Honda Pilot - Intermittent A/C
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- Come along in this video as I diagnose and repair this 2009 Honda Pilot that has an intermittent problem with the A/C compressor clutch . It doesn't want to engage so lets find out what the heck is happening.
More about relays: • VEHICLE RELAYS - Opera...
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not South Main Auto Repair.
I don't really need a diagnostic tool, I can watch videos and I 'll get the idea what the problem is. Thank I watch your videos and I think you are a great dude.
Watched WUW and a viewer asked if you or your employee was ase certified, reminded me of my sawmill days here in Oregon and this millwright that worked there had a 6th grade education. Sharpest man I have ever known when it came to anything mechanical or everyday life, I sure miss his wisdom.
Excellent work diagnosing this issue using logic and dogged determination and never giving up. Great video tutorial for those of us with similar issued . Thanks
I bet your customers feel so justified watching this. Its a prime example of crap not working, right up until the car see's a pro, gets scared and decides to run flawless.
Great info on relays!
Keep em coming!
+Darren G. That is the truth my friend.
Just like the proverbial TV repair man, it always works great when he's looking at it❗
Step aside,the doctor's in the house! Proper diagnostic,proper mindset,proper tools,proper outcome and a proper video.:)) Thanks Dr. O!
Great video ! I really like the way you diagnose things to make sure what the problem is. That is the difference between a real technician and a parts changer.
Recently stumbled on to your channel and I have to compliment you on your approach and delivery! You always seem to be willing to go the extra mile to help your customers even though you would make more money by throwing parts you will readily explore safe, competent fixes from other angles. I am referring to the viscous coupler video in which you could have changed the $1400 part added on your labor costs and sent them down the road. Instead you performed an completely satisfactory repair and at the same time saving your customer hundreds of dollars. Another example was the Ford with the bad PCM that you repaired with a used PCM and then, other than the charge for the Dealership to flash the unit, your labor and the cost of the used part were what fixed that vehicle.
I don't necessarily advocate used part repairs but sometimes they are worth considering as viable options. I bet you have a very loyal customer base. Honest technicians such as yourself are rare these days.
I, myself earn my living as a Heavy Jet Aircraft Maintenance Type which is a very time sensitive, high pressure environment with regards to maintaining airworthiness using the ability to diagnose problems quickly, correctly and then make the necessary repairs in a minimum of time to get the aircraft back in the air where it belongs. But when it comes to my vehicles I sometimes need help and that is how I found your channel. "One - Two - Barbecue!"
Please continue to create and release your content it is valuable to many of us! THANKS!
Happy Dead Bird Day! (Thanksgiving)
I just want to thank you so much. I hate going to the dealer to get ripped off, so your video saved me a whole lot of money and taught me a good lesson about relays on my ac which had the same condition you show here. Thanks again and I will keep watching your videos. Good mechanics are all over the place but great mechanics that care about their customers are 1 in a million. Thanks, your one of the great ones for helping us out. Take care and good health.
Great work! You're a very thorough mechanic. I'm glad there are still a few of us left
+PWRSTR0KER2008 thanks
Thank you for a wonderful video. My Tundra A/C clutch seized for three yrs and I was too cheap to replace it but until now after watching your video I put a long screwdriver to the clutch and smacked it 3x and it came loose and now it works. Makes a little noise but who cares. I got ac again!!!! Heck yeah. Nice video!
It is interesting that you spend that much time confirming the diagnosis. As a DIYer I would pop in a relay drive down the road, and see if it fixed ,it. It gives me and appreciation for how much more you have to go though to make sure you have the proper diagnosis when your reputation is on the line. As DIYers we can get by with a little parts swapping now and then.
Found your channel not long ago, informative and fun to watch! You have a very apparent talent to communicate detailed repairs along with a sense of humour. Keep it up, it's very refreshing😀.
+G Watson Thanks G
Jorge Rodriguez. Power train Control Module
G watsok cuuute face typed!!!
Really like your attitude toward being right,and not just throwing parts at it. I'm retired now but was a consumer electronics tech and I was the same way....I still repair my own vehicles and love what I have learned from both you and Eric the car guy. Thanks for all you do
Great job as usual, Eric. I hate intermittent problems. I could stare at the compressor clutch for 2 hours and it would work perfect until I turned my back and then stop. As soon as I look again it would start working. I usually play peek-a-boo all day long and then change the damn relay.
+wysetech2000 Mine would stop when I turned the camera off then start when I turned it on... go figure lol.
Eric, I just found you. Was having the same problem on our 2007 Ridgeline. Problems solved, thanks to you, and my wife can't believe that "I" was able to fix it. She now thinks I'm "Scotty" on the ENTERPRISE--The Miracle Worker!
