Honda Fit AC Not Working (Troubleshooting Guide)
You’re driving your Honda Fit in scorching hot weather. You decide to turn on your AC expecting it to serve you with a refreshing dose of cool air. But you discover it’s no longer working! If that’s what you’re going through, we’ll help you diagnose and fix your malfunctioning AC to make it start cooling your car again.
Honda fit AC not working may be caused by any of the following issues:
- Faulty AC compressor
- Low refrigerant levels
- Clogged AC condensers
- Dirty cabin air filter
- Clogged evaporator
- Defective blower motor
- Bad blend door actuator
- Malfunctioning pressure switches
- Electrical issues
Below, we delve into more details about all the potential causes of your Honda Fit AC not working and troubleshooting tips to help you identify the culprit and resolve it. By the end of this article, you should be able to uncover the cause of your AC issues and fix it to revive your AC functionality.
Why your Honda Fit AC is not working?
If your Honda Fit Air Conditioning stops working, several culprits could be at play. Below, we’ll get a closer look at the most common causes to consider.
Faulty AC compressor
One of the most common causes of AC malfunction is the Honda Fit AC compressor going bad.
Your car AC system comprises moving parts that convert the gaseous refrigerant into liquid state—helping cool your vehicle.
If you don’t turn your Honda Fit AC system on for a long time, the moving parts might stick and the compressor will become defective as a result.
Your compressor may also fail due to inadequate lubrication or a manufacturing defect.
This may cause it to fall apart and metal chips may form as a result. These chips will then be distributed throughout your AC system.
The chips can easily interfere with the other components of your AC compressor if not removed from the system. They’ll also damage a new compressor if you install it without first getting rid of them.
Solution: A faulty AC compressor is irreparable so you’ll have to replace it with a new one.
If there are metal shavings inside the system, you’ll need to get a professional to diagnose your system.
They’ll flush these undesired items and replace any contaminated components of your AC system.
Low refrigerant levels
If you’re experiencing an issue where your AC won’t blow cold, the likely cause is leaking Honda Fit AC refrigerant.
The refrigerant is the crucial component of your vehicle’s air conditioning responsible for cooling the air in the system.
However, sometimes the refrigerant levels may fall low due to leaks or improper charging, causing the AC to malfunction. In some cases, you may lose your entire AC system refrigerant.
Your Honda Fit AC may experience small leaks over time due to minor imperfections, hence the need to recharge it every few years.
If your system goes unserviced for many years, the refrigerant will eventually get too low that the AC loses its cooling capability.
Besides this normal loss, defective AC components may also lead to refrigerant loss. For instance, a defective sealing ring or a worn line or condenser damage by a stone chip may cause the gas to escape.
Solution: If your AC blows cold, have the refrigerant recharged. However, if the levels go down quickly again, you most probably have a leak.
To diagnose a leak, you’ll need to check the refrigerant levels by attaching an AC pressure gauge to the low-pressure service port. Next, turn on the engine and turn your AC to the max setting.
If the gauge reads too low or zero, you might be having a refrigerant leak and you’ll need to have it checked and repaired by a professional.
Check out this video on how to check your AC refrigerant level:
Video:
Clogged AC condenser
The condenser sits on the front part of your Honda Fit and is tasked with releasing heat from your AC refrigerant and into the ambient air.
Due to its position, this component tends to easily get dirty or clogged. Grime, dirt, bugs, and other smaller particles start building up on its surface as well as on the gaps between its mesh.
This restricts the condenser’s ability to release heat as only little amounts of air can pass through the mesh. The result is poor cooling in your vehicle cabin.
Sometimes, the condenser could be leaking, leading to the loss of your AC refrigerant and reduced cooling performance.
Solution: Inspect your vehicle’s AC condenser. If it looks dirty, you may first consider cleaning it to see if it will help improve its performance.
Consider using a power washer set to low pressure to avoid damaging your condenser’s delicate fins.
If you suspect your condenser is leaking, have it inspected by a qualified mechanic and repaired or replaced as necessary.
Dirty cabin air filter
The cabin air filter is a crucial component of your Honda Fit ventilation system. However, this component becomes dirty with time.
And this causes your Ac interior to deteriorate, resulting in reduced cooling, airflow, and heating.
If your AC system issue involves reduced cooling, then this is most probably the culprit.
Too much dirt also puts unnecessary strain on your AC system and makes it work harder. This can negatively impact your fuel consumption.
Solution: Inspect your cabin air filter condition. If it looks dirty, consider first cleaning it to see if its performance will improve.
