On my 2011 Odyssey EX-L RES, the AC compressor clutch would engage when cold and within 2-3mins disengage. Measured the resistance of the clutch coil at the fuse box relay between pin 2 and ground - 5.6 ohm when cold and very high after compressor was hot (ran few mins). Also tried engaging the clutch by shorting pin 1 and 2 at the relay, saw same behavior....works when coil is cold, once it has run 5mins won't engage. Coil/Stator was bad hence decided to replace it with Honda OEM stator 38924-RGL-A03 (didn't want to redo so much work if ebay cheap part fails shortly), comes with new snap rings, wire and spacer washers. New one's resistance was 4.8 ohm. Took me 4-5 hours. Snap ring clips were the most painful. Loaned A/C Clutch Holding Tool (Part 57000) from Autozone - this tool is a pain to work with. The AC compressor isn't fully accessible from the wheel well so best is to unmount and keep it on sub-frame (disconnect it's wire first).
Caution: These snap rings are External type. The 2" right angle snap ring pliers available are all internal type. So your only option is to use External Straight Snap Ring Pliers. Since the snap rings are heavy duty, you would need atleast 8" long pliers. (9764A A/C Snap Ring Pliers is perfect for Denso compressors but its $300+.)
1. Disconnect battery
2. Remove passenger front tire and put jack stands
3. Remove engine cover - front splash guard (10mm bolts and clips)
4. Remove the passenger front fender liner clips & screws and fold it back
5. Remove serpentine/drive belt
6. Disconnect the ac compressor wire on the top. If you don't disconnect, the wire may break when you drop the compressor.
7. Using AC clutch holding tool (keeps slipping or its adjustable pins keeps moving - tighten with pliers) remove the 10mm center bolt. Don't lose the spacer washers inside the clutch shaft hole. Keep it safe.
8. Wiggle out the clutch
9. Next would be dealing with the snap ring.....best is to drop the compressor by removing its 4 mounting bolts. Once compressor is unmounted, keep it at an angle so that you can access it straight from wheel well and use the snap ring pliers. You can also use 2 small screw drivers.....
10. Once pulley's snap ring is removed, you may need to give the pulley a little tap using a piece of wood and mallet from the bottom. Once the pulley is past the snap ring groove, you can wiggle it out.
11. This part is most frustrating - removing the stator/coil snap ring which is inside the well. Best is to get someone to help hold the compressor at angle so that the snap ring pliers can get in and grab. Once you get it straight, you can remove the snap ring. It takes good amount of effort.
12. Remove the coil wire connect by pushing-in its clip.
12. Remove the coil by pulling out.
13. Install the new coil - it just pushes in....no screws or bolts
14. Install the new coil snap ring - best is to get someone to help hold the compressor at an angle so that its accessible from wheel well, make sure snap ring is seated in groove
15. Re-connect the coil wire - it will click when pushed in
16. Install the AC pulley - wiggle it while pushing back and it may need a little tap past the snap ring groove
17. Install the new pulley snap ring
18. Install the clutch plate - make sure to install the spacer washers. I reused the spacer, didn't use the new ones as air gap was within spec. If you want you can check and adjust the clutch air gap - 0.3mm to .55mm
19. Using AC clutch holding tool, install the 10mm shaft bolt - torque unknown....some say 13lbf-ft but they snapped off the bolt....I just tighten it
20. Mount the compressor - torque 16 lbf-ft for 4 bolts
21. Reconnect the compressor wire
22. Install serpentine belt
23. Put back the passenger front fender liner
23. Put back the engine cover - front splash guard
24. Put back the passenger front tire
25. Remove jack and jack stands
26. Reconnect battery
Tested by driving around for 30mins.....AC is blowing cold air!
Good opportunity to clean the sub-frame....
![Image]()
![Image]()
Caution: These snap rings are External type. The 2" right angle snap ring pliers available are all internal type. So your only option is to use External Straight Snap Ring Pliers. Since the snap rings are heavy duty, you would need atleast 8" long pliers. (9764A A/C Snap Ring Pliers is perfect for Denso compressors but its $300+.)
1. Disconnect battery
2. Remove passenger front tire and put jack stands
3. Remove engine cover - front splash guard (10mm bolts and clips)
4. Remove the passenger front fender liner clips & screws and fold it back
5. Remove serpentine/drive belt
6. Disconnect the ac compressor wire on the top. If you don't disconnect, the wire may break when you drop the compressor.
7. Using AC clutch holding tool (keeps slipping or its adjustable pins keeps moving - tighten with pliers) remove the 10mm center bolt. Don't lose the spacer washers inside the clutch shaft hole. Keep it safe.
8. Wiggle out the clutch
9. Next would be dealing with the snap ring.....best is to drop the compressor by removing its 4 mounting bolts. Once compressor is unmounted, keep it at an angle so that you can access it straight from wheel well and use the snap ring pliers. You can also use 2 small screw drivers.....
10. Once pulley's snap ring is removed, you may need to give the pulley a little tap using a piece of wood and mallet from the bottom. Once the pulley is past the snap ring groove, you can wiggle it out.
11. This part is most frustrating - removing the stator/coil snap ring which is inside the well. Best is to get someone to help hold the compressor at angle so that the snap ring pliers can get in and grab. Once you get it straight, you can remove the snap ring. It takes good amount of effort.
12. Remove the coil wire connect by pushing-in its clip.
12. Remove the coil by pulling out.
13. Install the new coil - it just pushes in....no screws or bolts
14. Install the new coil snap ring - best is to get someone to help hold the compressor at an angle so that its accessible from wheel well, make sure snap ring is seated in groove
15. Re-connect the coil wire - it will click when pushed in
16. Install the AC pulley - wiggle it while pushing back and it may need a little tap past the snap ring groove
17. Install the new pulley snap ring
18. Install the clutch plate - make sure to install the spacer washers. I reused the spacer, didn't use the new ones as air gap was within spec. If you want you can check and adjust the clutch air gap - 0.3mm to .55mm
19. Using AC clutch holding tool, install the 10mm shaft bolt - torque unknown....some say 13lbf-ft but they snapped off the bolt....I just tighten it
20. Mount the compressor - torque 16 lbf-ft for 4 bolts
21. Reconnect the compressor wire
22. Install serpentine belt
23. Put back the passenger front fender liner
23. Put back the engine cover - front splash guard
24. Put back the passenger front tire
25. Remove jack and jack stands
26. Reconnect battery
Tested by driving around for 30mins.....AC is blowing cold air!
Good opportunity to clean the sub-frame....
