UPDATE: 110+ degrees out and the A/C is blowing hot air on the drivers side, cold on the passenger side!

1955 Views 27 Replies 8 Participants Last post by 4sallypat, 9 mo ago

4sallypat

Discussion Starter · 9 mo ago

So 110 degree temps this week is really pressing on the A/C system from morning till home after work.

Clarity's A/C is now blowing hot air on the left 2 vents and cold air on the right 2 vents.

Turned off Sync, switched to manual, low speed vs high speed, max A/C = no change.

Is the refrigerant low or the dampers not working?

Any A/C experts here ?

1 - 20 of 28 Posts

EV Nerd

· #2 · 9 mo ago

4sallypat said:
So 110 degree temps this week is really pressing on the A/C system from morning till home after work.

Clarity's A/C is now blowing hot air on the left 2 vents and cold air on the right 2 vents.

Turned off Sync, switched to manual, low speed vs high speed, max A/C = no change.

Is the refrigerant low or the dampers not working?

Any A/C experts here ?

I'd think that the fact that cold air is coming from the two right vents would eliminate the possibility that the problem is in the compressor-condenser-evaporator loop, unless there are two separate evaporators, for the right and left side. Sounds more like a controls and/or damper problem.

I am decidedly not an "A/C expert".

Reactions: 2

obermd

· #3 · 9 mo ago

I would suspect the dampers. There is only a single AC compressor in the Clarity.

Reactions: 2

Trolle

· #4 · 9 mo ago

Being a split temperature-controlled system, it could also be related to a temperature sensor or control for the left side

Reactions: 2

4sallypat

Discussion Starter · #5 · 9 mo ago

Thanks everyone for you insight!

So I did the easiest remedy I saw on Youtube: reset the vehicle by disconnecting the 12V battery.

After reset, number of warning CEL, infotainment system thinking it got stolen, the A/C system is still no good.

Even in cooler morning weather, the A/C would blow warm/re-circ air on the left 2 vents and cold on the right 2 vents.

Next step is the mechanic to diagnose.

Hoping it's just low Freon..

Probably expecting more expensive damper, temp sensors, etc....

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obermd

· #6 · 9 mo ago

It won't be low "freon". There's only one compressor.

Reactions: 2

Amphicar

· #7 · 9 mo ago

If honda AC works anything like VW, Porsche, Audi, that is classic symptom of low refrigerant, even if a single compressor system. On those cars, the driver side goes warm, the passenger side blows cool.

Of course there is no such thing as just being low. You only lose refrigerant if there is a leak, those can be a pain to locate so put some dye in there when they recharge.

EV Nerd

· #8 · 9 mo ago

Amphicar said:
If honda AC works anything like VW, Porsche, Audi, that is classic symptom of low refrigerant, even if a single compressor system. On those cars, the driver side goes warm, the passenger side blows cool.

Of course there is no such thing as just being low. You only lose refrigerant if there is a leak, those can be a pain to locate so put some dye in there when they recharge.

The classic symptom of low refrigerant is a reduction of cold air output from the entire system.

The fact that there is cold air coming from one side of a damper driven split system (when it's set to output the same to both sides) clearly points to a damper and/or damper control problem. Otherwise, how can cold air be blowing from only one side, when both sides have the same cold air source?

In a system with a single compressor-condenser-evaporator loop, if it was a low refrigerant issue, both sides should not be blowing cold air.

It will be very interesting to see what the problem is ultimately found to be. Could be as mundane as a rodent nest in an air duct, but the odor would probably give that one away.

Being a regular (and Moderator) here, 4sallypat will undoubtedly let us know.

<waiting with baited breath>

Reactions: 1

Trolle

· #9 · 9 mo ago

Yeah, I did a search on the VW, Audi issues with cold on left and warm on right, it turns out to be a "flap motor".

Apparently very common issue on those cars.

Reactions: 1

romer560

· #10 · 9 mo ago

4sallypat said:
So 110 degree temps this week is really pressing on the A/C system from morning till home after work.

Clarity's A/C is now blowing hot air on the left 2 vents and cold air on the right 2 vents.

Turned off Sync, switched to manual, low speed vs high speed, max A/C = no change.

Is the refrigerant low or the dampers not working?

Any A/C experts here ?

Are you aware there is an extended warranty on the condenser?

Reactions: 1

romer560

· #11 · 9 mo ago

Are you the registered owner and does Honda have your name and address?

Reactions: 1

ClarityDave

· #12 · 9 mo ago

Trolle said:
Yeah, I did a search on the VW, Audi issues with cold on left and warm on right, it turns out to be a "flap motor".

