I have an '08 TL-S, just over 101,000 miles. Last summer the AC was blowing hot at first, then after a few drives it blew cold just fine. This summer it's just been blowing hot air. I swapped the relays as a potential easy fix, didn't fix it. Read online that AC issues aren't so specific that you'd need to take it to a dealer.

I read some good things about Pep Boys and saw some good reviews, so I decided to get their deluxe AC recharge package for $140. I figured maybe the refrigerant all leaked out. They checked it and said only 4oz of refrigerant leaked out and they replaced it all. Also said the compressor clutch is not engaging and it's visibly damaged. When I asked for clarification, they said it melted. Quoted me just under $1,000 for parts and labor to replace compressor. I declined, but they said they didn't have the compressor in to change it now anyway.

Should I pay to get a second opinion? If necessary I'll probably buy my own OE compressor and take it to Honda for labor. Does $1K ballpark sound right? Any advice appreciated!

 

Ugh. The 3G TL's don't really have the AC issues of the 1G TSX and 1G RDX.

I have had my AC fixed 5 times in the last 4 years in my RDX, but usually, it was always something small like condenser coil, evaporator, clutch, relay, and some o rings on the evaporator last week. My compressor was replaced by the original owner under warranty in 2008.

IDK much, but if everything I mentioned above checks out, you may need a compressor.

Does it squeal or make any strange noises?

 

if the coil/clutch melted you can buy just that portion and have it installed way cheaper. Won't even need to remove refigerant to do it. I'd also recommend replacing the A/C relay since sometimes that can cause the compressor not to engage.

 

Best to find some smaller local shop. Big chains and their "packages" are usually a ripoff. They like to replace big parts and charge big money, and they don't like to show you what's going on. I also doubt that pepboys or any other "big" service center will bother with replacing just the clutch.

Just a small quote for you:
- Denso (oem) compressor from rockauto ~$300
- 2.4h to replace it, so let's say ~$250
- recharge the system ~$100 (small shop will charge ~$60-$80 - refrigerant is cheap and often you recover at least half of what needs to be put in)
So rounding everything up you come up with $650 and good quality compressor. Denso is basically original part without the honda logon on it.

If only the clutch/coil is damaged, instead of paying $300 for compressor you pay ~$50 for aftermarket kit from ebay, or ~$120 for oem coil. Probably can be done on the car, so no more than 1h of labor.

 

Get a second opinion.

They should confirm that the clutch is getting a command signal to engage before they replace it. Otherwise, they're going to keep throwing parts at it.

For some reason people around here dismiss taking their car to a indy shop.

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If they said the clutch coil melted, that would be your problem.
Most likely cause is a bad compressor pulley bearing. Bad bearing, excessive friction, causes heat, heat causes melting of the coil.
I paid about $80 for a used OEM compressor on ebay. Took the pulley and coil off it and swapped it onto my compressor.
About $80 and half a day of doing it myself, super rewarding after I had AC again.

Read up on this thread:
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-p...-guide-772614/

I chipped in also:
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-p.../#post16056505