1999 Accord LX 2.3 4cyl

I'm a novice repairman, but I decided to try replacing a bad radiator myself. Took most of the day, but it worked! Car no longer overheats.

However, now my AC does not work.

When I press the AC button, I can hear the condenser fan kick on, but no cold air. I don't think the compressor is turning on.

I noticed that the AC system is right up next to the radiator. Maybe I bumped something when I was replacing the radiator and caused a leak? Or maybe it's something electrical?

 

Check to see if the wire to the ac compressor got "pulled" off?

Next would be to test the compressor relay and the inputs to it

 

Double-checked the electrical connection to the compressor and turns out it wasn't fully seated. AC works now. Thank you.

Only issue remaining is that the radiator fan doesn't seem to want to come on. It will turn on along with the condenser fan when I turn the AC. However, when I was refilling the coolant, the service manual told me to idle the car until the radiator fan came on twice. It never did. Is this a problem?

 

When engine fully warms w/ AC Off, both fans should come on, however it can take a long time and in cool temps may not happen.

Fans are turned on by thermswitch A (on thermostat housing). You can simulate the switch closing by removing connector and shorting the connector pins. If both fans come on, the problem is either too cool thermostat (OEM is 194F), or maybe thermoswitch A is faulty(never closes at full temp).

You can remove and test thermswitch A w/ water in boiler and thermometer to check when switch closes (VOM to check when contacts close). Thermoswitch test is described and illustrated in shop manual. See Online Manuals post in DIY forum.

good luck

 

Didn't realize it would take that long for the fans to come on. Sounds like everything might be right. I'll keep an eye on the temps. Thanks guys.

 

You can use a piece of cardboard to block radiator face. This will reduce convective cooling and accelerate temp rise. If temp gauge indication get's to just above horizontal and fans have not come on, you may have a bad thermoswitch A, remove cardboard and turn AC on to enable cooling fans or drive the car at 20 mph or more.

good luck

 

As stated it can take a long time for the fans to come on just at idle. I set the heat to max, to be sure I bleed the heater core, turn the blower off. Just sitting there like that it can take ~20 minutes before they will come on - a tad longer/shorter depending on outside temps.

So it sounds like you are ok. Keep an eye on the temps - I would recheck the coolant level again this weekend just to be sure....also if you didn't have the heat on/set to max when you re-filled....say Friday night when you get home, leave it running and turn the heat to max and let it run for ~5 minutes. Shut it off and re-check the levels in the morning. If everything is ok in the am when you check it, call it done and enjoy the ride

PS- A pat on the back for getting it done yourself, enjoy.