Operation Kill Swamp Ass
Unuselectus
Band Wagon
I recently purchased a very clean 1991 Civic Wagon. It clearly had A/C before, since the climate control has the A/C button and under the hood you can see the lines were cut. :nightmare:
Well, I'm on a mission to basically source everything I need to get this thing working because I'm DYING in the Georgia heat.
In the engine bay, I have no lines, no compressor, no condenser... ect. I'm under the impression that everything under the dash is in-tact.
I am open to ANY HELP. Will any EF sedan, hatch, or wagon A/C system work? Can I use other Honda model components?
Where can I find all the stuff I need to purchase? Will I have to go to a junk yard or can I buy this stuff new?
Well, I'm on a mission to basically source everything I need to get this thing working because I'm DYING in the Georgia heat.
In the engine bay, I have no lines, no compressor, no condenser... ect. I'm under the impression that everything under the dash is in-tact.
I am open to ANY HELP. Will any EF sedan, hatch, or wagon A/C system work? Can I use other Honda model components?
Where can I find all the stuff I need to purchase? Will I have to go to a junk yard or can I buy this stuff new?
Comments
Yes, you can pick up whatever, I have parts from a CRX on mine. The actual lines on a CRX might be different though so I'd stick with compressor specific (detailed below) lines for a 91 wagon. They're still easy enough to source.
Two things come to mind right away in this. The first is that there are two compressors. Which can be quickly identified by checking out https://www.civicwagon.com/showthread.php?3871-How-to-tell-which-AC-compressor-you-have
You'll want to stay away from the Matsushita compressor and get a Sanden if you can. Sanden uses a different bracket than the Matsushita, so if you don't have a bracket on there you'll need to source one of those as well. If you do have a bracket on there, check the part numbers.
My thought on it would be if there is no bracket and the lines were cut that it's very possible it was done to sell the system and it was working. Which hopefully means if there is stuff still on the inside, it's not all crapped out or clogged up.
That said, I would absolutely change the expansion valve, regardless. You don't want to go through all this trouble, find out you have a busted expansion valve and have to evacuate the entire system all over again.
My biggest hurdle is finding all the parts. Since I need the lines and the compressor, I should buy the Sanden compressor and then the lines to match? Can I have lines made, or should I be able to buy them from Honda?
http://www.rockauto.com/en/emailpagetofriend.php?ni=330
$40ish a pop for the lines is cheap enough by my standards at least.
Couple hundred for the compressor, unless you find a good one locally at a pick-n-pull or something like that
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1988-1991-HONDA-CIVIC-CRX-USA-REMAN-SANDEN-A-C-COMPRESSOR-KIT-W-WARRANTY-/151815165796
Condenser is easy enough to find. I think they are universal on that side of things, it's just the compressor side fittings that are different. But confirm that yourself of course.
If you do find a compressor in a yard, grab the bracket for it as well. I wasn't able to source one locally so I ended up picking it up off ebay.
http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/honda,1991,civic,1.6l+l4,1168512,heat+&+air+conditioning,a/c+refrigerant+hose,6900
So basically I buy the Sanden versions of the suction and discharge lines, then the Sanden compressor, and I should be good. The Evaporator and shit is already in there.
Connect it, get it charged and I'm straight? Can I Charge it myself or not really?
Thanks!