My wife called me on my way to work this morning, and said that she cant keep her car running. She says that it will start, but it runs real rough, and "sputters". I will post up more info when I find it.

I dont know much about these little engines. If these symptoms sound familar to a problem that one of you guys might have encountered, then please help.

I am thinking it might be a fuel filter, or maybe some trash in a fuel line. I have no idea what kind of filter, or fuel pump this car has. Much less the location of either. You guys with more knowledge of these engines please help me troubleshoot this. I really appreciate it.

Thanks,
Phillip

I'm guessing you mean the fuel filter...right?

Diagnosing problems over the phone is almost as hard as doing it over the internet. Sooooooo, the plot thickens.

I find out that she was in a near collision yesterday, and had to really get on it to keep from getting in a wreck. From what I can understand over the phone, she had to down shift and accelerate quickley. High RPM's were turned, amongst the pandemonium she doesnt know for how long she kept them high. I assume that It wasnt very long, but when I heard high RPMs I think bent pushrods. I hope this is not the case.

After this incident, she says the A/C is not very cold, but the fan is still blowing hard. And after starting this a.m., it runs terrible.

I will check it out this evening when I get home. SHe was lucky enough to borrow my grandads truck so she could get to work. I will post my findings tommorow a.m. Any insight will be helpful.

Thanks
Phillip

Well high RPMs shouldn't be any problem for a civic, they're naturally higher reving cars than something like your truck. I take my civic to at least 5-6 everyday, almost to 9 on the rare occassion in my acura. Running rough huh? Maybe like it's not firing on all 4 cylinders. I've had my car run like shit and be gutless and I would pop the hood and find a spark plug wire that fell off or just isn't on very tight. Just a thought to check on when you see the car.

Spark Plugs could have went Kapooy!

Like I said earlier, Its tough diagnosing problems over the phone...lol

I get home yesterday, and lift the hood. Everything looks fine. So I fire it up, and instantly hear a squeeling sound. I immediately think pulley bearing, or compressor clutch. Sure enough, it was the compressor clutch. To make a long story short, I cut the belt off. Now it will run fine, but no A/C.

Is the compressor necessarily shot? or could it just be the clutch? Anyone done a R&R of this? How much money will it cost me?


I tried to remove the belt, but I could not see how to get it off. It looked like some kind of support,motor mount or cross member coming across from the fender to the crank. I could not see how to get the belt around it, so I just cut the belt off.

THanks for your posts. I dont know why she told me it would not run. The engine ran fine. Maybe she was just flustered, and didnt know how to describe it.

ok. Took the car to my mechanic.

He calls with the diagnosis. He says the clutch is shot, & that he cant test the compressor since it the clutch wont engage. He gave me 2 options:

1. Replace the clutch. But since he cant test the compressor, it could be a shot in the dark. We could replace the clutch only to find out that the compressor is bad. cost for clutch: $600

2. Replace compressor, Flush system, Replace some kind of valve thats under the dash, and all the trimmings, for $1000.

Has anyone had any dealings or worked on these a/c systems? Does this sound right?

thanks.
Phillip

can't your wife just drive w/o ac and save yourself a bunch of money? that's what i'd do, but in my case, i hate spending money.

Bump someone help this guy.

Ive been driving it without the a/c, and its freaking hot in Houston at 5pm!!

I was wondering how hard it would be for me to just change out the clutch on the compressor? Has anyone done this?


thanks
Phillip

O shit ya, I am In Temple (central) Texas, My civic is not running right now, so I am driving the GrandAm, and the AC compressor is shot, I got the windows down. HOT as shit in Texas. Now are you talking about the AC Clutch or Clutch Clutch.