As was suggested by several forum members, I placed a meat thermometer in the center vent of my 2012 Honda Fit Sport and took a road trip to test the A/C temps. I drove 230 miles round trip from Los Angeles to Barstow and the A/C failed exactly like it did on my last three Las Vegas trips. In each case at approximately 90 minutes into the drive the A/C blows warm air. I ran internal air, max cooling.

Here are the results:

Time Cycle On Cycle Off Fan Setting
9:40 AM 83 - 4
9:45 AM 46.5 52.3 4
9:53 AM 43.8 51.1 4
9:59 AM 40.3 45 4
10:01 AM 39.3 46 4
10:04 AM 38.7 46.2 4
10:06 AM 37.6 44.8 4
10:09 AM 36.8 45.1 4
10:11 AM 38.3 44 4
10:14 AM 35.9 45.2 3
10:15 AM 34.4 44 3
10:20 AM 35.7 43.4 3
10:25 AM 36.8 44.7 3
10:30 AM 37.2 43.7 4
10:40 AM 23.9 36.6 4 **Weird low readings, thought thermometer was malfunctioning. Went into teens, then single digits, then settled in 20's. Lasted a minute or two.
10:45 AM 25.8 35.8 4
10:47 AM 42.5 49.1 4
10:50 AM 40.5 44.7 4
10:52 AM 44.9 50.2 4
10:55 AM 45.4 51.2 4
10:59 AM 47.6 53.5 4
11:01 AM 49.4 54.6 4
11:03 AM 50 55.5 4
11:04 AM 51.1 56.3 4
11:06 AM 52.8 57.2 4
11:13 AM - 64.6 4 **Exit freeway, park at Home Depot. Leave engine and A/C running. Pop hood. Compressor spinning but not cycling, both fans operating. Turn off car, go into Home Depot.
11:26 AM **Return to car, observe stream of water "peeing like a race horse from underneath car.
11:29 AM 62.5 - 4 **Started car and A/C.
11:32 AM 41.5 45.2 4
11:34 AM 41.3 46.9 4
11:37 AM 40.3 46.9 4
11:41 AM 39.2 44.9 4
11:44 AM 38.7 45 4
11:50 AM 39.5 45.9 4
11:55 AM 40.3 46 4
11:57 AM 40.6 47 4
12:00 PM 41.4 47.4 3
12:05 PM 40.1 47.1 3
12:12 PM 38.3 44.3 3
12:17 PM 38.2 45.3 3
12:22 PM 41.7 47.4 4
12:24 PM 43.3 49.1 4
12:27 PM 44.7 50.5 4
12:29 PM 45.1 50.8 4
12:32 PM 46.2 52.1 4
12:35 PM 46.9 52.4 4
12:38 PM 48 53 4
12:42 PM 48.9 53.9 4
12:44 PM 49.4 54.4 4
12:46 PM 49.7 54.8 4
12:49 PM 50.1 56 4
12:52 PM 51.5 57.4 4
12:56 PM 53.6 59.3 4
12:59 PM 57.4 59.5 4
1:01 PM 57.7 60.2 4
1:06 PM 55.3 61.2 4
1:08 PM 56.7 61.5 4
1:09 PM 58.6 63.3 4
1:10 PM - 66.8 4 **Arrive home. Compressor spinning but not cycling. Both fans working. Observed water under car again.

So basically I have a car that I can take on trips and drive for about an hour with cool/cold A/C. Then I have to pull over, take a break and then do another hour. It sucks. Thoughts on what is going on here? I feel like this should be a recall issue for Honda since based upon the responses on this forum and several Internet searches I've conducted this is a widespread problem with 2nd Generation Fits.

As usual, I really appreciate any help/thoughts/advice you guys can offer.

Bill

 

Those very low temperature readings, if accurate, are way too low. That would confirm (in my mind) the evaporator core is freezing into a huge ice cube.

The lake of water after the car had been left shut off would be supporting evidence of the huge ice cube. (ice cube melted after AC was shut off)




Doesn't airflow from the dash vents diminish or stop completely when this freeze up occurs??

Seems to me that after the core has had sufficient time and low temp to freeze solid, the slowly rising vent temp may be because there is little to no air flow through the core.