Thank you.
An honest business man with a kind heart...
Your honesty shines thru again Eric.
+1954BJohn Integrity cannot be bought at any price
I wish more mechanics would be like him.most of them are angry people that should not be in these business.very hard to find honest mechanics.
Tuned in for the Honda a/c diag, stayed just for the "shackles on a rotted-out Ranger" comedic interlude. Classic stuff. :D
Good diagnosis Eric! I agree never trow a part till you are a 100% confident!
I have a 2009 Odyssey and was having the same issues. Looked at the major things you pointed out with the compressor clutch not engaging and located the relay. Tapped the relay and the clutch engaged...shortly after driving it quit again...tapped again to make sure it wasnt a coincidence and it came back on....replaced the relay for about 7 bucks and my air is back. Thanks for the huge savings.
I've been watching your channel since you started but this is my first comment .As a mechanic myself I appreciate watching quality honest work. Working at the Honda dealer we saw this problem often. Also common cause for parasitic draw. Great job great videos, keep em' coming!!
+Aaron Randles Cool! I have seen them come in like you say and they are stuck on. pretty obvious when you go to jump start it and first thing you hear is the clutch slam closed! Seen that a time or 2 myself :)
That pickup is about ready for the crusher! Great video.
+N Smith 5 years ago lol
Had a friends 07 civic EX that was experience the same issues. Originally she complained that it took a long time for the AC to get cold but after digging a little more she said most times it took a long time but sometimes it worked quickly. Found it was the relay, the contacts were burnt in almost the same fashion. New relay, and fix.
Great video!
Thanks for the class Professor O. Always a learning experience.
I think your tutorials are awesome I binged watched all last night. Peter Melbourne Australia
Nice vid Eric on the diagnostics. One thing that you can do with relays is to check the voltage drop across the relay contact with a DVOM. When the relay is energized with the clutch running, you'll probably see a high voltage drop across the relay contact. And of course as you know, the closer to 0V, the better the contact. Looking back at the wiring diagram, it was a little surprising not to see a diode across the clutch winding. Without that component, the high voltage kick when the clutch turns off would jump across the relay contact which would eventually weld them shut. A diode across the clutch winding or a snubber across the relay contact would make the relay last for a long time. And looking at the inside of the relay, there was a resistor, which looked like 1100 Ohms to suppress the kick from the coil when it turns off, yet it wasn't shown on the diagram. Who knows, maybe there is a diode across the clutch winding...
+stuzman52 Could we put a scope on it and see what kind of noise it has when it kicks off?
+South Main Auto Repair Sure thing Eric...Just be sure to crank your voltage level up high until you know what the voltage spike will be. If there isn't any suppression across the clutch winding, it could be a couple hundred volts.
Holy smokes! That car comes in for normal oil changes. When I see it again I will check that and report back.
Thanks Eric as that test might be an interesting find...
Good to watch the old video with josh in the back ground before OL' Nasty came along and the lil cricket that lived in the shop for awhile
Your videos are fantastic. I've enjoyed everyone so far. Thanks for doing them, even though you're costing me tool money!
+Toyota Tech Hey ya can't take it with ya!
+South Main Auto Repair
Very true! That said, my tools won't come with me either! On a serious note, I've had some great tool tips from you and I'm pleased with every purchase, my wife has a different view!
+Toyota Tech it is easier to ask forgiveness than it is permission ya know... my wife has just gotten use to it lol
Thanks to this video I was able to save may be thousand $. Just pulled out the relay and putted back. The a/c is cooling again. Thank you!
I'm glad I found this channel.You remind me a lot of me in the way we work and pride into fixing it right first visit. Also funny how you said these relays like to stick closed and kill the battery. I'm a Chrysler tech and just the other day I had a 2014 grand Cherokee in for battery draining over night and a/c quit blowing cold after 50 minutes of driving. some other dealer had put a battery in it and flashed the hvac module. Still had both symptoms. quick draw test led me to find a/c clutch relay staying on. relay was built in into the TIPM in these vehicles. h-valve froze up after staying engaged for so long. One part fixed both problems but vehicle was out of warranty and customer was not happy about the price of that TIPM!
Great Video Eric, Nice to be able to see the root cause of the problem when the relay was split open. That Ranger would have been an MOT failure over here with the amount of corrosion on the chassis. Some 0 -60 times before and after the stage 2 mod would have been fun :-)
+richard pearce HA No way! Brake lines looked like the frame!
