My 2001 civic's A/C just quit operating. We went to Wally world and it was operating fine when we got there. Shut the car off and went in. When we came out and started the car it wasn't working, not even the fan. Rolled down the windows and started home. About 10 minutes later, tried turning it on and nothing, 5 minutes more and it started working just fine. Ran for about 10 minutes then quit again... no fan again. If I set the temp control to Hot, the fan, heater outlets, defrost outlets work. But when I set it to cold, nothing. After about 15 minutes, it will operate again then quit after 10 minutes or so.

Thoughts:

. Bad A/C Switch--try spraying the switch with WD-40.

. Low freon. Open the hood, start the car, and have your wife turn on the A/C, while you watch the Sight Glass. If you observe bubbles, the freon is low. If it's real low, the A/C Low Pressure Safety Switch is likely preventing the compressor from coming on. Since freon is the carrier of the refrigerant oil, the Low Pressure Safety Switch is protecting the compressor from seizing.

. Faulty Compressor Clutch Relay. If the compressor clutch does not initially engage, when you turn the A/C on, the Compressor Clutch Relay may be bad.