Next thing would be to figure out why the system quit cycling and kept the compressor running. You said you observed the radiator fans continue to run, that tells me the PCM is still seeing the valid AC request for whatever reason, and the PCM controls the fans and compressor. So not a relay issue at all.

Probably will be a game of swaptronics at this point, I'd guess either the temp sensor or the control panel.
Actually, after looking at the cycle temps again, it seems that 10*F or greater span from off to on is quite a bit wider than I'm used to seeing. I might guess at the HVAC control panel first.....but at the same time the thermocouple is probably the cheaper of the two to try (but a LOT more work).

Got a friend with an identical car you can swap the control panel with as a test?

 

Thanks to the feedback provided by several forum members my Fit is now blowing cold a/c on long trips. The problem was low freon. I took my Fit to my dealer and shared the low freon diagnosis with the service manager. He agreed that could be causing the evaporator ice up problem. They did an a/c service and discovered two things: 1. They system was low on freon; 2. There were no leaks. After a recharge, I took the care on a 2 hour round trip in 90+ degree heat and the a/c blew cold the entire time. So the problem is fixed.

Frankly this makes me think that Honda, either by accident or on purpose to save money, charged the 2nd generation Fits with low amounts of freon. Since few people do more than commute in the cars the problem seldom shows up unless one of us owners takes a long trip. My car has done this since I bought it.

At any rate, thanks to all on this forum who stepped in with savvy advice and help. I truly appreciate it.

Bo;;

 

Sorry, meant "Bill."

Darn typos!

 

Great to hear! Go back to my first post and you'll see that's exactly what we found with ours when new. It just wasn't full from the factory. Unbelievable, but 9 years old now and the A/C still blows cold. Literally knocking on wood now. LOL

 

Good News.

I kind of of thought that was your problem after your first posting. I'm happy you found the issue. Yours is not the first Fit that has had this issue. The problem is getting a tech to do more than just stick a machine on it and say it passed. Most techs at dealerships have limited AC diagnostic ability and have no clue how to diagnose a problem when the machine does not do it for them.

At least you are happy now and that is what counts.

 

So I hate to revive an old thread but I’m in the same boat as the OP was. I have a 13’ sport with 45k that had the warm AC on long trips. I had the Freon charged as it was low, it last two weeks and now the compressor won’t turn on. Took it back to the shop who charged it last time and the Freon is low again. They added dye and can’t seem to find any visible leaks. I hate to think about ripping the dash out for the evaporator or expansion valve. Am I missing something obvious?

 

As noted, when the Freon is low you'll have issues on a longer trip (In June, I was running the PA Turnpike between Harrisburg and Phoenixville). Mine had visible ice on metal line under hood and the 'behind dash unit' must have had ice on it too from amount of water that drained out when I let the car sit at each end of the trip.

If you're low on Freon again, adding dye is the next step. Hopefully the leak is in / around the compressor, which does wear over time.

Harbor Freight sold a nice UV flashlight for $8.

 

If you can not find the leak using dye, the next step is to use a sniffer. If it leaks down in two weeks a sniffer ought to be able to detect it easily. You probably can find it without running the vehicle. Many times the leak is behind the compressor pulley and you can not see the dye but a sniffer will find it. If that does not work, start the car and tun on the fan on low and sniffer the vents. It fhe the leak is in the evaporator the vent fan ought to force some of the R-134 gas out mixed in with the air and you can sense it there.

I was in Walmart this morning and R-134 was $4.88 per can (except in Wisconsin for some reason). You might go through a couple of cans finding the leak.

 

Appreciate the reply. They couldn’t find the leak after looking for almost 30 minutes. I’m not sure if they have a sniffer. I had them recharge it again and they put dye in it. My biggest fear is that it’s in the evaporator or expansion valve. I really don’t want to tear the dash out of my 45k vehicle.

 

A sniffer is fairly cheap and any decent shop should have one around. Here is a cheap one on ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Refrigerant...sAAOSw6eldwQIB

When using dye, it sometimes helps to look in the dark and only have the UV light on. The dye will stick around even if the R-134 has leaked out.
Do not worry too much about evaporator leaks, they are not common. Usually I find leaks around connections (o-rings) and mostly compressor seals. On a Fit, many times a rock has hit the condenser because it is up front and fairly low to the ground. Look very closely at the front of the condenser. You can get a Black Light flashlight from Harbor freight for $9.00.