Another great video, I have learned so much from your videos. I have had my autel scanner for about 4 years and I really like it. It is a pretty basic model but does have some live data and has help me trouble shoot a lot of problems. Keep the videos coming, Thanks Gary
I know this is an older video, but I wanted to thank you for this. I was having the same issue on my '05 Outback, car was doing the same thing, fans came on and engine RPM went up, but no clutch. Messed around with the relay and it would come on for a bit. Ended up being the relay, the exact same part number as this Pilot.
Great vid and great diagnosis...That's all part of the process nes pas!! Sure beats having to replace expensive parts and labour costs.!! Worth it to me.. Kudos. Eric
That's what I like know when I'm messing with my vehicles did I make the right call. You do excellent work Sir grateful you take time to make these videos to help folks understand the ends and outs of the how to and how not to do something. Great video 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
I have a 2015 Honda pilot with intermittent ac as well. It turns out that the freon was overfilled. The shop I brought it to brought the level back to green and presto I had cold air once again! Worth a check!
He is a very good mechanic and presenter.
Great Video. Relays are great until they have a problem, especially intermittents! You did right in testing it thoroughly!
Good closeup of relay contacts.
+Tom OConnor Thanks
Ever since watching SMA videos, every time I see 'Honda' it gets converted to 'Hondoo' in my head (usually raising a chuckle at the same time)
Oh, and that brake cleaner has become almost as versatile as WD-40.
Thanks man. Have an 08 Ridgeline that was doing the same thing. Went outside and grabbed the relay with a needle nose plied and when I wiggled it, click. Ran over to AutoZone and $8 later I have A/C. Nice!
Thank you very much for the video. I have a CRV 2010 and it had the same intermittent problem with the A/C compressor clutch Went around the same way you did and its fixed now. AC working again. I will be following you for future references. Thanks again.
Common issue as well as Toyota wich you can use the horn relay as a tester.Great vids,nice to see someone with talent!
+montefiveforty1 Thanks :)
Thanks for the video and your honesty, it speaks a lot about you...
Sister has a pilot. Ill be sure to buy a relay and put it on a shelf. Bad mechanics and their shady reputations keep you working hard. Keep up the quality work!
I had this exact intermittent A/C problem. My daughter's '09 Accord A/C worked perfectly when, I was troubleshooting in the driveway. When she drove, the A/C compressor would cut on and off. (The system was charged showing correct pressures.) There were numerous suspects for this behavior. I wrapped wires around the two vertical (clutch power) connectors on the relay (these connectors are closest to the engine and opposite the firewall). I ran the wires through the cowl (by the door) and hooked up a switch on top of the dashboard. I told my daughter to flip the switch "on" whenever she wanted to use the A/C. The A/C worked flawlessly. I disconnected the wires and replaced the relay. All is well now. This is a workaround/test, a shop would not be able to use.
Came here to troubleshoot my 02 CRV a/c intermittent compressor engaging. Stayed for the humor. You're funny. Sub'd.
great vid, cool to see the relay opened up...
Btw, I love watching the videos with Mrs. O. You guys rule!!
they had a tsb on 07 to 2010 the clutch burns out and sensor,i had to replace my clutch on my compressor.keep up the great work,i saw this video and checked the fuse but i wasnt that lucky .
Great video on troubleshooting the relay. I do the poor man's quick relay test by switching one relay with another non critical identical relay in the fuse box. The video did make me wonder if my Autoenginuity scanner software will enable me to trouble shoot the electrical switches for the a/c system. Need to check that out.
+Sandbag1300 oh got ya, yeah I am liking the new autel 908 so far.
I no this is a old video but I fixed a friends ac system by watching all your good videos a long story short was just a cooling fan relay thanks for the great videos
Had that same relay on a Pilot causing an intermittent battery draw of 3 amps found out after diagnosis these have some history of failure. I totally get the idea of staying on a problem until you can prove out a failure, I also subscribe to telling the customer what you suspect as well as other possibilities and let them make an informed decision or sell more diagnostic time.
I appreciate your logical approach to diagnosing the problem. I may have done the same or maybe, I would take a few short cuts. Consider, the arc welder. "Low" DC voltage and "high" DC current causes the welders stick to arc and melt. This is not so different than the switching action in an automobile relay. Given enough operations .... the relay will fail. If you suspect compressor clutch relay, try to swapping it with the horn relay. You might have a 2 minute fix. I enjoy your videos, Keep up the good work.
Whether it cars, appliances, or computers, the most difficult problem to diagnose is anything intermittent. This where experience can be priceless. A shady or lesser mechanic could've clobbered the poor customer for a compressor, A/C recharge, labor, and THEN threw in a $12.00 relay.
