A/C Condensor Punctured - Page 3

kero · 04-14-2007, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yacoub

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

Home depot and lowes carry the plastic gutter gaurds which is what people use on Honda Elements for the same problem.

I saw pics and it looks good and protects really well.

It's like $6 and you will need some plastic zip ties, another few dollars!

krstfrb · 04-16-2007, 01:32 PM

I made this posting on a couple other sites as well. I really think this issue should be dealt with by Honda.

Hello all, I made this posting on another site, ( http://www.topix.net/forum/autos/hon...2NF40877B57GF6 ) and just thought I would paste it here as well.
For the record, if you haven't already, you should file a complaint at https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/
Here is my posting:

I am having the same issue. After about 3500 miles on our 2006 Civic EX, our A/C failed. We just took it in and they quickly figured out that a pebble had punctured our A/C condenser. Of course, they refused to cover it under warranty, and likened the issue to a chipped windshield. This is obviously a ridiculous comparison. I don't think the A/C condenser was designed to deflect debris like the windshield was. My "service representative" in Beaverton, Oregon, said he personally had dealt with about 100 of these A/C condenser failures in his three years at Honda, but he did not see that as a problem. He was actually trying to use that point to show how common it is, so I should not argue whether or not I should pay for the failure (apparently everyone else just pays for it with no questions, so that means there is no problem). Never mind the fact that he is one representative of several at that dealership who have probably dealt with the same issue, or that there are numerous dealerships around Oregon and the rest of the nation with the same issues.
I see no incentive at this time for Honda to make any changes. There is a lot of money in it for them to make no changes and keep padding pockets with 500-700 here and there on BRAND NEW VEHICLES! We should not be required to come up with home fixes for their failure either. This is not some 1970 Pinto that you tie a rope to the windshield wipers to get it to work properly. We should expect that common precautions are taken BEFORE delivery. If I wanted something to work on, I would not have bought a new car!
I like Honda, but if this is not addressed the way it should be, I will be a former Honda advocate and will be warning my friends and family against purchasing these vehicles.

tomasro · 04-30-2007, 08:13 PM

Hey, if there was a recall on Bridgestone tires and Ford Explorers for fatal roll overs, then this should be covered as a Manufacturer Design flaw. True, it is not caused by Honda's manufacturing, but the location of the a/c condenser is, and it is obviously inappropriate for this vehicle.

I took my car to Menlo Park Honda and they told me they wouldn't cover it under warranty. So I told them that I'd pay the service inspection fee, but would like it back when I call and complain to their corporate office. Just a minute ago, I got off the phone with Honda, and they told me to expect word within 1-2 business days. When I talked to the guy, I mentioned that I belong to a forum of people who have found the same problem as I, and that if this is a manufacturing defect, to think of all those other people who are not enthusiasts who are getting SCREWED. I figure that enthusiast groups are a 1000 to 1 ratio: for each one of us that has an issue, there are 1000 people out there that are experiencing it too, and are probably not reporting/complaining about it. I shall report back my findings in the next couple of days when I speak to Honda about getting this covered under warranty.

tomasro · 04-30-2007, 11:59 PM

to fix this issue, I've seen people put chicken wire behind the front intakes...maybe flipping the license plate holder so it holds the plate down there would help?

bhut · 07-10-2007, 11:14 PM

I did the mesh install last weekend after seeing it posted here. I didn't pull off the bumper to do it though, just the plastic cover over the radiator support and upper grill (4 or 5 pop fasteners).
I used cardboard to make the template for upper and lower openings. Cut and painted the wire mesh black (used vinyl paint for flexibility without flaking). Then I just manuevered the mesh down past the condensor to the openings and pulled them into position with a coathanger (spiral end through mesh so you can pull on it). Zip tied into place and I was done. The install might have taken 20 minutes.
My condensor already had two dents in the lower section, and it's only got 4k miles on it. Well worth the effort for the added piece of mind.

jwmacleo · 07-11-2007, 02:42 PM

Hello all. I just bought a new 07 Civic LX, and I plan on installing a wire mesh of sorts as has been described in this forum.

