Hey y'all my Acura RSX has this nasty habit (actually, its programmed for this) to turn on the AC when the defroster is on. This really sucks, especially in the wintertime and smells like shit too.

Any help appreciated. thanks

The a/c compressor cycles even in the winter when you choose the defrost mode. The idea is to dehydrate the air to prevent window fogging, which is a problem in a small car like the rsx.If it smells funny, check the cabin filter(model year dependant). If it bothers you that much, just disconnect the a/c clutch wire at the compressor. If you do, you mat notice an increase in the idle speed when you select defrost, because the ECU is expecting an rpm drop caused by compressor load, which isn't there.

[terry96]

It is supposed to cycle the compressor to keep it from siezing up during the time when not in use.
if you really want to disable it the look near the ac compressor clutch and there will be a connector, just unplug it or look on the high pressure line, it has a pressure switch on it. when ac has a leak or is low on R134 the system wont work and can also be shut down by disconnecting that.

becareful about pulling relays, alot of models have the ac and cooling fan run off the same relay and if you pulled that it cause you car to over heat that could result in serious damage

Personaly i'd leave it alone because its doing what its designed to do

Originally Posted by terry96

It is supposed to cycle the compressor to keep it from siezing up during the time when not in use.
if you really want to disable it the look near the ac compressor clutch and there will be a connector, just unplug it or look on the high pressure line, it has a pressure switch on it. when ac has a leak or is low on R134 the system wont work and can also be shut down by disconnecting that.

becareful about pulling relays, alot of models have the ac and cooling fan run off the same relay and if you pulled that it cause you car to over heat that could result in serious damage

Personaly i'd leave it alone because its doing what its designed to do

Not to prevent seizing...it's to dehydrate.

Speaking of relays and such ( which is all new to me) I was thinking about getting one of those auto car starters. And I am being told that i t has alot to do with relays. Being my car is a 5 speed, should i even attempt to install one of these?

Thannks

There are special versions for cars with manual transmissions. I don't like remote car starters unless you invest in a factory one. Most manufacturers offer them as an accessory now. The ones that you otherwise get aftermarket, like at a stereo install shop, are pieces of shit. I won't even install them at my shop anymore.

Thanks for the info Larry.

[WRENCH47]

LuckyLarry's right! Living in northern climates it seems everybody has one of these pieces
of garbage installed by some part time high school student down at a stereo shop.
Many horror stories in my shop concerning these things,(starter stays engaged for ten minutes, nine hours diagnostic time on a no-start,etc.) Be afraid, be very, very, afraid!

One of my long time customers had one installed at a local futuer shop.Wasn't ven a cheap one: combined alarm/ car starter.About 2 weeks after, he would come out in the morning to find the car was already running. Happened several times a wek. Turns out the neighbour 5 houses down had a garage door opener of the same frequency, and he worked nights...lol

[keltic]

luckys right, they are trouble waiting to happen. We dont install them but we have removed quite a few along with fixing the problems that they caused. Its better to just run outside and start the car then wait in the house for it to warm up. But if you do have one installed make sure that the installer knows what hes doing. I've seen to many fried wiring harnesses from improper instalations. And let me tell you, I'm not a small man and hate squezzzzzing under a dash when it could have been avoided.