Thank you so much! Made look like a hero and master mechanic. Might get lucky .
weight reduction kit :-) good one. You always make me laugh. Thanks for all your awesome video's, keep it up.
+Ingvar Dirdal Stage 2!
love all your video segments , learn a lot of your video segment's
This man just saved me $800 because some Honda technician told me I had to replace my entire compressor system
Nice job as always Eric. I forget to tell you it's a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado with the shift problem.
2007 chevrolet silverado 6.0 liter
I am very disappointed that there was no brake cleaner! You could have cleaned the relay with some brake cleaner just because. I am obviously joking around but all in all a great, informative and honest video. Keep them coming. I am anxious for part 2 of the Corvette and the S-10 (hopefully there is part 2 for the S-10). I have a 1998 2.2L S-10 with the 5 speed NV1500 manual transmission. 133,XXX miles and still runs strong. Not going to win any races but is a good little truck. I wish GM still made them. sigh. Anyway keep on pushing videos out. I will watch any publication you release so you are guaranteed at least 1 video view. :) Almost salt season; cant wait!
+Jon Rushing Yep they both have part II and it is coming soon!
Excellent summary and diagnostic approach. I would have been under the car first, and would have taken longer to work my way back to the relay.
+spelunkerd I didn't wanna crawl on the ground lol so I started at the top :)
+spelunkerd Same here I would have started at the compressor clutch and would have taken me at least 5 minutes until I got to the relay. I don't have a relay test kit and I imagine most DIY'ers don't so I avoid relay testing unless absolutely necessary. I can test relays manually but not while running. Just a bit of feedback for you Eric to know the mindset of a DIYer compared to a tech. It's just a matter of not having all the tools at one's disposal.
+DJDevon3 Ahhh got ya, I have been in the shop my whole life so sometimes I loose sight of that stuff. thanks for sharing.
+spelunkerd Hey Dave! Nice to see you around again. Hope everything has been well for you.
+stuzman52 Great, too distracted to make any videos in a while. Hope to get back to it some day. Thanks, Terry.
"Stage II weight reduction kit" at 11:00. Hilarious.
Awesome repair! Simple repair! But where you earn your money is in the diagnosis.
Intermittent problems are the worst aren't they? They can and do drive you absolutely nuts sometimes.
Eric, you deserve all the cool tools.
Thank you for posting this. Was able to troubleshoot a relay issue with these steps.
I'd be so grateful just to be able to bring you my car. I haven't had a car with AC for about 10 years, I finally got enough money to buy myself an 06 accord and the AC doesn't work. Been to a few shops in South Florida but I just don't trust any of them and for the cost I can't afford the gamble. I'm just writing this cus I'm desperate, thanks for the videos
Eric: "...and right now it's broke again.."
Honda: "oh yea? Broke again? I'll show you 'broke again', You Liar!" *Click*
Eric: "and it just kicked on..."
Never fails, eh Eric? I shall call this car "The Temperamental Honda". I work in IT myself, but it gets me every time too. Computer misbehaves until the tech gets in and then it works normally. Gotta love it!
+Pete Gaytan III EXACTLY! Oh your car is dead along side the road, take it for a ride on a roll back and when you get to the shop it will start right up... 80% of the time lol
nice video , and I'm really impressed how clean you keep your shop.
I've had a 2011 Odyssey with a similar intermittent A/C issue.
The compressor would stay engaged for a while and would disengage after a few minutes.
It turned out to be the electromagnetic coil for the clutch being defective from factory and overheating.
This one was real tough...it had me waste an hour double and triple checking the relay and wiring
because I couldn't believe that a then-brand-new car had problem with the compressor...
especially since Honda kept using that same engine design from over 20 years ago!!
Anyway...for some reason the customer insisted we should have it fixed instead of handling it through warranty so we replaced A/C clutch+pulley assembly for him.
+movel3 Oh wow an't say I have ever seen that?!
Sir please make a video on how to service a/c system using manifold gauge from recovering freon,vacuum,inject oil and recharge a/c system.....thanks a lot sir I have learned a lot from your youtube channel
Similar issue happened with my wife's 09 Acura MDX. Relay's resistor fell off it's perch inside the relay. No A/C. I took it apart and found this as I could hear something rattiling inside. Honda updated the part number and is using a Mitsuba relay now instead of the Omron that was in it originally. Has been fine since, but the updated part cost about 3-4 times the original.
+Sam G Oh cool thanks for sharing that
It’s not just cars: broadcast equipment is similarly fickle, and magically behaves itself when someone calls me to check on it. As we like to say, “it’s only intermittent part of the time.”