A question: Has anyone who installed the very fine wire mesh (the insect screen type) had any problems with the vehicle overheating?

cbr1krr · 07-13-2007, 09:31 PM

yacoub. Home depot had it in garden dept. ask the person in the store for "chicken wire".

Blueberry · 08-07-2007, 04:08 PM

There's the same problem with Corolla 2005/2006 and a TSB is available for that If you take a look at the instruction is the TSB (attached) you'll see that they also used wire mesh and zip tie'd them on the bumper (exactly as some of you already did)

For those of you that are wondering is this "patch" can cause some air restriction, if Toyota recommend their dealer to do this way (the same that some of you already proposed), probably we can trust them.

I suppose this can apply to our Civic also.

string3599 · 12-26-2007, 11:21 PM

Does anyone know if they fixed this with the 2008 model? I looked at an 08 Civic today and it looks like there is some sort of cover in there.

jjanders · 05-01-2008, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by string3599

Does anyone know if they fixed this with the 2008 model? I looked at an 08 Civic today and it looks like there is some sort of cover in there.

Bumping this old thread because I would like to know this too. I am near purchasing a 2008 Civic EX and the quality issues are holding me back, this seems like a HUGE design flaw and if it indicative of the 8th Gen Civic, I may go with Toyota.

burniksapwet · 05-21-2008, 12:02 PM

I too am bumping this thread.

forvisor · 05-21-2008, 01:16 PM

I haven't had an issue with this. I have an 07 EX. Its over a year old now. Was this just a problem with SI's or not?

burniksapwet · 05-21-2008, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by forvisor

I haven't had an issue with this. I have an 07 EX. Its over a year old now. Was this just a problem with SI's or not?

So your a/c is cooling just fine? I think I may have a problem and I will check this later cause it seems to me that my a/c is not cooling my car the way I want to. Sometimes it seems to be just blowing air and you have to wait about 10 to 15 min for the car to get cold.

baglenn77 · 05-22-2008, 12:55 AM

I just bought an 08 Civic SI and it was built april 08. My question is did they make any changes to give the condenser better protection? For example like use a better built condenser or relocated it for better protection? I did buy the extra waranty so I hope honda wil cover it if something happened like that, or ill tell them to give me all my money back on my extended waranty. Thanks

fftran · 05-23-2008, 01:37 PM

Wow, I just joined the forum.

My A/C on my 07 SI also recently gave out (blowing hot air).

baglenn77 · 05-23-2008, 07:31 PM

any news if or when honda will have a fix for this? It would be wise for them to find a fix so they wont piss off any more customers.

burniksapwet · 05-24-2008, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fftran

Wow, I just joined the forum.

My A/C on my 07 SI also recently gave out (blowing hot air).

Does it just blow hot air or does it still get cold but just longer?

baglenn77 · 05-24-2008, 06:01 PM

does anyone have a picture of what a punctured condenser looks like on the civic SI 2006+ models? I had my car a week a 2008 SI and i looked at my condenser and i notced near the bottom center thre is looks like a fin is chipped. But it blows cool air. How deep does it have to be before it starts leaking? Is it possible it came from the factory like that. I only have 150 miles on it. thanks

baglenn77 · 05-24-2008, 10:22 PM

the air blows cold and olny have 150 miles on it. I think its a defect in the condenser the chiped area i dont think its leaking

baglenn77 · 05-25-2008, 03:54 PM

i think the big issue is the condenser dont have fins that run on top of the horizon bars on the condenser. On the honda one the fins are between these horizon bars, but some condensers have the fins that run on top of them for better protection. The problem, honda used a cheap condenser that dont provide protection. I dont know how much force from a rock is needed to break it tho

