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Comments
Complaints can be filed at the Nat'l Highway Traffic Safetywebsite:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm
Isn't that an overreaction? You have a 7 year old vehicle that has performed just fine yet you want to get rid of it because its AC compressor may go bad. There's a saying about borrowing trouble. If it happens then figure out what to do.
I understand that there is a flaw somewhere causing this issue but Honda seems to be taking care of the problem...you can't say the same about other automakers when they have similar issues.
And I still wonder when people feel it is ok for a part to go bad...7 years...10 years...never??
That would probably be anytime after they sell it or trade it in.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Will there be a rash of compressor failures in the spring?
The one I am most interested in is a 2004 EX-L with about 50K miles. Any input appreciated. Thanks.
I love driving the CRV and sure your wife will also. Be sure to get good tires if they need replacing.
The one I am most interested in is a 2004 EX-L with about 50K miles. Any input appreciated. Thanks.
There were no EX-L's in 2004 in the US. Either the vehicle is an EX with dealer or previous owner added leather. Or, if the bumpers match the body color, it is a grey market Canadian Import.
Thanks in advance!
The best place to own one of these CRV's would be in Alaska so you wouldn't need air conditioning.
Daniel
I visited a friend up in Barrow a few years back and all the cabs were mostly CR-Vs for some reason.
Even though you are the second owner and you have a good deal of miles, you should open a case with Honda USA and see if they will help you out at all on the parts or labor.
So I think I am going to replace it myself. Honda just wants too much.
I also think I can only get the type of compressor for the 2003 that always seems to have a limited life expectancy. It's not a good feeling putting in a part you expect to fail prematurely.
I will consider it a Zen experiment.
Daniel
There was one person who put in a compressor from a 2007 CR-V into a 2003. It fits perfectly and it has a hi pressure relief valve near the HP outlet otherwise the compressor is the same.. Hoses have to be made that would interconnect the 07 compressor to the earlier CR-Vs but it sounds like the only solution unless Honda decides to admit that it is making faulty air conditioner compressors on their 02-06 Cr-vs.. They don't seem likely to be doing this.
Daniel
So I bought a new compressor on ebay for about $295.00 and it has a two year warranty. I think that will give me enough time to sell the CRV. I think all the ac compressors are junk. I'm going for a Toyota.
Daniel
That, or they had some bad batches of compressors from their vendor, and the "bad" ones have all failed by now...
After taking the car to the dealer, I was informed that there is a hole in the compressor and the entire A/C system needs to be replaced. The repair costs are $3500!!! Although I am the original owner of the vehicle and have done all my maintenance at the dealer( West Broad Honda in Richmond,VA), they are refusing to pay for any of the repairs and told me that it is not their problem.
I opened a case with the Honda corporate office and am waiting for their response, but based on the other posts on this board, it looks like I will have to spend the next few weeks complaining to them.
This is my fourth Honda vehicle and I've convinced at least five family members and co-workers to purchase Honda vehicles. I am extremely disappointed and frustrated by the way the dealer is handling this manufacturing defect and not taking any ownership in the products that they sell. I was planning on buying another car this year, but after this incident Honda is definitely off my list.
File a complaint at the National Highway Traffic Safety website. Unless we all file complaints, Honda will not issue a recall:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm
Also, this law firm is collecting information for a class action lawsuit. It looks legit and I provided them with my information:
http://www.honda-lawsuit.com/
I still wonder if they haven't fixed the issue with the replacement compressors.
Good luck to everyone who has posted...
As per Owner's Manual, A/C system should be run for at least 10 minutes once a week in the winter months to circulate lubricant through the system.
After having to replace the tires 50k,
If those were original tires, consider your self very lucky. OEM Bridgestones bareley lasted 15,000 on my CR-V. But, the cost of tires should not be considered an out of the ordinary expense. Those are wear and tear items, like brakes, hoses, fluids, ect. that need to be replaced on a regular basis aka maintenance items.
It's a little hard to search, but I don't see anything in the 2004 CR-V owner's manual about running the AC during the winter (page 99 and following).