When you’re dealing with a relay, a voltmeter is handier than just a test light: a pitted contact like that will typically show a low but non-zero voltage on the load side, and tapping on it will often make the voltage jump around a bit. And even when the compressor does kick in, you probably won’t see the full voltage it should be getting. That will also get the relay warmer than it would normally run.
Dude, I think u just saved my butt.. same exact issue on my pilot !!!
Thanks for the information...that makes it easy to understand!👍
Pretty loud cricket.
A male Cricket does that after sex
Male human does it too it's called snoring
Excellent video presentation and of course the troubleshooting! Thanks man it is very helpful.
"let me see if we can zoom in on this" TURNS INTO ELECTRON MICROSCOPE MODE
Man you took the word right out my mind.. WHY?? More rust than truck..It does pays the bills though..Your phone in the shop has the same exact tone mine does. I flinch every time I hear it thinking my phone is ringing. Not complaining.. Just noticing.. Take Care
+ItsAlwaysRusty it keeps ya on the edge of your seat lol
True mechanic.
SMA technical institute featuring Dr. O. What does the "O" stand for? OMG he's good at what he does!
+ManicMechanic007 Haha no just my polish last name lol
Oldie but a goodie 👍🏻👍🏻
Your such a good tech! I really dig your channel
Exactly what my 2009 Pilot just experienced
Glad the relay crapped out again and you are correct on the Ranger Why Bother LOL
Check the voltage drop across the relay contacts when working anything close to 300mv bad relay compare the voltage drop to a good relay as the contact resistance heats up failure time voltage drop goes up relay has complete failure relay cools back down it works the ultimate intermittent checking voltage drop at the
a/c clutch when working check voltage drop or substitute a load at the clutch connector to see if there is voltage drop across in the circuit
I have a question for you Eric. Where do you get all the service manuals and wiring diagrams for different vehicles? I only need them for two vehicles.
Does your new scan tool have a wireless connection with the car? Or am I just blind and not seeing the wire?
+Atrax R www.prodemand.com/ and yep it is Bluetooth actually to the car
South Main Auto Repair Oh man thanks, I appreciate it a lot!
Yea I thought it had a Bluetooth connection but wasn't sure. How is the response considering it's Bluetooth? Is it same as the wired connection?
yep just as good
Really dig your t-shirt Eric :-)
the teal blue relays next to them are omron relays made in japan. the black ones are more compact and made in usa. these usa omron relays keep sticking on all the hondas with this layout and the j series v6
i just subscribed...awesome mechanic...awesome videos...glad i found this channel....
Hi Eric I look forward to your opinion on the diagnostic tools. Interested in your comments about the scope on the Autel.Tam
+Tam Couch Mehhh it is OK at best but needs a lot of software...
I live in southern Arizona so very rarely do I see rust under a vehicle. I didn't know how good we have it here. Isn't there something you can spray on the under body to prevent that much rust?
what model autel is this your talking about i missed it. couldnt see the actual model.
Once you touch it, you own it forever.
+gary smith true story.
Another 100% fix. Good job and good videography(?). Keep up the good work. Stage 2 weight saving? ha ha
AWRS seems to get installed on all cars in your state at the moment... (Automatic Weight Reduction System, AKA Rust.)
+CMDR Sweeper Yeah and to think people pay for that in other states!
South Main Auto Repair Eric O come to think about it. I checked the code menu and seen the failed codes after being cleared. There was a maf/iat code. And I know they are both in the maf sensor
My wife has an 09 CR-V and the clutch won't disengage. I unplugged/plugged in the fuse and relay and the clutch operated properly for a minute or two and then stayed engaged even with the A/C turned completely off. WIth the relay removed, I can shake it and it makes a rattling sound like the old incandescent bulbs would when the filament was broken. I'll check it unplugged for a click when power is supplied and then for continuity at the same time. Any recommendations if the relay is good? Can a relay get stuck in the closed position?
I wish my 2008 Ram 3500 had an AC Clutch relay to check like this Honda. Of course that would be too easy. How much was that relay compared to a new TIPM I wonder? Thanks Dodge.
My AC clutch is engaging, but not cycling off....getting cold air while driving on the freeway, but after driving on a extremely hot day, around 120 degrees, it stops staying cool, never is ice cold. Condenser fan is working and freon is full. I'm wondering if it's the AC relay, or it could be the low pressure switch?? Please any ideas to help...I can't afford to take it to the shop.
nice fix eric does the autel have scope functions and if so could you do a video on that please I'm thinking of getting one if the scope works good thanks mike
+Michael Szweda Yes I bought the scope with it and showed it in the Corvette video.