07-10-2007, 11:14 PM	#45 (permalink)
bhut Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Florida Age: 35 Posts: 7 iTrader: 0 / 0%	1/4" wire mesh works for me I did the mesh install last weekend after seeing it posted here. I didn't pull off the bumper to do it though, just the plastic cover over the radiator support and upper grill (4 or 5 pop fasteners). I used cardboard to make the template for upper and lower openings. Cut and painted the wire mesh black (used vinyl paint for flexibility without flaking). Then I just manuevered the mesh down past the condensor to the openings and pulled them into position with a coathanger (spiral end through mesh so you can pull on it). Zip tied into place and I was done. The install might have taken 20 minutes. My condensor already had two dents in the lower section, and it's only got 4k miles on it. Well worth the effort for the added piece of mind.

LinkBacks (?) LinkBack to this Thread: http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/mechanical-problems-technical-chat/7932-c-condensor-punctured.html
Posted By	For	Type	Date
06 and 07 civics: new vs. used	This thread	Refback	03-02-2008 06:51 AM
Bad Air Intake Grille Design? Hole in Condenser !! No cold AC - 8th Gen Honda Civic - Honda Civic Forum	This thread	Refback	01-08-2008 03:10 PM
AR15.COM :: Forums :: 07 honda civic ac problem	This thread	Refback	12-18-2007 02:15 AM

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04-16-2007, 01:32 PM	#42 (permalink)
krstfrb Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I made this posting on a couple other sites as well. I really think this issue should be dealt with by Honda. Hello all, I made this posting on another site, ( http://www.topix.net/forum/autos/hon...2NF40877B57GF6 ) and just thought I would paste it here as well. For the record, if you haven't already, you should file a complaint at https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ Here is my posting: I am having the same issue. After about 3500 miles on our 2006 Civic EX, our A/C failed. We just took it in and they quickly figured out that a pebble had punctured our A/C condenser. Of course, they refused to cover it under warranty, and likened the issue to a chipped windshield. This is obviously a ridiculous comparison. I don't think the A/C condenser was designed to deflect debris like the windshield was. My "service representative" in Beaverton, Oregon, said he personally had dealt with about 100 of these A/C condenser failures in his three years at Honda, but he did not see that as a problem. He was actually trying to use that point to show how common it is, so I should not argue whether or not I should pay for the failure (apparently everyone else just pays for it with no questions, so that means there is no problem). Never mind the fact that he is one representative of several at that dealership who have probably dealt with the same issue, or that there are numerous dealerships around Oregon and the rest of the nation with the same issues. I see no incentive at this time for Honda to make any changes. There is a lot of money in it for them to make no changes and keep padding pockets with 500-700 here and there on BRAND NEW VEHICLES! We should not be required to come up with home fixes for their failure either. This is not some 1970 Pinto that you tie a rope to the windshield wipers to get it to work properly. We should expect that common precautions are taken BEFORE delivery. If I wanted something to work on, I would not have bought a new car! I like Honda, but if this is not addressed the way it should be, I will be a former Honda advocate and will be warning my friends and family against purchasing these vehicles.

04-30-2007, 08:13 PM	#43 (permalink)
tomasro Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: San Carlos, CA Age: 25 Posts: 1,667 Turner iTrader: 2 / 100%	Hey, if there was a recall on Bridgestone tires and Ford Explorers for fatal roll overs, then this should be covered as a Manufacturer Design flaw. True, it is not caused by Honda's manufacturing, but the location of the a/c condenser is, and it is obviously inappropriate for this vehicle. I took my car to Menlo Park Honda and they told me they wouldn't cover it under warranty. So I told them that I'd pay the service inspection fee, but would like it back when I call and complain to their corporate office. Just a minute ago, I got off the phone with Honda, and they told me to expect word within 1-2 business days. When I talked to the guy, I mentioned that I belong to a forum of people who have found the same problem as I, and that if this is a manufacturing defect, to think of all those other people who are not enthusiasts who are getting SCREWED. I figure that enthusiast groups are a 1000 to 1 ratio: for each one of us that has an issue, there are 1000 people out there that are experiencing it too, and are probably not reporting/complaining about it. I shall report back my findings in the next couple of days when I speak to Honda about getting this covered under warranty.

