Air Conditioning Problem

toplessdottie

A/C was working fine on Sunday, blowing out Ice Cold as ususal. But yesterday, the compressor wouldn't kick on. (I can normally hear it and feel it).
It is not intermittent, it is just simply not kicking on at all.

Anywone had a similar issue? Anything I should check before bringing it to a stealership?


Thanks in advance

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Chris
'70 Datsun 2000 Roadster
'09 370z- Invidia, Stillen G3, ZEnclosure

MattP725

Only the normal stupid stuff like make sure the AC is actually switched on (not just the fan) and make sure you have it set to a temp that is lower than ambient. Outside of that you can check some fuses otherwise you might be stuck.

Jordo!

If under warranty -- I'd just take it to the dealership. AC compressors usually aren't cheap...

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Enjoy it. Destroy it.

gsxr750

if it does not turn on at all then it needs a recharge, just buy the recharge kit at auto zone with the gauge built in. Replace until pressure is in the safe zone. If you get the compressor switch constantly kicking in ( on off , on off) after recharge then you have to much freon in it and use a small metal screw driver to release a little pressure at a time until compressor switch or clutch stays constanltly on.

You may have to do this a few times as it may be erratic until every thing settles in from the high side to the low side, due to charging from the low side.

Last year moving to vegas I had problems with my sentra and instead of me screwing around with it I took it to pep boys and they flushed the system, recharged it and checked it for only $120 with a year guarantee. The car as been fine every since.

Just watch out how they put the z up on a lift

vividracing

If you've got a warranty, take advantage of it.

If not, then I'd start with checking the electrical side of things.

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Skullmike21

Check the metal ac lines...member posted same problem cause of his intake.

MattP725

This actually isn't true... my friend is an HVAC specialist and it is the opposite... it could be low if the compressor is constantly running. Eventually it might freeze up and stall but it would be a while before that happened. Usually they quit on the home AC systems because they are never shut off due to not reaching temp.

Might just be a clutch switch, might be a panel, might even be the compressor but usually you get some symptoms of that (burning smell, noise, etc). As mentioned the systems are expensive unfortunately so outside of the small checks you will ultimately have to suck it up. Even if it is just the line set that is leaking, I believe you need special tools to properly oil and bleed the system, not just a recharge kit.

vividracing

Correct. If you intend on PROPERLY working on any A/C system, you need several specialized tools. The biggest one is the system used to vacuum and fill/charge the A/C with freon. In order for the A/C to work, you need to vacuum all of the old freon and moisture from the system before recharging. Also, there's special wrenches for the lines as well as other things you need. This is why I haven't touched an A/C system since leaving auto tech school. The cost of the tools doesn't justify itself when I have 1 or 2 A/C repairs every couple years. I'm sure we have the equipment to do it here in the shop, but I haven't had any A/C issues since working here.

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kenchan

does the compressor have its own dedicated fuse? i'd check that first. unless you scuffed up the a/c line real bad doing intake install or hit something on the road casuing a rupture, these a/c systems will not leak probably for the life of the car.

gsxr750

B.S. you don't need thousands in tools, a fews cans r134a , proper r134a charged oil, and a cheap in line guage from any auto parts store and r134a leak dectector oil if you have a leak.

Harbor Freight sells professional guages cheap and even the vacuum pump is only $150 at H.F.

Most of this can be bought at autozone for around $50-$60 and done in the parking lot with in 10 minutes.

Or just have pep boys do it for a $120, they have all the same equipment as the big rip off shops and most do quality work. For the $120 they can at least diagnose the problem if it exists and purge and refill the system properly for around a $120.

Cheaper than you going to nissan dealer that will charge you a $150 alone to just tell you whats wrong, then another $150-$300 in labor to try and fix it, plus parts.

UNKNOWN_370

A/C problems on a Nissan is like Tits on a bull. Wow. My experience has been nissan A/C's run forever. Lol. I thought the A/C ran on magic or something?

kenchan

easy there tiger... from my experice using 134A (on another car) it only worked when the A/C system wanted to take in more pressure so there is truth to requiring professional equipment to suction out and recharge the system.

gsxr750

You only need a vacuum pump if you intend on flushing out the entire system and refill it with new oil and r134.

You don't need a vacuum pump to release gas under pressure, there is a simple shrader air valve stem that releases gas on the low side ac charging port, the r134a should be properly reclaimed to avoid release into the environment, the professionals have a system that reclaims the gas and they clean & reuse the old r134a .

If your only recharging the system, you don't need a vacuum pump. If your only recharging a system release of r134a into the environment shouldn't even happen, if done properly, unless your system has a big leak.

The only difference with the professionals with the more elaborate tools, will recharge the AC from the high side, as compared to the home garage method of charging from the low side, for consumer safety.

First thing to do would be to recharge the system with 1 can of r134a leak detector and another can of r134a gas, then run the AC and check for leaks. You can do this for around $30 with autozone products.

kenchan

hummm.... those cans only really worked for me once. most often the system would not take it in.

toplessdottie

Well, it seems the foam I had between the CAI and the A/C lines..... well it basically warmed up so much, the CAI rubbed through it and hit the A/C lines.........

Warranty wil not cover BAD DYI on my part..... not I gotta pay up. Lesson for ppl installing Stillen CAI..... DO IT RIGHT!!!!!!!! AND TRIPLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO WAY FOR THE CAI PIPE TO RUB THE A/C TUBES.

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Chris
'70 Datsun 2000 Roadster
'09 370z- Invidia, Stillen G3, ZEnclosure