O.T. Need help with my Honda A/C Options

[Bob L.]

Perfect timing! Middle of Texas summer and my A/C goes out.

Its a 2002 Civic. I'm going to replace the compressor and probably the drier.

Has anyone done this?

Any pitfalls I need to look out for? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[malcolm2]

I did my son's civic 2 summers ago. YOUTUBE was great. I joined a honda forum and got some help and searched it high and low. Also I found the actual honda How-To online as well.

Here is a PDF for a 99

Honda is like VW with generation changes, mine is a 7th Gen, IIRC. So get the right info for your car. The PDF is how to install AC if the factory didn't, so it is slightly odd about adding stickers and diodes, etc...

I bought a kit at NAPA... $600-ish. Comes with 3 or 4 parts and hoses, PAC oil, condenser, dryer, orifice tube, expansion valve, etc... I broke or maybe stripped the threads on a (not included) hose and had to go to the dealer, so that cost me another hundred, and an extra day.

1 maybe 2 day job.

Almost forgot. Make sure all the electrical connections are tight when done. I can't remember which one I left slightly loose, but the BATT light came on and stayed on. Took it to the dealer and found out that this is typical when working on the AC compressor. What ever it did, the BATT light cannot be turned off without replacing the dash, so black electrical tape was my fix.