A metal tube coming out of this pump was rubbing against the timing belt in my wife's 2003 Honda Civic. The belt seems to be OK, but the metal tube has a hole in it from when the belt was rubbing against the tube during high acceleration (the tube with the blue tape on it to identify close to where the hole is. I could not get my hand down there far enough).

I'm taking it back to the body shop to have them fix it (wife recently was in an accident) tomorrow on Monday. Is the car safe to drive, and what does that pump do. It's on the driver's side, underneath the alternator.

 

I'm looking it up in the service manual right now, gimme a few

 

Thanks buddy. I have the Hayne's manual for the Civic, but unfortunately, it does not say anything about that pump, which leads me to believe the car is at least driveable to the body shop tomorrow morning. I wonder if it has something to do with the A/C?

 

Hmmmmm.........

Not entirely sure. Those certainly look like fuel lines, but I believe most Hondas have tank mounted pumps. Or as you mentioned, something to do with the A/C. I'll look a little closer.




Terry

 

it looks like it could be an evaporator for the ac, usually they have a clear peephole for inspection or as terry said it may look like a fuel filter, the plug throws me off though

 

I'm thinking its the discharge pipe for the A/C receiver.

Here's an illustration:

 

Terry, you certainly raised my eyebrows for the fuel pump, and I think you're right about them being tank-mounted. I did not smell fuel when that pipe was leaking (the one with the blue tape on it).

 

Its not the fuel pump.

 

So it could be the high-side dryer? It's been hissing ever since I shut it off about 30 minutes ago.

 

Sounds about right, it works by expanding air.

 

receiver, that's the word

 

Its one of the a/c lines to the reciever/dryer.

Thats refrigerant leaking out. Your A/C system is constantly under pressure so even with the car off its going to leak out fairly quick. I would leave the car outside if you can. The refrigerant is not something you want to be breathing in.

 

Yeah, I didn't think they were, but that being said, I had a car once that had the fuel lines mounted to a filter in the exact location. It made me uncomfortable whenever I saw the serpentine belt moving about two inches from the fuel line.


Terry

 

Found it. It was the hard line A/C line from the receiver-drier to the condenser. The drive belt ruptured a hole in it. There is only about 0.5 inches of clearance there between the hard line and the drive belt. Any way to increase that distance? How long would it take to replace the A/C hard line from the receiver-drier to the condenser? I know the body shop would have to take off the front bumper and possibly radiator.

 

Not really. You can move the lines a little, but not much otherwise you risk breaking them. The line shouldn't take more than 15 minutes to replace so long as its not ridiculously hard to get at, but the condenser should be right in front of the radiator so I don't see it being to hard to get at. There is only one bolt on each end holding it on. The only thing is the system needs to be evaced and recharged when you are done.

 

Everyone, you all have been a huge help on this. Do auto parts stores like Autozone carry an A/C line like that for the 2003 Honda Civic?

 

$41 at rockauto, it looks like the ac discharge line. Your local parts store should be able to get it in a day or two.

 

Thanks Dallison (and everyone else).