04-30-2007, 11:59 PM	#44 (permalink)
tomasro Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: San Carlos, CA Age: 25 Posts: 1,667 Turner iTrader: 2 / 100%	to fix this issue, I've seen people put chicken wire behind the front intakes...maybe flipping the license plate holder so it holds the plate down there would help?

07-11-2007, 02:42 PM	#46 (permalink)
jwmacleo Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Hello all. I just bought a new 07 Civic LX, and I plan on installing a wire mesh of sorts as has been described in this forum. A question: Has anyone who installed the very fine wire mesh (the insect screen type) had any problems with the vehicle overheating?

07-13-2007, 09:31 PM	#47 (permalink)
cbr1krr Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4 iTrader: 0 / 0%	yacoub. Home depot had it in garden dept. ask the person in the store for "chicken wire".

12-26-2007, 11:21 PM	#49 (permalink)
string3599 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 126 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Does anyone know if they fixed this with the 2008 model? I looked at an 08 Civic today and it looks like there is some sort of cover in there.

05-21-2008, 12:02 PM	#51 (permalink)
burniksapwet Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Elk Grove, CA Age: 30 Posts: 113 iTrader: 1 / 100%	I too am bumping this thread.

05-21-2008, 01:16 PM	#52 (permalink)
forvisor Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Columbus, Ohio Age: 27 Posts: 43 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I haven't had an issue with this. I have an 07 EX. Its over a year old now. Was this just a problem with SI's or not?

05-22-2008, 12:55 AM	#54 (permalink)
baglenn77 Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Houston TX Posts: 68 Brian iTrader: 0 / 0%	I just bought an 08 Civic SI and it was built april 08. My question is did they make any changes to give the condenser better protection? For example like use a better built condenser or relocated it for better protection? I did buy the extra waranty so I hope honda wil cover it if something happened like that, or ill tell them to give me all my money back on my extended waranty. Thanks

05-23-2008, 01:37 PM	#55 (permalink)
fftran Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Wow, I just joined the forum. My A/C on my 07 SI also recently gave out (blowing hot air).

05-23-2008, 07:31 PM	#56 (permalink)
baglenn77 Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Houston TX Posts: 68 Brian iTrader: 0 / 0%	any news if or when honda will have a fix for this? It would be wise for them to find a fix so they wont piss off any more customers.

05-24-2008, 06:01 PM	#58 (permalink)
baglenn77 Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Houston TX Posts: 68 Brian iTrader: 0 / 0%	does anyone have a picture of what a punctured condenser looks like on the civic SI 2006+ models? I had my car a week a 2008 SI and i looked at my condenser and i notced near the bottom center thre is looks like a fin is chipped. But it blows cool air. How deep does it have to be before it starts leaking? Is it possible it came from the factory like that. I only have 150 miles on it. thanks

05-24-2008, 10:22 PM	#59 (permalink)
baglenn77 Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Houston TX Posts: 68 Brian iTrader: 0 / 0%	the air blows cold and olny have 150 miles on it. I think its a defect in the condenser the chiped area i dont think its leaking

05-25-2008, 03:54 PM	#60 (permalink)
baglenn77 Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Houston TX Posts: 68 Brian iTrader: 0 / 0%	i think the big issue is the condenser dont have fins that run on top of the horizon bars on the condenser. On the honda one the fins are between these horizon bars, but some condensers have the fins that run on top of them for better protection. The problem, honda used a cheap condenser that dont provide protection. I dont know how much force from a rock is needed to break it tho