Maybe this is something new? Or something that only applies to Civics?
I've always heard that A/C compressors come on (at least above 32°F) to dehumidify the air when you run the defroster so the oil gets circulated that way. If your winters are below zero for months, then running the A/C could help lube and condition the seals and hoses.
Also, the dealer admitted that the regional honda guy had been covering much of the cost of these repairs (and that this problem is not rare), but that recently they've been denying claims for cars with over 75k miles. My question to that was "So, it's reasonable to expect most CR-V compressors to fail around 85k and take the rest of the AC system with it?", to which he admitted that its not really a mileage thing.
I don't understand rejecting this repair for mileage reasons, since this is not a wear item. We were just "lucky" to have it last a bit longer. Maybe if it had failed sooner, it would not have taken the rest of the system with it.
I think it was implemented to ensure that dry air got to the windshield; this is more efficient at clearing the windows. It did not (specifically) have to do with A/C or compressors. It has been standard on all my cars since about 1996.
Hopefully you will find one blown.
Daniel
If you mean the cabin fan, it is a separate system that integrates the HVAC controls together.
Set the fan to the highest setting and it should come on. If it does, then you have a blown transistor in the fan speed module.
I also can't believe that more has not been made of this publicly. One would think that some light needs to be shined to get Honda to own up to this.
I might have been able to get over paying $3800 to fix the air if it was not for how Honda handled our case. To offer to assist people with 75k miles but not 85k on a non-wear item is simply arbitrary and designed to cut their losses. In addition, our case manager still has not called me since thursday two weeks ago, and our dealer claims that their service manager is out of town and there is no one else who can assist us. He does not return my calls, and honestly, what he says when I call him and catch him in his office is difficult to understand.
I owned a 04 crv ex and a 06 accord ex-l. I did all my service at the dealer for both cars. I convinced two siblings to buy the new CRV. I somehow managed to buy just about the only lemon that Honda sells, and Honda was unwilling to help. I might buy a different type of honda again, but I won't buy a CRV, and I won't be going back to that dealer to service our other honda. They saved themselves $2500 in repair costs, and cost themselves a customer. And, I'll always have a bad thing to say when people mention Honda. I hope it was worth it.
I really liked my CR-V too...it's a shame it had to come to this.
It beats nothing, but with what Honda charges for parts and service they still probably made a nice profit off you thanks to their apparantly deficient design.
One other aside- My sister-in-law's father owns two CR-Vs, a 2002 and a 2006, and he had the complete implosion happen to his 2002, but he did not realize it was a widespread issue. He bought the parts and had a friend install them for free, but he also was offered no assistance. He said he should have been suspicious when the dealer had all the required parts in stock. Indeed.
For me the winning conversation went like this:
Me - "I just called Honda America to discuss the AC failure of my CRV you looked at earlier this week. As a longtime customer of your dealership who has purchased more than one car here and a regular maintenance customer I am asking your help to 'go to bat' on this issue with Honda America and to be my advocate in my conversation with them. I'd like to setup a call later this week to discuss my AC failure with them and include you."
Dealership (I am not making this up) - "Oh, what a coincidence. I have our rep from Honda American in the shop here today. Let me go ask her about your request and see what she says."
Dealership after a 5 minute wait - "Good news! Honda has agreed to pickup the majority of the repair cost. Sorry for the confusion with your call in to their 800 number earlier. When can you bring your 03 CRV into the shop?"
The moral of my story was that I had to try multiple times at the dealership, I seemed to get different answers depending on who was involved when it came to Honda America, and in the end I was able to get the whole mess fixed for less than $400.
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm and http://www.honda-lawsuit.com/
I'll also talk with my local dealer Service Manager and see what happens. They quoted me $3000 to fix yesterday.
Good luck on your compressor issue with Honda. I just wanted to tell you that you would have the same problem with a 2004. I think you have to get a 2007 in order to avoid these problems.
Someone actually put a compressor in a earlier version from a 2007 and you can do this but you have to change the lines. I think this would be a good idea as the lines can't cost that much.
Daniel :shades: