I've seen a few conversations where owners, including myself, were a little disappointed in the performance of the AC system on the '06 LX/EX Civics. No one has really come up with an answer as yet, at least not that I've read so far. The AC on my '06 EX works ok as long as the car is moving. Get stuck at a traffic light or in bumper to bumper traffic on a hot day and it doesn't even come close to keeping up. The system is working because is cools the car nicely when it's moving but not when standing still. I don't expect the system to work as well in bumper to bumper traffic but this one is worse than any other car I've owned to date.

Having said the above, I was checking the oil yesterday and looking around the engine compartment when I noticed something I hadn't clued in on before. The catalytic converter comes right off the exhaust manifold between the engine and the radiator. The cat does have a heat shield wrapped around it. The shield protects the AC hoses coming off the compressor but it does not extend all the way down and that leaves the AC compressor exposed to the full heat of the cat at the bottom and it's not that far away. I can't help but wonder if this is degrading the AC's performance in slow traffic?

I was wondering if anyone had an opinion on this? I'm considering trying to add some kind of extension to the heat shield to try to add a little more protection for the AC compressor.

What do you think?
Steve R.

 

i've wondered about that as well. my 06 coupe's a/c even when driving isn't even as cool as any of my previous cars either. anyone else feel that way...maybe its all related, or the a/c just sucks in the 06 civics because they stopped using freon and have switched to the japanese alternative fraon with vitamin r.

 

Unfortunately, everyone has to use the non-freon, freon replacement. It's not as effective a coolant but it's supposedly a lot more environmentally friendly.

For the most part, I'm not unhappy with the AC's performance as long as the car is moving down the road at any kind of reasonable speed. It's when I have to come to a stop or get caught in slow traffic that it get's frustrating. I put a thermometer in the AC vent and the system easily holds 40 to 45 degrees while the car is moving. That's perfectly normal, but when I come to a stop, it warms to over 60 degrees. On a 95+ degree day, that doesn't do anything, or at least is doesn't "feel" like it's doing anything. One of my previous cars, an '01 Honda Odyssey, would hold between 45 and 50 degrees under the came conditions and kept the car a lot more comfortable.

I just noticed how close that cat converter was to the AC compressor and it seemed like it might be a factor in what we're talking about. I was just wondering if anyone with more AC experience the me (which isn't saying much, come to think of it ) might have an opinion.

Drive Safe,
Steve R.