pack itself is pure 10PA15C.

A scroll compressor is not a positive displacement compressor so it could easily be engaged and have no pumping action at all. It can also spread debris in both directions when it fails.

Edited: Thu April 04, 2013 at 12:59 PM by AutoCool

PaHonda on Thu April 04, 2013 10:18 PM User is offline

Thanks for the advice.

The compressor clutch does engage and spin with the pulley, so I would assume the problem is in the R-134a system and not the electronics.

I'll look into the Denso to see what would be needed to fit my TSX (if possible).

-------------------------
2005 Acura TSX Manual Transmission

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