A/C Total Failure on 2003 TL-S

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Old Aug 25, 2009 | 03:42 PM
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Unhappy A/C Total Failure on 2003 TL-S

The A/C in my car just recently completely stopped blowing cold air, which is a problem since I am working in South Carolina right now, and it is consistently 89-95 degrees every day, and humid too!

For a little while the A/C would work intermittently, only blowing cold whenever I was driving. At stop lights or in traffic, the A/C would stop blowing cold air. About a week ago, I noticed that when I started my car, there was no A/C at all regardless of what temperature setting the thermostat was set to. I took the car to Acura, but they want $95 diagnostic fees just to tell me what's wrong!

I searched around the forums, but I wanted to see if anyone was able to get free estimates from their dealer, and if where else I might look to get my car checked out. I am currently situated in the upstate of SC, Greenville area, in case anyone knows of a place I should go to.

Thanks!
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Old Aug 26, 2009 | 12:45 AM
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is there any air coming out at all or just no cold air? If there is no air movement, it could be the harness that is melted causing a short and no power going to the blower motor. This is a common problem on these cars.
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Old Aug 26, 2009 | 07:15 AM
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Originally Posted by Alex D
is there any air coming out at all or just no cold air? If there is no air movement, it could be the harness that is melted causing a short and no power going to the blower motor. This is a common problem on these cars.
no, unfortunately there is air moving, just not cold air. wish this were the problem, but i don't think it is thanks anyways though =/
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Old Aug 26, 2009 | 07:23 AM
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well unfortunately you will have to pay to get it diagnosed. Thats what happens when you are out of warranty. Your best bet is to find a small shop that specializes in heating/cooling and have them test your system. You may just be low on freon.
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Old Aug 27, 2009 | 10:09 AM
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i had the same problem. whiched the sub harness that plugs to the blower motor and the blower motor cause the short in the wire melted the connector on the blower . but now my a/c blow all the time!! and only hot. i think i mitt have touched some wire when doing the harness job . someone help!!!
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Old Aug 27, 2009 | 11:47 AM
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Cool

Originally Posted by fsttyms1
well unfortunately you will have to pay to get it diagnosed. Thats what happens when you are out of warranty. Your best bet is to find a small shop that specializes in heating/cooling and have them test your system. You may just be low on freon.

X2, You could just be low on R134A.

But you might have a leak then.

Was the car ever in a front accident?
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Old Aug 27, 2009 | 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Alex D
is there any air coming out at all or just no cold air? If there is no air movement, it could be the harness that is melted causing a short and no power going to the blower motor. This is a common problem on these cars.
I would still check these wires if I were you guys. Had the same issue a few months ago, blowing just straight up hot air... checked freon, and it was fine... turns out the compressor wasn't kicking on, due to a harness that had melted.
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Old Aug 27, 2009 | 04:50 PM
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Originally Posted by kennedyhuynh
I would still check these wires if I were you guys. Had the same issue a few months ago, blowing just straight up hot air... checked freon, and it was fine... turns out the compressor wasn't kicking on, due to a harness that had melted.
If its blowing the blower motor harness isnt melted. He has blowing air. Your situation was something different that isnt common.
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Old Aug 28, 2009 | 01:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Wish I Had A TL
X2, You could just be low on R134A.

But you might have a leak then.

Was the car ever in a front accident?
Never in a front accident, I checked r134a levels, I'm pretty sure they were okay when I checked it out
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Old Aug 28, 2009 | 01:26 PM
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I'm probably going to take a look at the wiring anyways just to be thorough, and if I don't find anything then I guess I'll have someone look at it, even if it's Acura... I might see if they will roll the diagnostic fee into my repair bill or something, when I asked the tech he said something along those lines
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Old Aug 28, 2009 | 03:25 PM
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ok i'm going to check the wires. i talk to a guy at acura he said my ac control unit mit have shorted out if any wires touched... ever heard of that???
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Old Sep 2, 2009 | 05:53 PM
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I had a similar problem earlier this summer in AR, I feel your pain. My a/c would not blow, compressor would not kick in or anything else. Had a diagnostic run by an a/c shop, they said it was the fan motor, I don't know much about cars but this did not sound logical to me, it turned out to be the heater motor transistor switch located next ot the heater motor under the glovebox. It was $42 at the dealer and took me about ten minutes to put in. Hope this helps.
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Old Sep 2, 2009 | 10:13 PM
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Im having the same problem, my wires melted, and the motor was going in and out, every time it would shut down i would just moved the wires around and the fan motor would come on, so today my friend was trying to move the wire around to get the fan motor to start, i heard a pop! the wires must of touch and blew out somthing, so i change the harnest that was melted, didnt work, i change the fan motor, didnt work... any ideas anyone??????????
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Old Sep 3, 2009 | 06:51 AM
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Transistor?
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Old Sep 3, 2009 | 01:08 PM
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You're experiencing the same exact thing as me. I bought A/C recharge bottles with this oil thing in it that will fill any tiny holes in the tube that goes to the a/c, it works great not I'm blowing ice cold at 32.3F

if you have already tried that, then I don't know what to say, sorry =(.
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Old Sep 3, 2009 | 03:57 PM
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Originally Posted by totaledTL
Transistor?
thats the next thing i need to replace, i tryed to get one at the recking yard and they were trying to charge me like 50 bucks!! the dealer sells it for 43, crazy huh.
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Old Sep 3, 2009 | 10:37 PM
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I don't think I would buy that type of part at a junk yard anyway.
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Old Sep 4, 2009 | 07:50 PM
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30 bucks at the junk yard, they let me try it before i payed for it. ooooo it feels good having a/c again.
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Old Sep 5, 2009 | 11:03 AM
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Sound like you have a couple of different problems.

1) You mention the AC would work ONLY when you driving/moving-Check if any thing is blocking the condensor(Front of radiator), if not, then your AC suction fan is faulty.

2) Now there is NO Cold Air at all-Your AC System is either Low on Charge due to a leak, Or your AC Compressor is Faulty.

3) Other problems may be the AC Control Panel, Interior temp sensor, etc.

Check problem 1 and 2 first

I notice you used to be in Philly, but you moved to SC. If you were still in the philly area, I would have you swing by Cherry Hill and I could check it out for FREE.
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Old Sep 9, 2009 | 02:56 PM
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thanks, MotionEffects, i'll try to find time to check those things out... part of my problem now is that i am pretty busy working now so i don't have time to drop my car off to be checked out.. especially for $95!

i'm working in SC right now on an internship, but i do return home once in a while to philly. in case i haven't had the chance to get my a/c fixed by then... i do appreciate the offer for sure, thanks
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Old Sep 22, 2009 | 09:45 PM
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I had a similar issue, it turned out that a rock hit my condenser..story short, I ordered and installed a condenser and paid to have the freon recharged.
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Old Oct 15, 2009 | 09:15 AM
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hey guys, i did a quick recharge with a kit from autozone and things have definitely improved (getting colder, dry air), although it makes me wonder if there is a leak in my system... I'm waiting to see if the system stops working again in the next couple months... hopefully not =/
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