'86 Honda Accord A/C Problem

Today while driving down the road the lights for the recycle and A/C
indicator buttons just went out and the A/C started blowing hot air. Is
there a fuse some where that could have blown? Or could it be low on
coolant?

 

There are fuses under the dash and under the hood. Do you have an
owners manual? bob

 

I think I recall the a/c clutch coil being on the same fuse as some of the
inside light, and causing them to blow when it goes bad.

 

Yes

--
~~~~~
Carl
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Knowledge is power, and for each level of knowledge, you are held
responsible for it."

- Gary Zukav

 

Yes but is it easy and cheap enough for some one with no mechanical
knowledge? To fix it?

 

Assuming the clutch and coil are bad, you'll need a special tool to remove
it. Many autoparts stores rent the tool.

 

The switch for the ventilation fan has an output that is "on" in all
positions except when the fan is turned all the way off. This output
goes to the A/C switch and to the A/C indicator light. If this contact
on the ventilation fan switch is faulty, the A/C would not work and the
A/C indicator light would never come on. It is not unusual for these
switches to fail, I replaced one in an '87 Civic once.

If you want to test it, remove the fan switch. At the back of it is a 6
pin connector where the car wire harness connects. Orient the switch so
that the latch side is facing down. Looking at the connector, it should
look something like this (note: The upper row is *not* in alphabetical
order):

|-------------|
| A C B |
| |
| D E F |
|----| |----|
|---|

Measure the for continuity between pins A and B. There should be
continuity with the switch in any position except "off".

You can also use paper clips or wire stubs or something similar to short
together terminals A, B and C of the connector on the wire harness from
the car. If you start the car, the A/C should now turn on and the fan
should come on at low speed.

If you verify that the switch is bad, you can get a new one at
http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com for around $35 + shipping &
handling.

If you want scans from the service manual, post a real e-mail address
and I'll send it to you.

 

According to the 86 through 89 service manual I found in the internet,
the clutch coil is not on the same fuse as the indicator light.

 

Sure looks like the a/c indicator runs off of fuse 5 in the dash fuse box,
which according to the ETM also seems to power the clutch. I don't have an
86 service manual any more, this comes from an 87 manual and ETM.... it is
possible it could have changed.

 

Ok this morning I checked that fuse and sure enough it was blown. I put a
new one in and it blew right away. So I'm guessing the power clutch ?

--
~~~~~
Carl
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Knowledge is power, and for each level of knowledge, you are held
responsible for it."

- Gary Zukav

 

My mistake. I was looking at the condenser fan, not the compressor
clutch

 

Disconnect the wire at the clutch and turn on the A/C with a new fuse
installed. If the fuse blows without the clutch in the circuit then the
clutch is not the problem.