I am a new CL owner w/o a manual. I would greatly appreciate if someone can help me locate the compressor relay. I traced the only green wire from the compressor to the hollow in left fender.

 

Sorry, it is a 97 CL.

 

It's on the driver's side near inside of headlight on LH side of radiator. It's paired w/ the Condensor Fan Relay on a bracket.

good luck

 

Thanks,

They are both the same part. I do not have a service manual or schematic so I alternately changed each one but the compressor did not engage. So, I naturally thought there was an addtional one. I'll try to test each relay. If both relays are good then it maybe the compressor clutch. The dealer service dept told me it was the ac relay and it would cost me $150 to fix.

Thanks again.

Will

 

If compressor never engages, check whether voltage is getting to the clutch coil. If not, then you have to trace backwards. It could be loss of refrigerant which causes a low pressure switch to disable the compressor and prevent damage (no refrigerant means no lubrication). Finally, it could be a defective temp sensor on the evaporator (unlikely but possible).

You need an Acura shop manual to trace your problem.

good luck

 

Thanks again,

I tested the relays and I was getting inconsistent results so I am going to order a shop and an elec troubleshooting manuals from Helm.

Thanks for your prompt help.

Will

 

did you ever fix the problem? Since the clutch went out on my compressor I eventually changed it out and now the new one doesn't seem to work. I am getting no power to the clutch.

 

well I have been trying to figure out the ac clutch power problem. I looked at the relays as mentioned above but I don't think the statement is correct about the condenser fan relay. With both relays unplugged the condenser fan still comes on.

BTW, the relays are being picked. If you actually hold them in your hand you can feel them pick. Also checked the voltage after the coil is picked in the relay and it is good. I am not sure where the wire goes after the relay. I do know the compressor works when 12v applied directly to the clutch. Going away on vacation and would like to have this fixed.

If nothing else I m just going to add a wire from the output of the relay to the clutch so when the ac is turned on the clutch is picked directly off of the relay.

1 question - the coil is picked by 5v does anyone know where this comes from?
2 question - if the relay is being picked I assume all of the interlocks are being made?

 

AC relay is hot all the time the keyswitch is ON, and is actuated by ECU grounding the relay. Relay provides voltage to the compressor coil which is permanently grounded.

Since compressor runs when 12V is directly applied, the ground is probably being denied by the ECU to prevent AC from engaging. ECU might do this for several faults; thermostat supply false low temp input, ac pressure switch is open (too low or too high pressure), AC diode is open.

My guess is you are low on refrigerant and the pressure switch is open. You can confirm this is the problem by removing the connector to pressure switch, and shorting the connector w/ a jumper. If compressor now runs, stop immediately as this means the pressure is likely too low, and your refrigerant has leaked away.

I would suggest purchasing or downloading a manual for your model and following the diagnostic for "Compressor does not engage".

Another good resource for AC problems is autoacforum.com.

good luck