Don't get air conditioning if you buy an 8th Generation.

I'm glad mine has good windows and a sliding sunroof, I'm gonna need all the air circulation I can get on hot humid days this summer, and for the duration of ownership.

Compressor is shot after 28 months(48,000 miles). I have used it maybe a dozen times
Stupid location for it, vunerable to anything that can find it's way into the engine compartment. like a FRIGGIN' rock.

Not covered by Honda(of course), and also not covered by that waste of money 6 year extended warranty. I can buy alot of boat gas with $740.

Rant Over.

I'd be hot pissed off too. Dealer was no help?

No help from Honda, or the dealer. I'm screwed. Sheet happens I guess. Honda is well aware of the problem, but could care less.

I'm thinking of just haveing the compressor removed altogether.
Might get .135 mpg better with the weight savings.

Even thought of dumping the car, and not tell about the compressor. I'd like to dump it on some Honda engineer's desk.

Did you have the recall work done?

Yep. Air Bag and Accelerator Pedal. No others applied to my car. All work done by the dealer.

It a rock hit it will the insurance company cover it, like a window?

Nope. Same thing to the insurance nazi's as running over glass and you get a flat. They won't replace the tire.

Honda makes good cars, but the myth that asian cars are superior to American cars, is just that. One of my employees loves his Honda Civic, but admits that he needed less maintenance/repairs with his Pontiac Sunfire. It does not matter what make it is, it is subject to the laws of mass production.

I sympathize with your mishap. My wife's Dodge had a thrown piece of gravel take a weird bounce and hit the cooler coil, losing all the freon. All we got under warranty was a price for replacement.

That's a very good question Patrick. The intent of an auto policy isn't to cover something like that, but it may indeed fall into an area that is not specifically excluded.
But it would have to be proven that the entire failure is a result of the rock.

Capn, I am sure there must be something you did wrong here. Hondas are perfect and they don't break for any reason. They do not have design flaws. Honda (and Toyota) stand behind their products unlike GM and Ford. So this can't be their fault.

OK, sarcasm off, if this was a GM this thread would already be at the point where the original poster and 5 others were swearing off all domestic brands, cause they are junk. I guess your Honda isn't as great as people think. I just happen to not be one of those people.

I am also stunned that you bought an extended warranty. On a Honda, no less. On a Chrsler, sure, but a Honda??? And as you now know, extended warranties are only good for the guy selling them.

Yep Billy, that good old extended warranty is costing me a whole .58 cents per
month added to my monthly payment. I guess that would have been better spent calling my dad and asking him for advice.

I figured this thread would be good cannon fodder for many on this board. Proving to be true.

Fire away.

This day and age, I am a big fan of factory backed extended warranties. $1500 (and I know, you paid less than that Capn) doesn't go very far anymore when repairing a car. But when the dealer says it was a stone, and the insurance says it was a factory problem, what are you going to do?? No one likes to own up to responsibilities anymore.
Good luck with that, Capn. If I lived closer, i'd help you change it.

I'm a little puzzled by the cause of the compressor failure. Are you saying the compressor failed because it was struck by a rock, and that its location makes it susceptible to same? No sarcasm or other wit intended, just a question.

Well, I already did fire away, but I didn't use the fancy emoticon thingy, so here goes:

People who trash domestic manufacturers, then buy Japanese cars, have problems with them, but won't bash them the same way.

To your credit Capn, you admit that Honda sucked in this aspect and really let you down. For that I commend you. Sure makes a Chevrolet Cobalt look more attractive, doesn't it? Oh and BTW, my 4 year old Impala with 112k miles has never been recalled at all, nor had any failures. Other than warping rear rotors (partly my fault) the car has been trouble free, and only cost 21k new.

Yes, and Yes.

Capn, the rock striking your car as you ran over it, should be a covered collision loss.

That really stinks

I'll probably get jumped on for this, but I don't understand why you're so angry at Honda.

You're out of warranty, right? (Assume it's 36/36). What if a rock damaged a headlight assy, or the windshield, or the radiator? No mfg. can "accident-proof" a vehicle.

Would you fault Goodyear if you ran over a nail?

Don't auto warranties (mfgr or otherwise) cover "failed" components, vs driving hazards? IDK?

Believe me, I'd be disappointed too, but I fail to see how this is the mfgr's fault.

" Sure makes a Chevrolet Cobalt look more attractive, doesn't it?"

Not at all. I drove one that our son was looking at last month, not impressed with it at all. The engine is noisy and not smooth , the manual shift was better in my 1975 Civic than this thing. I would never buy one. But I will concede that the air conditioner was nice.

Hey Phil, thanks for proving my point about Japanese Kool-Aid drinkers. Any manufacturer that designs a car that a regular rock (on alomst every road in this country) can strike and ruin a mechanical component should be BLASTED for inept engineering.

A car without an A/C isn't worth much. Funny you mention the shifting of a Cobalt. I think their transmissions are Japanese designed and manufactured!

Capn, if you haven't already, contact your insurance agent.

Philr, I am angry that it happened, NOT at Honda or my dealer.I realize Honda has no reason to repair it. I do not expect them to. I am however disapointed in the design and location of the compressor, which is obviously in a vulnerable location.

As usual, I try to post something, and I screw up wording and it never comes out like I planned.

Thanks

I'll sell you my 6th generation Civic but it is due for a timing belt soon.

Not sure what is involved with the replacement of the parts on my car. I read the service paperwork, and it says "System had no charge in it,evacuate system pressure would rise slowly indicating a leak. Added dye to system and .5 lbs. of refrigerent, ran for 15 min. checked with black light has hole in CONDENSER "

The tech told me compressor over the phone. I found OEM condenser's on line for as low as $95. I guess I need to find out how much of a pain it is to replace it, and if it needs anything else besides the condenser and refigerent. Then shop around for a better price. Dealer price on the 80102SVAA11 condenser was $216.61.

Condenser shouldn't be too bad. They typically have a flare connection. Getting under there to do it....

You are right WM. Not too hard to do. I found this DIY on a HondaTech site:

Have to remove the front bumper, 4 clips hold the bumper on, 2 10mm retaining bolts, and 2 10mm retaining bolts for the a/c pipe. Remove and replace condenser, fit the two A/C pipes to the condenser as square as possible. Have to be careful not to damage the seals when re-fitting. Then re-charge the system.

The entire system has to be completely empty before removing the A/C pipes. Do you think it is already empty since the dealer did his check ?

If he put 0.5# in it, there is probably still some residual.

More importantly, you will need to pull a vacuum on the system to get out all the air and moisture. Make sure you get refrigerant with oil, you've probably about bled the thing dry running it out.

I will not attempt this myself. I am no mechanic for sure. But, I at least now know what is involved, and can check with a buddy who has always worked on my import cars in the past. He will be much more reasonable than the dealer, and has the right equipment to do it. Dozens of posts on the Honda forum about punctured condensors. Dealer fix was anywhere from $700 to $1200. I think I can do better elsewhere. Thanks.

Capn:

Perhaps your buddy can fashion some sort of a shield so you won't re-visit this issue down the road sometime.

I thought of that too. Might be a possibility.

Probably doesn"t need to be much. Maybe just a piece of plastic, if the area isn't too hot, to absorb the impact.

The aluminum on the condenser is so thin/cheap, that a pea size pebble will damage it. It's right at the bottom of the front bumper, about 4 inches off the pavement. Just about anything would protect it better than it is now.

Disappointing, as I said earlier, that Honda has not come up with a fix for this, since it is a common and known problem.