Recently after my air conditioner is running for at least an hour on my 2006 RL I suddenly smelled a musty smell only to realize that the air coming out was just cool and not ice cold. I switched from recirculate to auto and adjusted the temperature degree control but it was still not ice cold. After turning the entire climate control system off for a minute and starting it again the ice cold air returned. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what the problem might be. Thanks in advance.

 

Do you know if the Desiccant has ever been changed. It is located right next to the condenser and what it does is absorb any moisture in your A/C system. If it has never been changed, it could be possible it is going bad and no longer doing the job it is supposed. Moisture in the system or a bad cabin filter could explain the smell. I would bring your car in to have the pressure checked and make sure you don't have any leaks and you have the proper amount of refrigerant in there before you go to far into the troubleshooting. Also check your cabin filter if you have never did that. It takes no more than 5 minutes. Intermittent problems are usually kind of a pain in the a$$ to troubleshoot, but there are a few suggestions to start with.

 

A/C could use a service. also change your cabin filter

 

Thanks for your suggestions. Just changed my cabin filter last month. Desiccant has never been changed and A/C has never been serviced.

 

Sounds like the typical stator (field coil) failure. It is common to fail intermittently during longer periods of use when it stays hot. Have it inspected

 

Had a similar intermittent problem with my A/c a few months back. Stator coil and a clutch replaced under Acura Care by the dealer. All good now.

 

NJ06RL,
How much was the total bill for the stator coil and clutch replacement.

 

I had the same problem last year I think. My AC went out completely (and it was sudden, no intermittent problems). I searched this forum and discovered it's a relatively common (and known) problem.

With this information in-hand, I talked to my service manager and he agreed to contact Acura to see if they would fix it out of warranty. He called me back a day later and said Acura agreed to pay half the costs, which was a couple of hundred bucks from what I can recall (I think it was a $400 to $500 fix, I don't remember).

He told me that he had to haggle with them and my saving grace was that I exclusively serviced my car through the same dealership I purchased it from, although he could have been exaggerating.

Good luck, my AC works like a charm now.

Edit: it was the stator/field coil as posted above. Sorry.

 

hey guys,
Its been a while since i came on, but happy to be back.
I had a problem with my A/C about 2 years ago. I changed compressor, clutch, coil etcc.. and it still didnt blow cold air. Finally decided to change my a/c panel and it fix the issue right away. My advise is check the electrical. The a/c panel lights were out and that was a sign that it was going but i over looked that and bought the compressor, clutch and spend numerous money charging the A/C. Hope this help someone before they go spend hundreds like i did.

 

Not sure the bulbs were an indicator of failure as we have seen numerous ones replaced, but we have seen bad control boards. Thanks for your input!

 

^^^ I agree. The bulbs themselves are not really the problem as much as the AC Control Module itself. I plan on taking it into work one of these days and taking it apart to figure out what part or component did fail. Got all the cool and expensive electrical toys at work that I don't have at home.

 

The problem has been intermittent but this past weekend I took my twist up to New York City to see Motown on Broadway. It is a 220 mile round trip from Philly. The A/C worked fine on the way up but totally quit after arriving there. I tried but fried on the way back. I took it to my honest local foreign car mechanic and it needs a new compressor. Will update the cost and specific parts after the job is complete which should be by the end of today if the parts are in stock. Thanks again for all of the suggestions and help.

 

Could that stator coil be rewinded (rewinding as google translate that term for me)? Or you must replace it with original one?
rewinding of my alternator (on Integra) stator cost me around 45euros..whole alternator rebuild 150euros, with stator and rotor rewinded, and diod board replaced and regulator replaced, and some other small parts..and whole alternator repainted..so in Serbia work is cheaper than parts that is why I ask.

 

What language should we translate "rewinded" from? Serbian?

 

re·wound (-wound ), re·wind·ing, re·winds. 1. To wind again or anew.

 

You explained it HEAVY. tnx.
In Serbia it's called Viklovanje elektro motora.

Here is the clip:
I ask cause why paying for new one when old one is good, you only need to buy new is housing has been cracked..

 

Your point is valid, unfortunately the American way is to dispose of it when it breaks.

 

Damn! Mine is not blowing as cold as I think it should. Temp lights, defrost and heated mirror lights are all out. Temp went first then the other 2.

 

My local mechanic charged the following:
Replace A/C compressor labor incl. evacuate- and recharge- new seals-fresh oil $450.00

Freon R134A 2 cans @27.90 55.80
A/C compressor 879.87
Replace side engine mount 203.62
Replace front engine mount 225.53
labor for engine mounts 385.00
anti-freeze 24.68
shop supplies 39.87

Total 2234.67
Tax 135.86
total 2400.23
Discount 250.23
Paid 2150.00

 

Change your bulbs. (<--- Shouldn't cost too much more.)