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Honda Accord (2008-) Maintenance and Repair

1122 messages,  Last post on Nov 20, 2009 at 8:31 PM

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What is this discussion about? Honda Accord, Sedan


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#522 of 1122
Re: Headlights Dim with A/C Condenser ON [rich505] by macsan
Jul 05, 2008 (7:29 pm)
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Replying to: rich505 (Jul 05, 2008 4:49 pm)

The thing that comes on and off is the electric condenser fan motor. When the car is travelling a bit up to highway speeds, the system doesn't call for the a/c condenser fan motor to kick in that much. It kicks in more at stop lights since there is no air moving through the coils to cool the condenser. The air flow turns the hot gas back into a liquid. That in turn gets sent back to the evaporator to cool the interior again. Thats why the lights "flicker a bit at night with the A/C on and parked and idling. You can see it kicking on and off with the hood up-its next to another fan motor-the engine coolant radiator fan motor. I hope that helps. MAC
#523 of 1122
Re: Headlights Dim with A/C Condenser ON [rich505] by ljgbjg
Jul 06, 2008 (2:55 am)
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Replying to: rich505 (Jul 05, 2008 4:49 pm)

Please do no attribute inacurate statements to me. I never said the condenser goes on and off, nor did the person to whom I was replying - there are only two things that could go on and off with the AC - the compressor (through the clutch mechanism) and the condenser fan. SOMETHING is causing a major power draw that the electrical system seems inadequate to handle, but the flickering is endemic - the majority if not all 2008 I4s have the problem.
#524 of 1122
Re: Headlights Dim with A/C Condenser ON [ljgbjg] by rich505
Jul 06, 2008 (5:58 am)
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Replying to: ljgbjg (Jul 06, 2008 2:55 am)

Sorry about the placing of the post. This was my first post on Edmonds CarSpace and it was directed at the person who made the original statement about the condenser going on and off.
 
I absolutely agree with you regarding the problem. I had one of the first 84 Accords that was made in Ohio. I had a similar problem with the headlights dimming when the A/C came on. It also had a problem with the idle dropping too low sometimes. It was in the days before fuel injection and I had to set the idle to 1000 RPM from the normal 750 to keep the engine from almost dying.
 
I was in the process of buying a new car and had driven the 2008 I4 Accord and the 2009 I4 and V6 Camry.
 
Honda's solution to the idle dropping problem was to leave the A/C turned on so the fast idle kick up was working all the time. Of course I took delivery of this car in December 1983 so running the A/C in the winter wasn't a good solution.
 
It has to be one of several possible causes:
 
1. The compressor clutch is momentarily drawing more power than the system can provide or the startup load of the compressor is very high.
 
2. The clutch relay or wiring is too small to carry the startup current draw.
 
3. The load is so high at clutch turn on that the engine cannot provide enough power to the alternator. You would think the battery could provide enough reserve.
 
Does the problem happen with both the 177 and 190HP 4-cylinder engines?
Does it happen with the V6?
Do the lights dim significantly with the engine and the key in the On position?
#525 of 1122
Re: Headlights Dim with A/C Condenser ON [rich505] by dpmeersman
Jul 06, 2008 (6:03 am)
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Replying to: rich505 (Jul 06, 2008 5:58 am)

I have not had this issue with my V6 nor do I remember any other V6 poster experiencing this problem.
#526 of 1122
Re: Headlights Dim with A/C Condenser ON [dpmeersman] by ljgbjg
Jul 06, 2008 (6:42 am)
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Replying to: dpmeersman (Jul 06, 2008 6:03 am)

I agree.
#529 of 1122
Re: Headlights Dim with A/C Condenser ON [macsan] by rich505
Jul 06, 2008 (1:25 pm)
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Replying to: macsan (Jul 05, 2008 7:29 pm)

The A/C compressor cycles on and off as well. I thought the problem was the lights dimming when the compressor kicks on, not the A/C condenser cooling fan. But that is an interesting possibility.
 
This is off-topic but in 1994 the V6 Camry employed hydraulically operated A/C condenser cooling fans using the cooling system water/antifreeze.
#530 of 1122
Re: Headlights Dim with A/C Condenser ON [rich505] by elroy5
Jul 06, 2008 (4:13 pm)
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Replying to: rich505 (Jul 06, 2008 1:25 pm)

There is a lengthy thread on another forum about the headlight dimming issue. From what I've read, only the 08 4 cylinder Accord does it. Some say it is the ELD (Electric Load Detector), which is located in the under hood fuse box. The ELD would be my guess for the cause. The techs say that "all Accords do this, and it is normal", but there are many 08 (4cyl) Accord owners who disagree.
#531 of 1122
Re: Headlights Dim with A/C Condenser ON [elroy5] by rich505
Jul 06, 2008 (5:00 pm)
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Replying to: elroy5 (Jul 06, 2008 4:13 pm)

Very interesting! You are the first person, I think, to mention the ELD. Is it: a) not working; b) is working as designed; c) or the engine management system A/C idle-up can't respond quick enough when the compressor kicks on?
 
I had issues with my 84 Accord which was one of the first made in Ohio and was pre-fuel injection days. The idle speed when set at the 750 spec would drop down almost to the stall point. Honda's cure was to keep the A/C on so the A/C idle-up kicked in. I adjusted the idle speed to 1000 (ah the days of carburetors).

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