You can use a vacuum cleaner or compressed air system for the best results.
However, this cleaning method will only remove the larger part of visible dirt particles. This cleanup procedure doesn’t allow accessing the deeper layers of the filter.
Therefore, you may not notice significant filter performance after the cleanup. Depending on the condition of your cabin filter, you may also consider replacing it with a new one.
Replacing the filter is an easy DIY process that you can do on your own as explained in the video below:
Video:
To prevent a dirty cabin from causing you trouble in the first place, we advise you to change it on time, as per the manufacturer’s recommendations (usually after every 10,000 to 20,000 miles).
If you usually drive your vehicle in a dusty/polluted environment, your filer may get dirt even sooner than the manufacturer’s recommendation.
Clogged evaporator
A dirty or clogged evaporator may also cause your Honda Fit air conditioning to stop working.
While the cabin air filter tries to capture most of the dirt and other airborne particles, some will always escape and get to the evaporator.
With time, these particles can build on the fins, blocking airflow through your evaporator and causing poor cooling.
The most common symptoms of a clogged evaporator include a moldy smell inside your vehicle and non-smooth airflow from the vents.
Solution: The evaporator should be cleared to see if the AC will start functioning perfectly again.
However, the cleanup isn’t an easy process. You’ll need to remove the entire dashboard to get to it. So, you may want to get a professional to do it for you.
Defective blower motor
If you notice reduced airflow or no airflow at all in your Honda fit vents, then you may be having a defective blower motor. If this motor is weakened or worn out, it may also produce strange noises when it’s running.
Solution: A bad blower motor can’t be repaired, so the best fix here is to replace it with a new one. If you install a new motor and it fails shortly after, you’d first want to check if you have a blown fuse.
Bad blend door actuator
The work of the blend door actuator is to control temperature and airflow in your Honda Fit. Thus, if you are experiencing issues with airflow or temperature, then the actuator could have gone bad.
The most telltale sign of a faulty blend door actuator is a knocking sound, which starts when you turn on your car’s AC system. Other symptoms to look out for include clicking sound, inconsistent airflow, temporary wrong temperature, etc.
Solution: Have your blend door actuator inspected and replaced if necessary by a qualified Honda technician. Fixing this component will help ensure even airflow and temperatures in all corners of your vehicle cabin.
Malfunctioning pressure switches
Another likely culprit making your Honda Fit air conditioning system malfunction is a malfunctioning pressure switch. These components are simply safety switches mounted on the low and high sides of your vehicle AC.
They help monitor refrigerant pressure on their respective sides—they turn off when they detect pressure faults to prevent damage to your AC compressor and other components.
When these switches begin failing, they will display several symptoms such as the inability to cool your car, the compressor failing to come on, and the AC system rapidly cutting on and off.
Solution: If you suspect a malfunctioning pressure switch, we advise you to address the issue immediately. This is important given that this component plays a critical role in promoting the proper functioning of your AC system.
Have the switches diagnosed by a professional Honda technician and replace them as necessary to revive your AC system.
Electrical issues
A variety of electrical issues in your Honda Fit air conditioning system may also disable it as they disrupt power flow or control to the system.
Some of the common electrical issues include faulty wiring, malfunctioning switches, damaged relays, or even blown fuses.
Solution: Diagnosing electrical issues in your Honda Fit AC system may be challenging as they may require specialized tools and expertise.
Therefore, we advise you to seek help from a certified Honda mechanic. They’ll be able to diagnose and identify any electrical faults in your system.
They’ll then perform the necessary repairs or replacements to restore your AC system to its proper working condition.
We found this video explaining how fuses and relays may cause AC malfunctioning in Honda Fit:
Video:
FAQs:
Your Honda Fit AC not blowing hot air could be caused by low refrigerant levels, a malfunctioning compressor clutch, a leak, or even a blown fuse. Have your vehicle diagnosed to find the exact culprit and resolve it.
If your Honda Fit AC light is not working, check if the related fuse is blown. There could also be an issue with the light bulb itself or a faulty AC control switch.
Conclusion
Many different factors can contribute to your Honda Fit AC system malfunctioning. Some of the most common culprits to consider when this happens include a faulty AC compressor, low refrigerant levels, a dirty cabin air filter, clogged AC connectors, or a defective blower motor. A faulty blend door actuator or electrical issues may also cause AC issues.
Each of these potential causes will require a specific approach to diagnose and fix them accurately. In the above guide, we have discussed the necessary troubleshooting tips to consider in case. Hopefully, these tips will help you easily find the root cause of your AC issue and fix it to restore your AC system.