Apparently very common issue on those cars.

Sounds logical that it would have something to do with that or as mentioned previously, the temperature sensor(s) on one side of the car or the other. If the driver’s side temp sensor says it’s 55 degrees when it’s really 90 degrees then the controller would maneuver the air damper to not supply cold air to the driver’s side.

Reactions: 1

romer560

· #13 · 9 mo ago

My car did something very similar. It was very confusing. I had the extended warranty letter that Honda had sent me and took a chance. That's what it was. Sure enough. It's been perfect since the repair.

Reactions: 1

Amphicar

· #14 · 9 mo ago

Trolle said:
Yeah, I did a search on the VW, Audi issues with cold on left and warm on right, it turns out to be a "flap motor".

Apparently very common issue on those cars.

I have had this happen on both my Porsche Panamera and my VW Touareg. It is not that the flapper motor is the problem, the flapper simply responds to system being unable to cool down properly. In both cases it was simply low refrigerant. Once the system was charged, and source of leak fixed, problem was solved immediately. The flapper motor was never repaired or replaced, it was low refrigerant.

jzchen

· #15 · 9 mo ago

It's so hot as soon as I start the Clarity (parked outdoors) I get a warning that the lane deviation mitigation system was turned off due to excessive heat, or something to that affect.

Can't say what the problem is but I would start with checking the refrigerant level. AC Pro has R-1234yf cans now....

Amphicar

· #16 · 9 mo ago

Newer systems are very particular about refrigerant pressure. You really can't properly check by looking only at low side pressure with a cheap gauge on a can. You need to be looking at both high and low sides, factoring in ambient temp, etc. The cost for trying to fix it cheap will, in the long term, cost you a lot more than fixing it properly to begin with. And, whatever you do, stay away from AC leak sealers.

Reactions: 1

4sallypat

Discussion Starter · #17 · 9 mo ago

romer560 said:
My car did something very similar. It was very confusing. I had the extended warranty letter that Honda had sent me and took a chance. That's what it was. Sure enough. It's been perfect since the repair.

Thank you @romer560

I did a little research and found that you may be onto something!

Honda issued an extended warranty on A/C components -
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2021/MC-10194957-0001.pdf

Since my Clarity is out of warranty, this might be the saving grace.
Taking her to the dealer.

Font Parallel Screenshot Number Rectangle

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Reactions: 2

EV Nerd

· #18 · 9 mo ago

4sallypat said:
Thank you @romer560

I did a little research and found that you may be onto something!

Honda issued an extended warranty on A/C components -
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2021/MC-10194957-0001.pdf

Since my Clarity is out of warranty, this might be the saving grace.
Taking her to the dealer.

View attachment 1138

Be aware that (as some reported here) some dealers might try to tell you that a pin-hole leak in your condenser was due to damage by road debris. Don't accept that as an answer, and appeal to Honda, if this happens.

There's an after-market third-party screen than some of us have installed. Easy to install, and cheap insurance.

ClarityScreen:

voltshelf.weebly.com

NEW!!!! Honda ClarityScreen, ClarityMat, and ClarityPort

12/23/21 CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: As this time of crisis goes on, the VoltShop is still here. We will be here throughout and we will be here when this finally passes. Life may or may not get back to...

voltshelf.weebly.com

Reactions: 2

4sallypat

Discussion Starter · #19 · 9 mo ago

4sallypat said:
Thank you @romer560

I did a little research and found that you may be onto something!

Honda issued an extended warranty on A/C components -
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2021/MC-10194957-0001.pdf

Since my Clarity is out of warranty, this might be the saving grace.
Taking her to the dealer.

View attachment 1138

Dealer visit fixed the issue under the extended warranty Service Bulletin 21-017.

Dealer verified A/C issue was due to the part failure.

Replaced condenser and 16 units of refrigerant.

Now it's blowing very cold air now.

Thanks to everyone for their help!

For anyone who needs reference to the Honda part numbers:

Font Parallel Paper Document Number

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Reactions: 5

EV Nerd

· #20 · 9 mo ago

4sallypat said:
Dealer visit fixed the issue under the extended warranty Service Bulletin 21-017.

Dealer verified A/C issue was due to the part failure.

Replaced condenser and 16 units of refrigerant.

Now it's blowing very cold air now.

Thanks to everyone for their help!

For anyone who needs reference to the Honda part numbers:
View attachment 1142

Wow! That was unexpected (at least to me). Can someone explain how one side can blow cold, and the other hot, when both dampers are open, and there's a single source of cold air flow? Seems counterintuitive, to me.

Reactions: 1

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