A/C not putting out cold air

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Valente

Valente

Active Member
I have 38,000 mi on my car and suddenly my car is not putting out 100% cold air. Granted it's about 100 degrees+ here in Palm Springs but normally the cold air kicks in immediately. I was quoted $300 to add freon refrigerant. Has anyone tried to tackle this on their own? Sadly the car is out of warranty.
 
$300 just to top off the freon is highway robbery! Go to any reputable ac shop or mechanic if all it needs is freon. I only go to dealer service as a last resort.
 
Just to be sure-click the climate button and make sure A/C is on. Today I was not getting cold air even though the temp was set low and for some reason the AC compressor was off. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯


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Apparently, the Honda Clarity takes a different type of freon. I called 3 other Honda dealers and they all quoted $290 - $300. The freon in the Honda parts dept is $150 and the labor is $150. If I had the time I'd try to find a reputable mechanic. Next time this happens, I will!
 
You shouldn't need freon--If you do, you probably have a leak, which may be more to find and fix. Too bad you're past the warranty.

This discussion is making me seriously consider the extended warranty when the 3 year one expires...
 
I think the dealership is trying to gouge me. I called Honda of America today and they said the same thing. If the freon is low it's because of a leak. A/C refrigerant is a closed system and should last up to 100,000 mi unless a leak occurs. But the dealership said there is no leak and it just needed freon/refrigerant at a cost of $300!! BUT...the dealership also said if my car was under 36,000 miles the freon would be covered. AND...he said extended warranties DO NOT cover freon replacement because its considered "maintenance." WTF? I'm confused and angry. When I purchased the extended warranty I was told it picked up exactly as the factory bumper to bumper warranty after expiration. I paid $1800 for the extended warranty. Someone is LYING!!
 
@Valente,
Honda Care is not the same as the new car bumper to bupmer coverage. I checked the honda care does NOT cover refrigerant for refills. They would cover it if let say the compressor need replacing or a leak in the AC system.

Refrigerant doesn't need filling unless there is a leak. if there is a leak, then the repair should be covered by hondacare and also the refrigerant since it was caused by a malfunction of 1 of the AC system.

When you turn on the AC, do you hear the compressor clutch engaging? You should hear a click. Maybe the fuse to compressor was blown? Fuse should be under the hood.
I know their is a diagnostic/ maintenance menu on tounchscreen. I don't remember if that will let you test or manually engage the AC compressor.

Make sure ECON is off!
 
I don't have Honda Care. I have another extended warranty through "Century Service Plus" It sounds like the same as Honda Care but a private Co and I need to take the car back to the dealership where I purchased the car. I can't take it to a different Honda Dealer. Its obvious there is a leak somewhere but the dealer said they couldn't find a leak. Thus the $300 gouge. The A/C does work but it puts out semi-cool air not cold air. This just started happening about 2 weeks ago so I know the A/C is not the same as when I purchased the car.
 
megreyhair said:
I know their is a diagnostic/ maintenance menu on tounchscreen. I don't remember if that will let you test or manually engage the AC compressor.
Click to expand...
The diagnostic procedure is:

- Turn the ignition to OFF, then to ON (i.e. don't press the brake pedal)

- Press and hold the Climate ON/OFF button, then while holding it press and release the rear window defogger button five times.

It will run through AC and heating cycles and various fan speeds. At the end it shows the results on the infotainment screen. It lists all of the tests it ran and at the top it says 0 Errors if everything is fine. The results screen doesn't stay on there for very long so if you want to read every line you need to have your smartphone camera ready.
 
The Clarity does use the "new" refrigerant, but it's in all new cars for the last couple of years. The new one is R-1234yf and the old one (now banned) was R-134a. Both of course replace the long-banned R-12 (Freon). The dealer can now get R-1234yf much cheaper than when it first came out. My local Advance Auto parts store has an 8oz can for $60. That would be enough to recharge a system low on refrigerant unless it's completely leaked out. The new refrigerant is more difficult to handle than the former one, so work with it may be best done at dealer or independent mechanic. Bottom line is that anyone having to recharge refrigerant in a car as young as the Clarity has a leak and it uses the same stuff as in all new vehicles now.
 
