Hello,
I have a 2001 Honda Civic Manual 5sp. I have been having some battery problems where if my car sits for a few days it won’t start...It needs to be jumped. I finally took it to the mechanic and they said it was a bad battery and replaced it. They also mentioned it may be the AC, but I was confused as to why. A few days after that I was pulling into my driveway and turned my car off and took the key out and the AC was STILL blowing...cold air at that. Not being too knowledgeable I thought "oh wow that's what has been draining my battery...I'll take it back to the mechanic". I haven’t taken it yet, but about two days after that I was driving with the air on full blast (it's HOT) and started to brake for the red light. As I was breaking, the AC stopped. Just completely stopped working. It won’t even turn on. Does anyone know what this could be? Fuse, broken compressor, etc?
Thanks for any advice...I really like to be a knowledgeable as possible when I go to the mechanic.

 

The fan inside doesn't have anything to do with the compressor. Does everything else work: lights, wipers, radio, etc.

 

Yes everything else works.

 

There are basically 4 parts involved -- fuse (under the hood), relay (next to the fuse), blower motor (under the dash) and the power transistor (behind the glove compartment). The control panel drives the power transistor to make the motor run at the desired speed, but problems with the control panel itself are rare (*). Usually it is the transistor. Voltage tests can be made along the chain of the major 4 parts to identify why the motor does not run.

(*) The control panel has a self test function. You can also check that it is not completely dead as follows: Turn key on don't start engine. Set the fan control to other than off. Press the A/C button, light should go on and off. Turn the air outlet selector you should hear a small motor running behind the dash for a time.