Hey Scotty! I have a 2010 Honda Insight with 175k on it and live in Illinois. Within the past few months the AC started having issues. On hot days when I start the car after it’s been off for a while the ac will blow cold air for about 5-7 mins then it will blow warm/hot air. On cooler summer days it constantly blows cold air. I checked the ac charge at home and the gauge reads that it’s charge is good. Is it the compressor? Expansion valve? Dusty cooling fins? Thank you in advance!
Well, it could be tons of things, but did you check both the high and low pressure with real gauges. That's the only thing that'll tell you whether it's actually full of refrigerant. If it's not full of refrigerant fill it up of course. But if it is with those norms it means the compressor is starting to go out
Sounds like you might also have a leak somewhere. I think I would check for oil seepage around all connections. Also since he mentioned that the compressor might be going out if you can figure out a way to get a stethoscope up to listen to it see if you hear knocking. A compressor can make kind of a rattling noise similar to the wheels on a train heading over tracks but maybe not nearly as loud as the freight train suspension clack clack clack clack clack or if you ride a train you hear that as it sort of shifts side to side moving along the path. Sometimes pipes make rattling like that at much lower volume when running water. Your compressor should not sound like that.
All refrigerants leak minutely over time, to keep their seals lubricated. If your refrigerant can't keep up on hot days, but it can keep up on cooler days, your refrigerant is probably low. If you've never had it serviced, and you bought it brand new, the refrigerant is simply low, more than likely. I have a 1999 Ranger with almost 300k miles and it's still on the original compressor. Hondas are way better quality made than Ford.
