Honda Avancier AC/Heat Failure: DIY or Mechanic Time?

I had a similar issue with my 2003 Honda Accord (V6) last summer. The symptoms were identical, poor cooling/heating, blower problems, and the AC light staying on. Took it to a garage and it turned out the climate control unit was completely shot. The control module wasn't sending proper signals to the HVAC system. The blower motor was working but getting unusual signals, which explained the inconsistent airflow. It was a serious repair since they had to replace the entire climate control unit. The system's been working perfectly since then, proper cooling, consistent fan speeds, and no warning lights. Before going to the shop, you might want to check your refrigerant levels and cabin air filter first, these are simpler fixes. But if those check out okay, it's likely your control unit, especially with those specific symptoms you mentioned. The repair took about half a day at the shop. Hope this helps with your decision!

Thanks for sharing your experience! That definitely sounds similar to what I'm dealing with. Good to know it might be the climate control unit, makes sense with all these symptoms. Would you mind sharing what the repair ended up costing you? Also curious if you've had any other issues pop up since getting it fixed? Really trying to figure out if I should bite the bullet and go for the full repair or look for temporary fixes.

Hey there! Just wanted to follow up about the repair costs, I paid 880€ for the complete climate control unit replacement. And I've got great news, since getting it fixed, everything's been running perfectly smooth! No more AC warning lights, the cooling works like a charm, and the blower fan is behaving exactly as it should. I totally get wanting to look for cheaper temporary fixes, but honestly, in my experience, it was worth investing in the proper repair. It's been about 8 months now, and I haven't had a single issue with the climate system. The comfort of having reliable AC and heating is totally worth it, especially since these Honda models usually run forever if you take care of them. Trust me, I was also hesitant about spending that much at first, but considering how much better the car runs now, I'd say go for the full repair if you can swing it. No more fidgeting with temperature controls or dealing with that annoying warning light! Hope this helps with your decision! Let me know if you have any other questions about the repair.

Thanks so much for all the details! I actually just got back from a mechanic I found through a and you won't believe it, it was exactly what you described! The climate control unit was completely dead. Ended up paying a bit more than you did (around 950€) but honestly, I'm just relieved to have it fixed properly. Just drove home and wow, what a difference! The AC is blowing nice and cold, the heater works perfectly, and that annoying warning light is finally gone. The mechanic was really honest too, showed me the old unit and explained everything. Such a better experience than my last mechanic! You were totally right about biting the bullet for the full repair. No point in messing around with temporary fixes when it comes to something you use every day. Thanks again for helping me make the decision, really appreciate you sharing your experience! Made me feel much more confident about getting it properly fixed.