# 2003 Honda Civic Ex A/C

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-honda-civic-ex-a-c/85825>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [July 5, 2014, 9:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-honda-civic-ex-a-c/85825 "2014-07-05T21:39:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Civic03Ex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civic03Ex](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Civic03Ex)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2014, 9:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-honda-civic-ex-a-c/85825/1 "2014-07-05T21:39:27Z")

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If the outside temp is cool (say below 75) the a/c works, but as soon as the day gets warm it starts blowing only warm air. I took it to the Honda dealership and they said that it was low on freon and that it needs a new clutch and a new coil (cost to repair: $800). They recharged it and added dye. A week later I took it to a good independent shop that specializes in Honda repairs. They said that the compressor has power and ground and is full of freon and dye but they found a bad thermal switch and that I need a new compressor (cost to repair: $1200).  
I have no understanding of car a/c systems and thus don’t know which repair sounds like the right one (if either) based on the diagnostics that have been done. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2014, 11:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-honda-civic-ex-a-c/85825/2 "2014-07-05T23:45:36Z")

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I think you need a third opinion from an independent AC specialist. I don’t think the dealership or independent repair shop really understands a vehicle AC like an AC specialist.

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2014, 1:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-honda-civic-ex-a-c/85825/3 "2014-07-06T01:21:05Z")

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The compressor in your vehicle has a thermal cut-off switch to the compressor clutch. You can see it in the image below.

[http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=2533964&cc=1415663](http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=2533964&cc=1415663)

What this switch does is it cuts power to the compressor clutch if the compressor should start to run hot.

I can’t find this switch being sold as a separate component. So that’s probably why the compressor had to be replaced.

Tester