[jschuler]

My 2011 Odyssey has just started making this terrible noise with a puff of smoke. I was able to catch it on video:

New video by Jason S.

It might only happen when the A/C is on but I'm not sure. I checked the A/C compressor clutch and it seems to operate as expected. Pulled the serpentine belt off and spun all the pullies by hand and the only one that seemed "slightly" wobbly/crunchy was the tensioner pulley. Replaced that and the serpentine belt with new ones and its still happening.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks!
- Jason

 

[0dyfamily]

Did you service your A/C by yourself with refrigerant from an auto parts store?

That mist of oil appears to be refrigerant (and refrigerant oil) exiting the A/C compressor pressure relief valve.

Your video: the A/C compressor clutch appears to be engaged and spinning the compressor. Was the A/C selected "on" during this video?

OF

 

[jschuler]

Nope. Haven't done anything to the A/C yet.

 

[0dyfamily]

Try these (copy, paste into browser if links don't work):

Loud noise, compressed air coming from vicinity under AC...

MYSTERY SOLVED! Loud noise, compressed air coming from vicinity under AC compressor SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST TO SEE ANSWER. *************************************** The weirdest thing happened the other day on my '08 EXL. Went to start the van and the battery was dead. Jumped...

www.odyclub.com

Pressure blow off, then smoke...

2009 Touring is the patient. 128K miles. Today I get a call from the wife that the check engine light came on, not flashing. As she was looking through the owners manual she states there was a loud wooshing sound and then smoke coming up from under the hood. She quickly shut off the car and...

www.odyclub.com

AC pressure release valve

2001 Ody EX with 165,000 miles. (HID kit, but that is not relevant!) The A/C recently stopped working on the Ody. On full fan, the Compressor will kick in for a couple of seconds, and then stop. I did lots of reading around the forum, and decided to check the compressor would work by...

www.odyclub.com

OF

 

[jschuler]

Thanks OF. This sounds very likely. Going to swap the relay and check the A/C pressures and recharge as needed.

 

[WiiMaster]

Thanks OF. This sounds very likely. Going to swap the relay and check the A/C pressures and recharge as needed.

Unless you have the proper equipment, leave the evac and recharge to a good shop. You can't recharge based on pressure, so a simple gauge set won't be enough.

 

[ryukin2000]

Unless you have the proper equipment, leave the evac and recharge to a good shop. You can't recharge based on pressure, so a simple gauge set won't be enough.

This is what the guy at the shop told me when I got the AC serviced. My 06 civic stopped blowing cold for a few years so I purchased one of those over the counter recharge kits for $50 and it worked so I was pretty happy but only lasted one summer. Finally took it to a shop to do the full evac/leak test/recharge for $100 and its working again. He said the refrigerant was low. Should have just gone that route to begin with.

 

[0dyfamily]

Picked this up from an HVAC specialist in Canada:

10% loss of refrigerant can result in a loss of oil transport capability sufficient to start accelerating wear of the compressor. This applies to automotive and home applications.

Typically, loss of A/C cooling performance for automotive applications is not noticed until refrigerant mass drops 40% below the normal original charge state.

That's why I have the local HVAC specialist periodically evacuate and recharge our vehicles. We only do this about once every 7 years or so, which means we've done this twice on our current ancient 2002 EX Odyssey. Our 2012 Accord just had this done recently, and my in-laws did this recently for my 2003 Acura TL last fall before I bought it from them.

We're behind on doing this for cars our kids drive (2011 Accord, 2012 Civic, 2013 Corolla). Will probably get it done this fall before school starts.

OF