Air condensor periodically disengaging
 

My wife drives a 2000 Civic SE and the a/c periodically stops blowing cold air. When it works it is very cold. I looked under the hood and noticed when the a/c stops blowing cold air the compressor clutch is disengaged. So far we had the temperature sensor on top of the condensor replaced. Any other recommendations? without having to change the compressor. This happens more when it is really hot outside.

The condenser fan is working when the clutch is engaged but I forgot to look at the fan when the clutch disengages it self.

Have you checked the wire harness for loose, cut wires? I once had a mysterious AC failure until I realized that a rabbit would hide in the engine bay and chew on the AC wire harness. I drove him to home depot and then chased him away.

Upon visual inspection the wires look good.

If you find the fan running but the compressor not, a common problem is the compressor clutch has worn down until the air gap (between the pulley and clutch plate) is too wide for reliable engagement. That can be adjusted without replacing the whole compressor or removing the refrigerant.

Remove the shaft nut and take the plate off, there are shim washers on the shaft that set the gap. Take some or all of the washers out and reassemble. It is OK for the clutch to almost touch as long as it doesn't drag when off.

Do you have an audio amplifier? I ask is because there is a light blue wire for the climate controls that can easily be confused with the light blue wire for the remote power signal from radio to the amplifier. If the wrong wire is tapped into the climate control can/will cut out.

no AMP.

Took it to an "A/C specialist" last night and had the freon topped up today as thats what he said would fix the problem.

100$ later and still the same problem.

well, take it back to the a/c specialist and get a refund since it did not fix your problem. I'd check on mk's advice at looking at the gap

I tried but it was a smaller shop and the actual owner was working on my car. He told me it was low on freon regardless and it needed to be topped up and that he could not take it back now that it mixed with my original feron. He did offer to spend some addiction time looking at it for no charge bit I would have to pay for any parts. I figured it best to cut my loses with this loser.

Thinking it may be time to upgrade to a 2012 civic.

If it gets cold once, there is enough "freon". There aren't gremlins under the hood taking it out and putting it back when you're not looking.

I'll take that old lemon off your hands... seriously though you're probably looking at a zero-parts fix to just adjust the clutch gap.

There's also a more outside chance it is the compressor relay. Open up the underhood fuse box and swap the compressor relay with the rear defroster relay, they should be the same type. If the compressor works properly then get a new relay before winter so you can use the defroster.

Not yet on the upgrade, my friend. Take mk's advice and try the gap fix. This is still a potentially easy fix. I really doubt that the freon was low if it does periodically blow cold air as mk said.

I'd say that the owner put one over you. I agree with you that you ought to cut your losses and stop going to this "specialist" who apparently is neither very honest nor good.

Anyway, do the work yourself and see if this fixes your a/c issue.