The A/C system on the Gen 5 is "different". Dare I say that you can't actually turn it off. It will run automatically as needed to maintain the set temp reading.

 

Unless you go into the climate panel and set it to off, it will always run, but at a low power when not needed for cooling.

 

I've wondered about this. When I push the CLIMATE button, the display shows two buttons for Air Conditioning - ON and OFF. If I tap one of the buttons, then it highlights to show the A/C state, but initially neither button is highlighted. What does that mean? Is the A/C on or off when neither is selected???

Also, is the A/C compressor is driven directly by the ICE, or is it electrically operated?

 

Run your climate control system on Auto mode, set your desired temperature and then forget about it entirely.... other than to check periodically that the system remains in Auto (it can get turned off if the Auto button is pushed by accident when in the cabin).

The climate control system will run the AC as required to maintain proper temperature in the cabin as well as keep the glass clear. It does a better job than fiddling with the controls manually, and Honda is pretty efficient about how it uses AC and when, so the burden on the AC is fairly well managed, so fuel economy will not take a big hit in most cases.

 

Thanks for all of the info. My last car was a 2006 Camry. A lot of new technology since then. Back then the AC compressor ran off the drive belt and you felt when it came on. Now a lot of accessories run off motors instead of the main drive belt.

 

i know one thing...i can't "feel the compressor" coming on or off at all....but i know its working in the background...

 

When you say the compressor is run electrically, is that just for the Hybrid?

 

If a lot of people start doing their own maintenance & repairs (with the service/shop manuals & other info sources) what happens to the profit margin of the dealerships? I use whatever affordable resource that I can to find the information necessary to make difficult repairs. Without a paid online automotive service prescription ($$$) it is getting harder to locate that nugget of info that will point you in the right direction. Let's not forget the price of a good scan tool, looking up TSBs, printing out wiring diagrams, the occasional special tool, looking up part numbers... This is all by design. You either "pay the piper" or you spend some time doing your own research. Fortunately there are still some of us out there that are willing to do what it takes to do our own repairs (because we then know it was done right). High-five Mr. Gizmos!

 

Are we at the point where only engineers or the dealships can repair our cars? The replacement of parts is easy enough, we just need the manufacturer's information to help us troubleshoot the problem. You state: "Fact is, much of what can be serviced or repaired on a modern Honda actually requires much more than just access to the service documents." Oil changes, brake jobs, replacing sensors, serpentine belts & tensioners, changing tranny fluid & anti-freeze, replacing filters, PCV valves, spark plugs, coils, hoses, light bulbs, alternators, starters, & the list goes on. These service & repair items are all within the capabilities of a experienced DIYer. That is part of the reason why this forum exists.

 

Routine periodic service and fluid changes are well within the realm of the home DIY person, and likely will stay that way for some time to come. That is not what I am referring to. Same goes for basic diagnositics and repair like changing out a belt, or an alternator, or a battery, etc.

It is the non-routine repairs where the challenge is outpacing the DIYer ability to continue to self-maintain everything about their vehicle. The only thing that helps this at all is the fact that more and more components on modern vehicles are field replaceable units only. Which in theory makes it easy for a DIYer to deal with more complex issues. Problem is, you often need access to expensive diagnostic equipment to know which offending component or module or sensor actually needs to be replaced. It is economically non-feasible to simply start swapping out suspect parts or modules on speculation, given the high cost of components and modules now days, and it will only get worse.

Yes, as a community we get to leverage each other on tips, troubleshooting, and ideas regarding service, repair, or modification of our CRVs. But when major components become multi-hour field replaceable units only, that require specialized diagnostic equipment to isolate and replace... you are well out of the reach of most CRV owners.

We all love the modern features, function, and convenience of our modern motor vehicles. But it comes at the price of complexity to maintain and repair. Happily, even though a modern gen5 CRV is close to an order of magnitude more complex in design and features compared to say a Gen3 CRV, it remains roughly just as reliable in terms of mean time/miles between repair needs.

 

I think that we have reached an impasse here. It has strayed from the original post. Maybe time to lock it up?

 

Agreed. This is done. Cheers.

 

For the benefit of anyone who comes across this thread doing a search, the AC compressor in a GEN 5 CRV HYBRID is electrically powered. The ICE or NON-Hybrid GEN 5 CRVs have an AC compressor that is run by a belt.