[debnc11]

I have owned my Civic since it was new off the lot. About a year ago, the AC started working intermittenly. It will run for about 20 minutes, go off (air still blowing, but hot) and then maybe come on again after half an hour. I get diferent stories - it is the compressor ($1000); it needs freon; it can't be the freon because it sometimes blows cold air; don't put in more freon unless you have it tested; etc. I have tried changing the relays. Any thoughts anyone?
Otherwise, I have had problems with the paint on my civic, and the driver's seat hurts my back, but I have had no mechanical problems since buying it (knocking on wood gratefully now). (I see "cool" emoticons, but no "hot" ones).
I should add that I just realized my coolant is low. Of course I need to top it off, but the question is - has this caused the AC problems or the other way around? Is the AC not working overheating my engine? Why have I lost coolant?

 

[goflyakuite]

A 2008 Civic would be a 8th Generation model. This forum is really geared to the new 10th Generation 2016 Civic. I bet you'd get a faster and more accurate response from an "8th Generation Civic Forum" (via a quick Google search).

Good luck!

 

[jamis]

The car is eight years old. It's not unusual for the refrigerant to have leaked down during that time. Seals can dry out a bit and leak refrigerant. New fluid can help seal small leaks. If it were my car, I'd add some refrigerant of the correct kind and see if it leaks down again. It's cheaper than having something else replaced. My old '97 EX went low after 8 or 9 years and a fillup of R134 fixed it right up. The AC was still freezing cold in 2013 when I traded it in on Black Betty. On the other hand, my '03 Mazda Protege5's AC is still going strong on the factory fill.

Go here, register, and use the search function to get more information on your particular problem.

http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/

 

[debnc11]

Thank you so much. I got lost in my "generations." The sites look so similar.

 

[Tog]

I had a 2008 SI that had the same problem. The clutch on the compress needed replacement.