If some 2010 GE owner has already posted this, my apologies for posting the info again.

I was going to do the DIY that prevents the AC from coming on automatically when turning on defrost... (My GE just came off of the boat from Japan -- the dealer allowed me to track it the last couple of weeks).

Well, guess what? I turned on my defrost, dreading seeing the AC come on and (like I want the AC on at 29 degrees F ), well, it doesn't! That's right! Maybe Honda read complaints and decided to give the user the choice.

Just to be sure, I called a dealer and asked a tech and a salesperson if that was something Honda changed. They supposedly called Honda, and according to them I was right... the AC no longer automatically comes on when defrosting.

Strange though... my manuals (I have the .pdf manual and manual that came with the car), and both state when using either defrost mode the AC is automatically turned on. I would think Honda may have announced a change to the manual regarding this.

BTW... my AC light does not come on when defrosting, in case anyone is wondering.

 

On my 2009 when using the defrost the AC light doesnt come on, but you can hear the compressor cycling on and off, just listen while the car is parked.

 

Yup, that's what I understood before getting my GE. I listened closely while parked for the compressor cycling. (I wasn't going by the light being on/off) If it was cycling, then either mine is completely silent and not noticeable ( I know it well), or my compressor isn't functioning correctly.

I know the latter to not be the case... when I physically turned on the AC I definitely heard the compressor cycling.

I have to go back to the dealer for a couple of extras they offered for free and didn't have time for during delivery... they want to check it out for sure at that time.

I'll update after that.

 

I thought the AC came on to use the evaporator core and dehumidify the air coming out of the vents, thus defogging your windows quicker. Besides if you turn the knob to the red doesn't hot air come out of the vents whether the AC is on or off? At least that's what I've always experienced.

 

The AC coming on with defrost is good for us Canadians who don't need AC for 8-10 months of the year so that it doesn't seize up from lack of use. Like most mechanical systems, if you don't use them for long durations they tend to fail sooner.

 

My Fit doesn't have the A/C light come on when it's on defrost but it most certainly does kick in. I still have to do the mod to remove the plug that automatically kicks it on. I don't ever use the defrost, except when the whole family is in the car. I have a feeling that it still does this in the '10 as I believe there were no changes for 2010 except for the TSB's given for the '09s (fixed during initial build instead of by the dealer)

~SB

 

It most definitely does come on

 

trust your owner's manual over what the people at the dealerships tell you.

 

I was going to ask you to listen for the compressor, but it sounds like you already did that... so sweet that they fixed it.

Another check you could do, run it on defrost with the selector on the coldest setting, and see if the air is significantly colder, indicating it has been conditioned.

 

yah, the a/c LED does not come on but the compressor turns on...well, atleast on all my cars.

not that it's a huge deal, really.

 

This is absolutely true and something very, very few people know. You should run your A/C for 10 minutes a week at a minimum in the winter to keep the compressor properly lubricated. I have seen some sights recommend 10 minutes a month, but I think that's too little. I run mine 10 minutes a week in the winter and just turn the temperature up so it's not blowing cold air.

The A/C compressor is expensive to replace and I believe when they prematurely fail, one of the reasons is because most people don't run them at all during the winter months.