A/C Condensor Punctured

[AtmcBlueEXNav]

i just did this mesh thing and i like it. looks good and functional. Thanks to those who pioneered this fix.

[yacoub]

this doesn't affect sedans, especially with the front plate on, right?

[ToBeHuman]

yacoub,

I had a sedan with the front plate installed and my AC condenser was punctured, so it does.

[triggerzer0]

I think I'd spray paint it flat black before I put it in, myself

[Boostinglex]

Been noticing my wifes car taking forever to get cold and was wondering if it was low on freon well we take the car to honda and they said there was nothing wrong with it and the guy said the system was made to suck out hot air.Well I cant figure that one out because if thats the case how come it takes 15minutes sometimes for the car to get cool?I mean wtf my newborn is in back sweating by the time this kicks in.

[civicboy]

It seems that Honda seems to be slipping on the quality of parts that they have been using on their new Honda products lately. Its ashame that this has to happen to anyone. Whats the biggest PIA is that you have to remove the front bumper cover to remove the radiator, or condensor. At least Honda is replacing it under warranty. If it were a Ford, GM, or Chrysler product we would be SOL!

[peliROJO]

Originally Posted by Boostinglex

Been noticing my wifes car taking forever to get cold and was wondering if it was low on freon well we take the car to honda and they said there was nothing wrong with it and the guy said the system was made to suck out hot air.Well I cant figure that one out because if thats the case how come it takes 15minutes sometimes for the car to get cool?I mean wtf my newborn is in back sweating by the time this kicks in.

In LA it's probably as hot as TX, I just point the center and passenger's left vent into the center rear seat area. That's where my childs car seat is. My A/C gets pretty cold within 5 minutes on a 100+ degree day.

Back when my son was an infant I had a single cab truck and it was fun to have him sitting right next to me, because I could hold his hand and stuff. Good times.


Excellent write up, Doolie77.

[Doolie77]

Thanks for the compliment. Just wanted to help. This forum is not only useful, but entertaining.
My air still gets cold fast here in S. FLA. I do the point-to-the-back thing with my center vents too when my kids are in the back with the MAX A/C buttons engaged. It cools pretty fast and I turn it down within 5-10 minutes. My girls are both teenagers, so they are more tolerant of the heat, or at least more understanding, but they still complain.

[ndoelling]

I also have noticed how many things can get through the front grill and do damage the condenser. I did this mod this weekend but instead used insect screening, you know the stuff on screen doors and window screens. It also comes in a charcoal color, so you can't even see it when installed (I'll post one tomorrow.) You have to be careful when cutting the stuff as the mesh leaves pointed edges, best to try and stay in same row across entire cut. Steps:
1) Remove bumper, very easy, search for instructions
2) Cut rectangle to cover lower grill area + 1" to fold over along the edge to add support
3) Place mesh over grill area, and using a small pointed object, spread the mesh in two holes on either sides of the grill columns to allow for the zip ties to pass through (I used very skinny 102mm zip ties, worked great)
4) Repeat until attached to your liking. It can be hard to work the zip ties through the holes as they are small holes, but the smaller zip ties are much less noticeable.

I did them along the very bottom horizontally, then vertically across the next row up and along the top. This mesh provides a much better screen than the metal mesh proposed earlier.
I also don't think it necessary to do the top grill as the wind deflection off the bumper should deflect most objects up, and there is hardly any exposed condenser. But the choice is yours; not many places to tie to in that area.

[Doolie77]

I would be interested in knowing if it effects the airflow to the radiator. I didn't want it to overheat in the S. FLA summer.
Let me know if your temp gauge still reads the same.

[ndoelling]

No problems. The mesh will not stop air flow, just changes the dynamics. And does your car over heat if left idling for long periods? No, that is what the fans behind them are for, to pull air over the coils. So I can't see there ever being a problem with this. Good question though, I thought about it before doing the install.

[ndoelling]

Pics of final install. The close-up is with flash, you can't even see the mesh or ties if there is no flash.

[HAQER]

You should just get a turbo with a big intercooler right there. That'll keep anything from hitting your condeser.

[gary79]

I haven't had any problems with my ex coupe, but I did take my wife's 03 Toyota Rav and a couple of buddies to a night club about 50 miles away, down the river and back. the next day the number of bugs and the size of them, made me visit the local hardware store, $3.00 worth of hardware cloth, 2ft X 2 1/2 ft fixed the problem. so the next day i'm looking at the ex and it's just as open as our Rav, so back to the hardware store for more mesh. I took the bumper off, sprayed the mesh black. I used the clamp screws at the bottom to hold the mesh, and then on the sides used the bolt from the clamps to hold it in place and on top, I drilled small holes into the aluminum bar above the radiator and them twisted wire real tight to hold the mesh in place. see if the pics come up.

[Sli(ks]

Should I be especially worried about this if I have to drive around and park in a stone/gravel parking lot practically every day? What if I rarely drive over 2/3 mph in it - Like, is this only really a problem at freeway speeds?

[Doolie77]

Originally Posted by ndoelling

No problems. The mesh will not stop air flow, just changes the dynamics. And does your car over heat if left idling for long periods? No, that is what the fans behind them are for, to pull air over the coils. So I can't see there ever being a problem with this. Good question though, I thought about it before doing the install.

The reason I asked, is when my puncture originally happened, I was speaking to the service managers and they commented that they were concerned with airflow issues trying to protect the condensor. I do know that physics dictate that airflow will be changed and possibly inhibited by any obstuction in its path, so, smaller holes = less airflow. If it works, great. I went with the 1/4 hardware cloth because it seemed more ridgid, and restriction of air was minimal.
I find all kinds of debris laying on the grill slats, small pieces of plastic and metal, pebbles, twigs, leaves, grass and of course bugs. I'm so glad I put it on and no one has ever noticed the zip tys.

[Doolie77]

Originally Posted by Sli(k

Should I be especially worried about this if I have to drive around and park in a stone/gravel parking lot practically every day? What if I rarely drive over 2/3 mph in it - Like, is this only really a problem at freeway speeds?

The parking lot is not a likely spot for this to be a problem. Cruising down the road at 55-75 MPH and hitting bouncing debris, might as well be using a slingshot, it will do some damage!

[sandeep108]

Originally Posted by Doolie77

The parking lot is not a likely spot for this to be a problem. Cruising down the road at 55-75 MPH and hitting bouncing debris, might as well be using a slingshot, it will do some damage!

Yes, the parking lot is not likely to be a problem. However, the slingshots are more likely to come from the car in front. I have seen cases of damage to windshields from this. So if you do see a lot of gravel, etc. on the road, it is quite advisable to keep your distance as much as possible.

[fpritchett]

I have the same problem. Took the ride into the dealer last fall and was told it was due to road debris and it wasn't covered under warranty. I haven't fixed it yet and have had two rounds with Honda Care. I was told that because I have no previous history with Honda (this is my first Honda vehicle) and that I didn't have oil changes done at the dealer, they would not help me. Boy was I ticked. So, I'm sending a certified letter to Honda Care (my second case manager) who says he'll take my complaint to the next level. Ironically, back in September when I took it in, the service rep told me that he'd seen four of the same problem in recent months (this is just one dealer). If you search websites you'll discover taht we are not alone. Yet, Honda CAre doesn't care, especially if you don't have any history with them. I guess they don't want to keep new customers. Frank in Atlanta

[yacoub]

Where are you guys getting wire mesh? I just checked home depot and came up empty-handed.