Air Conditioner stopped working

[k757]

Originally Posted by chaz

There is nothing in the front to protect the condensor. Is there any product available that will protect this area?

You could rig some netting on the inside of the bumper

[Cochise111]

Originally Posted by shovelhd

The A/C compressor clutch is protected by fuse #12 (7.5A) in the primary underhood fuse box. Your owner's manual has this listed as "MG Clutch". MG must be Japanese for "air conditioning".

If that fuse is good, it's probably something else. My first guess would be low freon.

"MG clutch" means magnetic clutch.

[spun07RTX]

Originally Posted by chaz

I finally got my RL into the dealer. The diagnosis was a hole in the air conditioner condensor caused by a rock or something thrown into it.

There is nothing in the front to protect the condensor. Is there any product available that will protect this area?

wow that sucks man, I am at risk for having the same thing happen since I live on a dirt road...I think I will look into making a wire mesh protector of some sort(cylindrical perhalps)

[chaz]

The service manager told me that I was the third Ridgeline is the past week to come in with the same problem. She said that there were also several Odysseys with the same issue.

I've gotta find something to protect the area.

2007 RTL with NAVI.

[RustyH]

Originally Posted by chaz

The service manager told me that I was the third Ridgeline is the past week to come in with the same problem. She said that there were also several Odysseys with the same issue.

I've gotta find something to protect the area.

2007 RTL with NAVI.

Sounds like a design flaw that needs to be addressed by Honda.

[Humble Pie]

Question.....doesn't this sort of thing occur with almost all vehicles made, or is it because of where the condenser is located by the bumper on a Ridgeline? Does anyone have a schematic?

[HondaTech]

Originally Posted by RustyH

Sounds like a design flaw that needs to be addressed by Honda.

Quite the contrary. The function of the condenser is to transfer heat from the inside of the vehicle to the outside air. The only way you can do this is to place the condenser in the path of direct air. This also means that it will be in the direct path of road debris. You could probably make a screen or something to cover the area, but even a screen will reduce airflow. At 60 miles per hour a stone the size of a bb could cause considerable damage to the condenser. They could make the condenser more obscured.... but then people would complain that the A/C wasn't cold enough. It's give and take. Cost vs performance vs durability.



HT

[HondaTech]

Originally Posted by Humble Pie

Question.....doesn't this sort of thing occur with almost all vehicles made, or is it because of where the condenser is located by the bumper on a Ridgeline? Does anyone have a schematic?

It does occur with every vehicle made. It has just gotten more and more widespread in the last, say, 5 years. As metal prices go up, the companies that manufacture condensers, radiators, etc (knows as heat exchangers) are using thinner tubing and fins to reduce weight and cost. Unfortunately sometimes it costs the customer more in the end.



HT

[RustyH]

Originally Posted by HondaTech

Quite the contrary. The function of the condenser is to transfer heat from the inside of the vehicle to the outside air. The only way you can do this is to place the condenser in the path of direct air. This also means that it will be in the direct path of road debris. You could probably make a screen or something to cover the area, but even a screen will reduce airflow. At 60 miles per hour a stone the size of a bb could cause considerable damage to the condenser. They could make the condenser more obscured.... but then people would complain that the A/C wasn't cold enough. It's give and take. Cost vs performance vs durability.



HT

I will be the first to admit I haven't develed deeply into the position and placement of the condensor on the Ridgeline, but I have four civics, from 81 to 2008, that all have their condensors protected, whether placed behind the radiator in the case of my 81 and 94, or otherwise placed in a position where it can recieve air flow and work perfectly. BTW, since I live in AZ, AC is not an option but a necessity. All I'm saying is if there have been four Ridgelines in week reporting the same problem, along with other similiarly constructed vehicles, someone cheated on the drawing board and it should be adressed.

[shovelhd]

Well Rusty, I respectfully disagree. If thousands of people reported a problem, then Honda should address it. 4 people? You gotta be kidding me.

America's roads are in the worst condition since WWII. Sooner or later that is going to catch up with you.

Check any modern vehicle. The A/C condenser is right up front in the airstream.