Auto Air Conditioning & Heater Repair: 2003 Honda Accord Clutch, aircraft mechanic, 2003 honda accord

Question
autohelp,

I have a 2003 Honda Accord. My A/C has been giving me problems and finally went out. I just hit 50,000 so the warrenty is out. I took it to the shop and they told me that it was the Clutch. They also said I had no freon leak.

Here is what was happening. While driving the a/c worked fine and blowed cold, then all of a sudden it just stopped blowing cold. It cycled like that for a few days and then just quite working all together.

My question is: The shop said you had to pull compressor off to get the clutch off. If this happens I need a dryer correct? Also could the clutch be pulled without having to pull the compressor? I am an aircraft mechanic by trade, how difficult would it be to do this myself?

-Aaron

Answer
I don't get that many Honda's to work on, But if you have the SPECIAL TOOLS required to pull off and install the new clutch and you have the room to do it without pulling the compressor you should have no problems in doing this repair.

If you have to remove the compressor, Quickly plug off the A/C lines so as not to allow any atmospheric air into the system and you will NOT have to replace the drier. Also if you have to OPEN the system, You will need to use a vacuum pump to evacuate the small amount of atmospheric air that will get into the system when you disconnect the lines.