So we were on our way home from San Diego to Phoenix (long hot drive) when the air started acting funny. It started by getting warmer until there was no cool air at all. We hit border patrol and tried the air again, this time working, but I noticed a sort of screaching sound every time you stepped on the brakes. So we turned it off until we got past border patrol. We turned it back on and no problems. The rest of the way home it would work intermittently. Although working most of the time. We took it to a Honda specialist the next day thinking it was the serpentine belt. They had it in the bay and could not get the air to not work, then they took it for a test drive only recreating the problem once. And by the time they got back and put it back in the bay it was working again. They told us they were stumped and had never seen anything like it before. They said the serpentine belt was fine had a few minor cracks here and there, and they tried to charge it with freon and it would take any. I noticed today that the compressor is coming on but still is alternating between cold and hot air. It's a total hit and miss situation. If anyone has any ideas, it would be much appreciated. Thanks
2003 Element a/c alternates between cold and hot air
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If I were to take a guess you have a clogged orifice, probably due to a internal failure of some sort. Typically when this happens the A/C works only so well, and will cycle quicker then it should as the high psi(or low to low) gets to high to quickly and opens the circuit. Over long uses the clog will build up, and it gets worse quicker like a plugged artery. After it sits for a while the clog can move out of the orfice as the psi equalizes in the system sort of like a bad fuel filter can do. Typically its seals inside the compressor in my experience, but that is not with Honda's so take that with a grain of salt.
You could have also had a high psi relief go off, as you slowed down the relief valve opened due to an increase in psi, but that is pretty loud in my experience not something you miss. A/C needs to have cooling air(hence the fans coming on), and at certain point it does not work so well when it gets really hot outside, I am sure some one can quote the wet bulb that it takes to have a under preforming system I don't know it because we only get above 95 here about 3 days a year. Hell I have not even turned my A/C on yet this year.
You will have to have some one crack the system and see what the gauges say, and maybe some exploratory surgery.
Chris
You could have also had a high psi relief go off, as you slowed down the relief valve opened due to an increase in psi, but that is pretty loud in my experience not something you miss. A/C needs to have cooling air(hence the fans coming on), and at certain point it does not work so well when it gets really hot outside, I am sure some one can quote the wet bulb that it takes to have a under preforming system I don't know it because we only get above 95 here about 3 days a year. Hell I have not even turned my A/C on yet this year.
You will have to have some one crack the system and see what the gauges say, and maybe some exploratory surgery.
Chris
my 2005 element AC is doing something similar
I took it in today for the third time. Dealer replaced discharge hose originally, about a month ago, but problem has persisted. Took it back last week and they couldn't get it to mess up. Over the weekend, I took it on a short trip and it was very hot outside. AC pretty much quit working then. Compressor kicks on and off, quickly and sometimes makes a grinding noise. So, I have it back today.
It really gets worse when driving in the heat of the day.
I took it in today for the third time. Dealer replaced discharge hose originally, about a month ago, but problem has persisted. Took it back last week and they couldn't get it to mess up. Over the weekend, I took it on a short trip and it was very hot outside. AC pretty much quit working then. Compressor kicks on and off, quickly and sometimes makes a grinding noise. So, I have it back today.
It really gets worse when driving in the heat of the day.
My parents had a similar problem withe they chevy blazer. The AC would work fine, and then all of a sudden it would start to work like if the heater was on...then back to AC....and then back. Sometimes it would just get stuck in AC or Heat. What it ended up being is something called an "Air blend door" or an actuator. When the air leaves the blower it's got two paths it can follow....one straight out to the vents and another path that directs the air over a heating core...then out to the vents. What directs the air to one path or the other is a little door that is controlled by the actuator (blend door). When this goes bad it can randomly open and close the door or get stuck. On the blazer it was a $100 part which I changed myself. it's got little plastic gears in it that crack and render it useless
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