I was driving home from work when I felt the car becoming sluggish. Then I heard a noise like a splash guard rubbing a tire. Then there was the smell of smoke, possibly burnt rubber. I pulled over thinking it could be something stuck in a wheel well. There was smoke coming from the engine bay, low in the engine bay too. I looked it all over and it seemed to be coming from the AC compressor.

To test it, I turned the AC off. The smoke went away. No further issues. I clicked the AC back on (button on the dash) and the engine started to stall and I could hear the belt squeak. The smoke started up again.

I'm not sure what is wrong, the AC was blowing cold right before this happened. I was able to drive the car perfectly fine with the AC off. I tried the AC again when I got home, immediate noise like the belt was slipping and the idle dropped down. I think the compressor is locked up. I'm just not sure exactly where or what. I'm wondering if I need a new compressor or if this is the 'clutch' or something like that.

Thanks for any input.

 

The bearing has seized. If the clutch had seized then when you have the AC switch off it would still be smoking. Most of the time a bearing is not a complete rebuild of the compressor. That being said, Honda does not make it easy to get to the compressor. You need to remove the front wheel and open the access port through the wheel well, or you may have to remove the under body panels near the engine and drop it down.

 

I'm 100% fine paying for a hour or two at a shop if it is just the bearing (a cheap part). My days of working on my daily driver are behind me. If the bearing is a wear part that can be replaced, I will look into it!

Thank you very much.

 

It most def is, just just a bitch to get to in the engine department to change it.

 

Shop says you can't replace the bearing, you have to get a new compressor. What bearing is it? Any idea on the part number. Majestic Honda doesn't list a bearing part number.

Furthermore, how difficult is replacing the AC compressor? They quoted me $1,600. I've removed an AC compressor, never replaced one. I haven't really worked on the Fit yet, so I'm just asking. My experience is on much older Hondas.

 

Unfortunately I cannot find the bearing rebuild kit. Honda does not sell them it seems. I know you can rebuild AC compressors if the bearing fails, just not a Honda from the looks of it. My apologies, I assumed wrong.

The compressor is mad money around $450 bucks. The rest is labor. What generation Fit you have? The AC compressor is on the bottom of the engine for all gens I believe. It may be as easy as going at the bottom of the engine and removing, or it could be worse going through the wheel well, or removing the front axle in order to drop the compressor out through the bottom. I know this because my prelude's alternator I had to do this.

You can save a shit ton of cash in labor if you change change out yourself.There is a high pressure and low pressure line going to it, plus a wiring harness for the clutch and thermal safety sensor. Wiring harness you will likely reuse. If you can remove/install the new one yourself, then all you need to do is have a shop purge the system and charge up with R134A.

 

I'm debating doing it myself. But I've read it only takes about 3 hours or so for a shop to do it and it may be worth it. $180 to know my car will be back together same day is something I can live with.

As for the compressor. Is it better to go OE for the big money, or any aftermarket compressor with a 2 year warranty from rockauto? They range from $180-300.

EDIT: It is a first gen base model fit, GD3, 2007. I though there was a rebuild kit available too, but had no luck finding one.

 

Its your call to go aftermarket or OEM. Being its a 2007 Id be looking to save dollars being its an older car. Long as it works right?

 

That's true, but it only has 70k on the clock and I do plan on running it for some time to come. We also live in Florida, so the A/C gets regular use for 8+ months a year. If an extra $100 saves me the cost/time of installing it and a new condenser, I'm all for it. But if it is a toss up on which is better, I'll save the money and roll the dice.

I'll search through the forum and see if I can find anyone who left feedback on their replacement compressor.

 

Any write ups on replacing the AC compressor?

 

I haven't found any solid information on which replacement compressor to go with. My mechanic said he would do it for $80 (the replacement and refilling the system). So I'm just coming up with a new compressor. I was right when I thought it was just the bearing that seized on the compressor clutch, that was his diagnosis also. He said everything else is likely still good so just a compressor replacement is in order. So I'm just in the market for a compressor now.