So here's my long saga with the 07 RDX Tech and issues with the heater and A/C system. Have about 110k miles on it now

1. Last summer, was having issues where A/C would not start. After a long debate with dealer, turned out that the compressor clutch was faulty and the dealer repaired and Acura agreed to pay even though it was past the time of that TSB repair

2. Now 7 mos later, I have a new problem:
-Driver and pax side blow different temparatures - even when dual is off. Pax side is much hotter than driver side. Pax side wont blow cold air unless i take it all the way down to Lo setting. At any other temp, it blows very hot air.

Took it to dealer who had no idea. Suggested a freon fill.

I didnt like that answer so I took to independent shop who tested for leaks and didnt find any (why would it be a leak if one side blows cold air perfectly and the other blows code perfectly at the Lo setting??)

The indy shop suggested a freon fill despite not finding a leak on dye test and I foolishly said yes. It actually seemed to work and I drove the car away satisfied. Issues resolved.

Two days after the freon fill, same issue is back. Both sides blowing way diff temps and pax side is hot unless at Lo setting

Could it be the heater core? Or could it be an issue with motors inside HVAC?

Should I check relays?

Any suggestions welcome - I am at my wits end with this car.

I endured 3 years of battery drain issues when I first bought it, radio issues, O2 sensor blow out...on and on. This has been one of the worst Japanese car experiences I have ever had. Never again w/ Acura. At least not with a year 1 model like I did here

 

Let me quickly reply to my own thread

I just ran the Climate Control System self-diagnostic function test and found error code "L" (with the mode light on).

My checks indicate that this code means that there is "an open or short in the mode control motor circuit" - at least that's what it is for a Honda Pilot so I am assuming it's the same for an Acura.

Has anyone experienced this before?

I also should note that I have experienced for at least the past year the "groaning" sound coming from the HVAC as has previously been reported here:
https://acurazine.com/forums/diy-faq...-noise-862172/


I am baffled as to why neither the dealer NOR the independent highly rated shop near me found this. Why is a freon refill always the reflex machanic reaction to any HVAC issue?

 

A quick edit to my post #2 above (in case anyone else having these issues)....

I found the RDX shop manual and the HVAC self diag code I have is not "L" but rather "M" - which makes more sense for the symptoms. M is "open in passenger air mix control motor circuit"

i could have saved myself a lot of heartache by reading these forums first and researching.

Now I have to figure out how to fix this....

 

My 2007 acura rdx tech has been making a weird noise from the driver side air vent. Now the air conditioning only works intermittently. Wont work when I turn it on and then halfway thru my drive it will come on for awhile. Any ideas?