Problem with AC in 2004

[RMoritsugu]

I was driving home last month with the AC on when it started making a funky noise like a bearing went out. Immediately turned the AC off and dropped the car off at the Honda service outlet I've been going to for the past 22 years. I had purchased the extended warranty from another dealer the prior month just before the odometer rolled over to 30,000 miles. Turned out the warranty paid for itself almost 3 times over when word came back on what was wrong with the AC. Service Manager told me they had to replace the entire system, compressor, dryer, etc., at a total cost of nearly $3,000! He'd heard they've been having some problems with the AC unit in that model year. Whatever the case, they replaced everything under the warranty at no additional cost to me and covered two days of rental car to boot! Knock on wood.

[2RedV's]

I was driving home last month with the AC on when it started making a funky noise like a bearing went out. Immediately turned the AC off and dropped the car off at the Honda service outlet I've been going to for the past 22 years. I had purchased the extended warranty from another dealer the prior month just before the odometer rolled over to 30,000 miles. Turned out the warranty paid for itself almost 3 times over when word came back on what was wrong with the AC. Service Manager told me they had to replace the entire system, compressor, dryer, etc., at a total cost of nearly $3,000! He'd heard they've been having some problems with the AC unit in that model year. Whatever the case, they replaced everything under the warranty at no additional cost to me and covered two days of rental car to boot! Knock on wood.Welcome to the forum!

There have been a number of people with 2002-2004's having AC issues. SEARCH this forum and others.

Basically, the compressor is exploding internally which sends pieces of metal throughout the rest of the system. The lines, evaporator, condensor, etc. all need to be replaced because of the metal shrapnel that is present. Most dealers are telling the customers that the cost would have been around $1500. The current word is that there is a new, revised compressor out.

In any event, many people are getting the entire system replaced, for FREE, out of warranty, after they call Honda Corporate and open a case. Although it is quite disappointing to have this happening to begin with, I am heartened that Honda does a much better job at "goodwill" than other vehicle manufacturers.

[RMoritsugu]

Welcome to the forum!

There have been a number of people with 2002-2004's having AC issues. SEARCH this forum and others.

Basically, the compressor is exploding internally which sends pieces of metal throughout the rest of the system. The lines, evaporator, condensor, etc. all need to be replaced because of the metal shrapnel that is present. Most dealers are telling the customers that the cost would have been around $1500. The current word is that there is a new, revised compressor out.

In any event, many people are getting the entire system replaced, for FREE, out of warranty, after they call Honda Corporate and open a case. Although it is quite disappointing to have this happening to begin with, I am heartened that Honda does a much better job at "goodwill" than other vehicle manufacturers.

Thanks for the info! I'll check with the Service Manager to see if the replacement was with the new, revised compressor. They had to fly everything in so I'm hoping it was with the new parts. Was hoping I wouldn't have to be replacing the entire system every 30,000 miles.

[cyb3rllama]

My first post, glad I found a CR-V forum! I just got back from my dealer in Roswell, GA.

The A/C went out last week without any prior symptoms and the description the deal gave was exactly what was described above: the freon and oil mixture leaked out, the compressor self-destructed and spread shrapnel through the entire system.

The price quoted was over $3000 and would involve replacing the entire system. We bought the car certified used from a Honda dealer and always took it to Honda dealers for service. It's a 2002 and has a little over 90k on it.

My current dealer, Honda Carland in Roswell, GA, is taking the issue up with Honda Corp to see if they can help us out.

Does anyone here have experience getting A/C replacement help with older CR-V's?

[2RedV's]

My first post, glad I found a CR-V forum! I just got back from my dealer in Roswell, GA.

The A/C went out last week without any prior symptoms and the description the deal gave was exactly what was described above: the freon and oil mixture leaked out, the compressor self-destructed and spread shrapnel through the entire system.

The price quoted was over $3000 and would involve replacing the entire system. We bought the car certified used from a Honda dealer and always took it to Honda dealers for service. It's a 2002 and has a little over 90k on it.

My current dealer, Honda Carland in Roswell, GA, is taking the issue up with Honda Corp to see if they can help us out.

Does anyone here have experience getting A/C replacement help with older CR-V's?

Search around on the forum a little. MOST (not all) people with the issue have had the entire system replaced, for free or close to it.

DO NOT let the dealer do the phone call "for you". Unscrupulous dealers will claim they called Honda, got a "deal for you" for 1/2 price and in reality Honda agreed to full price (or close to it). The dealer gets paid from Honda and double dips you for the rest of the "special deal" they made for you.

Call Honda Corporate ASAP, yourself and open a claim. Be polite and mention your loyalty to Honda over the years, how many Hondas you have owned and that you are disappointed that such a major item would fail prematurely on a Honda.


Since you bought it as Honda Certified, that should help out as well.

[cyb3rllama]

Great, thanks for the info!

The dealer is making the call and has requested service records from my previous dealer where I had the vehicle serviced. The dealer said they were going to do everything they could to get Honda to help out.

Based on the advice above, if they come back with anything other than no charge or close to it I'll take the issue up with Honda directly and give them details about the dealer's offer. I have found that often car corporations want to know when dealers are taking unfair advantage of the system.

I'm not getting any work done until I fully explored my options.

[jpnut]

Update or dead?

[cyb3rllama]

Honda Corp covered 50%, the total was about $1500. I took it by an independent mechanic and he said that he would have to get the parts from the dealer anyway, so might as well have them fix it. Turned out to be not a bad deal considering it's a 2002 w/ over 100K.

[jpnut]

I will call Honda Corp soon, what information should I have ready, I have never done this before. Thanks for the reply!

[thud105]

The same thing happen with my 03 CR-V. 1-year ago I Called Honda of America, opened a goodwill warranty case, went through 15 different supervisors, raised all hell when I needed to, and in the end........got NOTHING! It's defiantly a design flaw in the CR-V, and it only cost me $1400 to repair. Don't expect anyone to pay for this problem except yourself. Maybe Honda paid some people out of warranty a couple of years ago, but now the problem is so old it's a "used car" problem. By the way, the a/c in my old 93 accord worked great until it was totaled in an accident 2 years ago. I know Honda can make a better a/c compressor than what's in the CR-V!!!

[Black Pearl]

Sorry to hear your goodwill case was denied. We have had other people post that Honda did cover at least part of the repair. I think it is still worth a try, but you are right, when a problem become to common and as the model years recede, the generosity wanes.

Welcome to the club and we hope to hear more from you.