If it does indeed have a leak, I'd check the radiator on the bottom so see if it was damaged by debris impact
 
Valente said:
I have 38,000 mi on my car and suddenly my car is not putting out 100% cold air. Granted it's about 100 degrees+ here in Palm Springs but normally the cold air kicks in immediately. I was quoted $300 to add freon refrigerant. Has anyone tried to tackle this on their own? Sadly the car is out of warranty.
Click to expand...
Looks like some of the Clarity have a leaky condenser. I'd have the dealer start there.

https://www.insideevsforum.com/community/index.php?threads/clarity-a-c-problem.6302/
 
Valente said:
Apparently, the Honda Clarity takes a different type of freon. I called 3 other Honda dealers and they all quoted $290 - $300. The freon in the Honda parts dept is $150 and the labor is $150. If I had the time I'd try to find a reputable mechanic. Next time this happens, I will!
Click to expand...

Freon is a brand name. The stuff it is, R-22, was banned except for servicing older equipment ten years ago. Now you have R410a, and if you want a brand name to go with, it's "Puron". But calling the chemical by the brand is like Kleenex :)
 
petteyg359 said:
Freon is a brand name. The stuff it is, R-22, was banned except for servicing older equipment ten years ago. Now you have R410a, and if you want a brand name to go with, it's "Puron". But calling the chemical by the brand is like Kleenex :)
Click to expand...
Just be sure when when you board an airplane don't say you are on the jetway unless you check the placard on it, because Jetway is a brand name :) All others should be referred to as a jet bridge.

It's quite a long list of brand names that are often used generically in spite of attempts by the trademark owner to stop it, here's a partial list:

AstroTurf
Band Aid
Chapstick
Coke
Dixie Cups
Dumpster
Freon
Jacuzzi
Kitty Litter
Kleenex
Novocain
Post-It Note
Q-Tip
Scotch Tape
Sheetrock
Styrofoam
Super Glue
Teflon
Thermos
Vaseline
Velcro
Xerox
 
2002 said:
Just be sure when when you board an airplane don't say you are on the jetway unless you check the placard on it, because Jetway is a brand name :) All others should be referred to as a jet bridge.

It's quite a long list of brand names that are often used generically in spite of attempts by the trademark owner to stop it, here's a partial list:

AstroTurf
Band Aid
Chapstick
Coke
Dixie Cups
Dumpster
Freon
Jacuzzi
Kitty Litter
Kleenex
Novocain
Post-It Note
Q-Tip
Scotch Tape
Sheetrock
Styrofoam
Super Glue
Teflon
Thermos
Vaseline
Velcro
Xerox
Click to expand...

Prepending "Scotch" to "tape" is just wasting syllables. Anybody who says "xerox the paper" rather than "copy the paper" ought to be pinched. And if you call a Dr. Pepper a "Coke" there's something seriously wrong with you :)
 
Valente said:
I don't have Honda Care. I have another extended warranty through "Century Service Plus" It sounds like the same as Honda Care but a private Co and I need to take the car back to the dealership where I purchased the car. I can't take it to a different Honda Dealer. Its obvious there is a leak somewhere but the dealer said they couldn't find a leak. Thus the $300 gouge. The A/C does work but it puts out semi-cool air not cold air. This just started happening about 2 weeks ago so I know the A/C is not the same as when I purchased the car.
Click to expand...
Your best chance is to take your car some where that can find the leak. Then your ext. Warranty cover the repair and needed freon. They can check if your cooling fans are working and condensor for debri.
 
petteyg359 said:
Freon is a brand name. The stuff it is, R-22, was banned except for servicing older equipment ten years ago. Now you have R410a, and if you want a brand name to go with, it's "Puron". But calling the chemical by the brand is like Kleenex :)
Click to expand...
I don't think R410a is used in vehicles, just in A/C for buildings.
 
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