I posted this in the 2nd Gen forum but though I'd put it here in case anyone might have ideas for me to check....

So out of the blue my 2011 Fit AC stopped working. It has been fine for the 2+ years I have owned the car. I recall it working OK when I used it with the defroster back in Feb (2023) or so.....

The cooling fans and compressor do not engage but he dashboard switch light turns on OK.

However the fans do engage (cycle on and off) when the car is idling for a few minutes at normal temperature.....so I know the fuses and relays and fans are good.

I tried jumping the AC pressure switch (connecting the two pins on the wire with a paperclip) and that did not do anything. Still no go.

I checked the magnetic clutch relay, and tried replacing the relay with a new one but no go., I then did the magnetic clutch relay jump/bypass with a wire and the compressor engages OK. It blows cold air and I am getting about 25 pressure on the low side and 180 on the high side (I have a gauge set). So I have refrigerant and the clutch/compressor works --- even though it may be a little low on refrigerant. So I know the mag clutch works OK and the relay is not the issue (I tried new one) and the fuse for the mag clutch is OK too.

I then suspected the thermal protector (thermal fuse) on the outside of the compressor based on YouTube videos of the same issue. I ordered a new one and manually closed the circuit (cut the wires, strip the ends and wire nut the two wires together). Still no go from the AC switch. Same issue with no fans and no compressor but the light on the switch goes on.

Any other ideas of what it might be? It's really odd that none of the above worked....based on what I have seen/read online.

Thanks in advance....

 

I really wonder about the refrigerant and whether it's too low. You have some, but is "some" enough?

 

Thanks that's a good point. I am going to try hooking up the gauges, manually engage the clutch (relay jumper) and check pressures again today. I can always add a bit more refrigerant.

Also is there just one AC pressure sensor on Fits? The one on the metal line above the compressor (as you look down on it from above)?

Also if I jump the connector to this pressure sensor with a paper clip, shouldn't that close the circuit and tell the system that there is enough pressure to operate? I tried that before but I'll try it again if that makes sense.


Thanks again.

 

A little low on refrigerant is all it takes for the AC to stop working. There are a number of videos on this. The coolant always gets added to the low pressure line only. Be careful not to add too much.

Adding refrigerant to a Fit

 

I'm having A/C issues with my 09. A/C dash light turns on, fuses good. Had Freon evacuated and refilled by a shop (they did say it was low, but not drastically low), no change. The clutch isn't engaging, I can see it sitting stationary as the pulley spins. Lots of reports of the air gap being too large on the clutch, and people have said that with the AC turned on, take a long screwdriver or pry bar and push the clutch towards the pulley to see if it will engage. If that is the case then you either remove shims or source the new clutch assy.

 

First check for power for the clutch activation circuit (just a one pin connector I believe, on the compressor). If you have power then it's likely a clutch/compressor issue as you stated. That'll give you a for sure answer.

 

If your radiator fan for ac turns on but your compressor does not, try switching the relays for the ac fan and the ac clutch. If your fan stops working but your clutch now works, then you have a failed relay. I had the same symptoms you did. Mine was a slow failure. Started out you would push the ac button and it would take ten minutes to come on. Then 20, then 30. Eventually it got to be over an hour to come on.