2008 Odyssey AC Failure
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2008 Odyssey AC Failure
I'll post this here in case anyone ever runs into a similar problem with an odyssey, perhaps a Google search can help them out.
Here's the deal...
Got a call from the wife this morning. She was leaving the house with the kids but the Odyssey won't start - dead battery. So I run home to get it started for her. I was thinking that one of the kids left a cargo lamp on overnight or one of the doors didn't get closed completely. But once it was running, I checked all of that and everything was fine. Weird, I think to myself.
So she heads out. 15 minutes later i get a call from her saying that she heard a loud pop, followed by lots of smoke. She immediately turned it off (good for her!) and is staying put till i get there. In throw the tools in the truck and head out.
When I arrive, I'm expecting to see a load of engine oil on the ground beneath the vehicle. Nothing. There's some AC condensate dripping but thats it. Engine bay is fine. No sign of trouble, smoke, oil, nothing. And it starts rig up for me when I turn the key. No check engine light or anything like that.
Doing some research, I discover that Odyssey are somewhat prone to AC relay failure. The relay in question is inside the compressor. When it fails, it gets stuck such that the circuit is closed and is drawing electrical power. That explains the dead battery without a root cause.
Second, the compressor normally turns until a certain pressure is achieved after which it kicks off. Well, since its stuck on, it keeps running and running and running. All the while making more and more pressure. Until...the pressure relief valve finally pops. And apparently the relief valve is in close proximity to the exhaust. So when it blows, the result is steam (not smoke, but kinda looks the same).
So, Honda replaced the compressor under extended warranty for us today - same day as it failed. Local service department really bent over backward for us today. I'm really very very pleased with how they handled everything.
So there you have it. Hopefully someone else finds some use out of my not-so-good Friday.
Here's the deal...
Got a call from the wife this morning. She was leaving the house with the kids but the Odyssey won't start - dead battery. So I run home to get it started for her. I was thinking that one of the kids left a cargo lamp on overnight or one of the doors didn't get closed completely. But once it was running, I checked all of that and everything was fine. Weird, I think to myself.
So she heads out. 15 minutes later i get a call from her saying that she heard a loud pop, followed by lots of smoke. She immediately turned it off (good for her!) and is staying put till i get there. In throw the tools in the truck and head out.
When I arrive, I'm expecting to see a load of engine oil on the ground beneath the vehicle. Nothing. There's some AC condensate dripping but thats it. Engine bay is fine. No sign of trouble, smoke, oil, nothing. And it starts rig up for me when I turn the key. No check engine light or anything like that.
Doing some research, I discover that Odyssey are somewhat prone to AC relay failure. The relay in question is inside the compressor. When it fails, it gets stuck such that the circuit is closed and is drawing electrical power. That explains the dead battery without a root cause.
Second, the compressor normally turns until a certain pressure is achieved after which it kicks off. Well, since its stuck on, it keeps running and running and running. All the while making more and more pressure. Until...the pressure relief valve finally pops. And apparently the relief valve is in close proximity to the exhaust. So when it blows, the result is steam (not smoke, but kinda looks the same).
So, Honda replaced the compressor under extended warranty for us today - same day as it failed. Local service department really bent over backward for us today. I'm really very very pleased with how they handled everything.
So there you have it. Hopefully someone else finds some use out of my not-so-good Friday.
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Dadrider
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