I have a 2009 Fit Sport. Lately it has a new habit that's a tad annoying. I'll start the car, turn on the AC (or the heater) and nothing happens. Sometimes the AC is already on when the car starts but does nothing. I slide the switch for the air flow setting to the other side and back again and voila. Air kicks in.

I took it to Honda when it first started happening but because it decided not to show them what it was doing, they had no clue. and it never does it when I'm within ten miles of the dealership. Has anyone had this happen and have any thoughts on it?

Thanks

 

The air flow slide control has no interaction with the A/C or heater controls. Actuating the slide control is probably just bumping something to make the fan operate again. Next time instead of moving the slide, impact the dash with your hand to see if it changes. Also try changing fan speed, does this happen only a a certain fan speed or random?

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I think you're right, assuming it's the fan working that arkansasfit is talking about and not the A/C compressor (I think that's a safe assumption).

The fresh/recirculate flapper door is on top of the fan housing behind the lower glove box. Moving this between fresh and recirculate would "bump" the fan and might start it moving. If this is true, it sounds like the fan motor is on the way out.

All of this is easily accessed behind the glove box. It drops down for inspection/changing the cabin filter: just press in on the sides of the lower glove box. The glove box hinges can be removed to take out the glove box entirely if needed to replace the blower motor.

 

Thanks for the responses. That all makes perfect sense to me. The car is under warranty so I can have Honda take care of it. But this time when they tell me there's no way they can know what's happening without a code I can gently push them in the right direction perhaps.

In response to the other question, it doesn't matter what speed it is on. Changing the speed does nothing until a bump. It's totally random.