My 2004 TSX has 60k miles on it. Two weeks ago, the a/c just stopped pumping out cold air. The dealer recharged the system, and that worked for two days...then the same problem. The dealer then replaced the compressor (very expensive), and that also worked for two days...same problem. This keeps up, I'm dumping the car. Any ideas?

 

Your AC only works for 2 days at a time after a recharge and also after a new compresser? Well, a car this new would normally not need a recharge unless there was a hole somwhere in the system (probably hole in condenser - most forward part of AC unit in front of radiator)

If I were you I would stop at Pep-Boys and buy a cheap "manifold gauge" ($40) which is used to check the pressure in the AC system. It looks like 2 round gauges connected together with long hoses and special brass connectors that click into fittings under those blue caps on the aluminum AC lines to the left under the hood.

With the car turned off you will want to connect the gauge to the low pressure side (the bigger tube) and I believe it should read around 25-30psi with the engine off. If you read no pressure then you have a hole somewhere in the system. If you do have pressure than the next step is checking if the AC compressor cycles on and off.

You will want to set the AC to manual high and set the temp as low as you can to force the AC to activate. Open the hood and listen for the compressor... you should hear it click on and off. The electric fans should also turn on, but this does not mean the compressor is working. If you can't tell if the compressor is clicking on and off watch the tach gauge in the car... it may dip or jump when it cycles on because the engine is under load. If the compressor does not click on and off you probably have an electrical issue.

There is a high/low pressure cutoff switch connected to the low pressure tube. Follow the bigger tube forward towards the condenser in front of the radiator and you will find it. It's the only set of wires that should be plugged into the tube. The plug just snaps in easily so you can try unplugging it and jumping it with a piece of speaker wire or something. If the compressor clicks on after you jump this connector you have a bad high/low pressure switch. If it does nothing...plug it back in.

If the compressor does not click on and off when the AC is running and you have tried the above methods you may have a bad AC relay (as was the case with my TSX). This is found in the fuse box under the hood and you will probably need to get thsi from an Acura dealershp. Price is $4. When my AC stopped working I took my TSX to the Acura dealershp and they told me I had a no R-135 and needed a recharge PLUS I probably needed a new condenser...about $1000 job. I used the above methods to pinpoint my bad $4 relay and told Acura to shove it up their...you know.

I'm a "systems engineer" (aka computer guy) for the government and I was able to figure out my issue in about an hour. It required no tools other than the $40 manifold gauge from Pep-Boys (which I returned when i was finished). I'm sure you'll be able to solve this....its AC not rocket science right? Best of luck.

 

JUst get your dealership to color the R134 and run with it for another 2 days, and they will find where the leak is instead of just randomly replacing parts.

 

Thanks, guys!! You're the best. I'm off to Pep Boys today!

 

Uh another thing, Autozone rents the gauges for free...if Pep Boys doesn't have them, just an fyi. Like sauceman says though, I'd run dye (not color...lol) through the system because it sounds like you have a leak and wasn't diagnosised as such. What ever you do, DO NOT BUY the refrigerant that they sell at the auto parts stores, it contains sealers and sealers make it harder for a technician or even a shop to work on your system because it coats and contaminates the refrigerant machine. (some shops won't even work on your system if it has sealer in it, and yes they can detect it). Usually, with the dye in the system and yellow goggles, you'll see where the leak is coming from after running the system for a length of time. Large enough leaks usually can be seen within a couple of hours, smaller leaks might take up to a week to see.

 

I just had the same problem. 2004 TSX with 54,000 - driving from Dallas to Alabama and experienced a loud dragging noise and no cool air from A/C. Fortunately, was driving through New Orleans at the time. Total cost to replace the compressor: $1,900. This is my second Acura, and I have to say, disappoints me a little. I've had better dependibility from Lexus and Toyota. Although the Acuras have been cheaper cars off the lot, their cost of ownership (both regular maintenance, and unplanned repairs) has definitely negated some of the original value.

 

This post is old so I'm hoping you might check this. If it sounds elementary at best, it's because I'm really clueless about these things.

I've had a lot of problems with my '04 TSX. Lately, it's been the a/c. I took it to a local shop in June and had the compressor replaced. The mechanic didn't replace the condensor at the time. Starting a few days ago, when I would turn on the a/c, the car would periodically struggle to regain speed, and the rpm's would jump despite my foot being even on the gas. I took it back in. This time, I was told the condensor needed to be replaced. Did that, got the car back today. It seemed to be running fine at the shop. I drove it around the block and the same thing started happening again. I had my brother take a look and he thinks it might be the ac relay switch gone bad. How can I check that?

 

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...576&highlight=

 

black death is the way of the tsx compressors. this will never be fixed .