Is it true that one should turn off the car air conditioner prior to turning off the ignition?

When I learned to drive (back when cars were made of iron and had only two valves per cylinder) we were told to always turn off all accessories before starting the car, because it took a load off the battery and electrical system. And also if the battery was less than totally healthy it took a load off it.

But these days I notice the accessories go off by themselves when you turn the starter. For instance, my Corolla has the headlights on all the time (lots of cars do these days, have you noticed?) They go on when I turn the key to 'run' but they go off when I turn it to 'start'. As does the radio and A/C.

Turning off the A/C before you shut the car down is only so you won't have it on when you start again.

You never add refrigerant to the sealed A/C system unless it develops a leak.

On turning everything off when you park a car....

It all goes off when the ignition is off.

And the accessories are also cut when the starter is engaged.

Still few people like to have last nights radio or stale A/C air blast them first thing in the AM.

Why would you need to do that?

Don't you have a little bit of faith in the engineers to do things right?

The AC compressor clutch coil doesn't energize until after the engine has started running. No way it runs while you turn the key.

Never heard this myth. What is it supposed to do.? You ask as though this is a particular Honda problem. My G.M. car is on 'defrost' with the a/c working all winter. Never had a problem.

The AC is not a problem when starting or turning off the motor.

What is a common problem on Honda and Acura motors is they get tight valves which should be adjusted at least every 60,000 miles.

I live in Texas, where it is 100 degrees I never ever turn my AC off in the summer. I never heard that as long as I have been driving and that is along long time.

If the car came with an owner's manual, pull it out of the glove box, knock the dust off of it and READ the damn thing!

If you didn't get an owners manual, then go to your nearest Honda dealership and order one through their parts department. When you get it, THEN READ IT!

It's hard on the starter because of the extra power it takes to run it when it's engaged. An A/C Compressor takes about 7 Hp and consists a load on the engine.

Its harder for the engine to turn over with the compressor clutch engaged-

Yes!