A/C is starting to work intermitently????

G

giantsoobs

Member
So, as its slowly gotten warmer here in Seattle, weve been using the a/c more and more. We have just noticed that it seems to only work sometimes. It will be blowing cold then you come to a stop and its turns warm. You turn it on and 3 minutes later it finally gets cold, but only for 30 seconds then back to warm. Or it will just work fine for the entire trip.:confused.:

I can feel the compressor kicking on here and there, so im wondering if anyone else has experienced this. Does it sound like the clutch is dying? The compressor itself, the condensor?

Im certain whatever it is, its expensive.

Your thoughts are much appreciated. Thanks all.:smile (2):
 
evacuate & recharge, prolly just needs to be serviced... sounds like it's a little low on freon. freon prices are crazy this year but still shouldn't be more than $150-$175 or so with a dye to also check for leaks in the future...
 
turbocad6 said:
evacuate & recharge, prolly just needs to be serviced... sounds like it's a little low on freon. freon prices are crazy this year but still shouldn't be more than $150-$175 or so with a dye to also check for leaks in the future...
Click to expand...

A leak sounds likely. When we bought it one of the things the dealership "addressed" to tune it up for resale was charging the system due to "a/c not working properly" so the same problem has iust slowly come back.

What can cause a leak?
 
Bringing this topic back up for a second. I'm having what seems to be the same issue as you originally stated except that I hear a vibration/clicking sound when the a/c is engaged. It blows warm air when I'm stopped but gets plenty cool when I'm at even the slightest non-idle speed (ie <5mph). I'm not real sure what it is, my opinion is that it's either the compressor bearings or something to do with the fans. I say that only because a combination of increasing speed (air movement) and rpms gets rid of the noise and makes the system cool like it should. Any opinions? Should I just charge the system?

If it is the compressor or bearings why haven't I seen this happen to any other FXers yet?
 
Hey, sweet, another FX in the NW!

This does sound like a leak, which can vary from being a real pain to not such a big deal. How long ago was it that the dealer serviced your AC? If the system discharges in under a year, I'd get the leak fixed before you blow the cash on a recharge.

If the leak is slow (gets funky after more than a year), you can add a little freon on your own to keep it topped up.

If you have to deal with the leak, the last place you want to take your ride is to the dealership, I would recommend checking yelp for mobile AC techs around town.

-PB
 
Ok, riddle me this.

Per Matrixx recommendation I went out and purchased a gauge to check the pressure in my a/c system... all was fine and holding steady. Out of curiosity I pulled out the owner's manual to see if there were any air conditioning related fuses to check for. Before I could even open the manual I noticed one of the recall stickers I received a few years back on the radiator fan motor recall so while the car was running I just peaked over at the fans to see if they were running. They definitely were not. Continued below...

Image thanks to MTN FX
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As an engineer I started to think about how the automotive air conditioning cycle operates and how it probably requires air across the condenser to remove heat. Putting two and two together in that my a/c works fine when driving and not while sitting still, could this be the problem??? I haven't experienced any of the "engine protection logic" that would limit the speed as referred to in the recall. Any ideas or comments?

Needless to say, a call to the dealership is in order in the morning.
 

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The fans do not need to be on for the ac to function. Let it idle for a few minutes after it has warmed up to operation temperature. If your fan motors have failed, the temp gauge will rise above the normal range pretty quickly.
Id guess the problem is related to your compressor and the fact that at idle the pulley is spinning significantly slower than it is otherwise.
 
As I had mentioned in the random question thread the other day my AC has been acting up as well. Not quite the same problem but the AC can't be on the re-circulation mode or a knocking from the passenger side dash will occur. So seeing as we have seen some hot weather, it can't always keep up now. Kind of frustrating but better than nothing for the time being
 
tchuck said:
The fans do not need to be on for the ac to function. Let it idle for a few minutes after it has warmed up to operation temperature. If your fan motors have failed, the temp gauge will rise above the normal range pretty quickly.
Id guess the problem is related to your compressor and the fact that at idle the pulley is spinning significantly slower than it is otherwise.
Click to expand...

I have to agree that it sounds like its the compressor BUT... It's about 90 degrees here and I just drove about 20 miles on the interstate and small roads to get to work and the fans still were not turning on when I arrived. The catch is that I don't see my temperature gauge rising much if at all, but then again I never watched it much to mark what it's usually at prior to these issues. Regardless of that, you mentioned the fans do not need to be on for the ac to function. I agree but the system works perfectly when I'm in motion even with the car in neutral and rolling.
 
I don't think you'd hear the rad fans from inside the cabin. Did you let it idle for a few minutes while warm?
 
I believed I confirmed the suspicions of my radiator fan creating the problem today. Upon arriving home today I immediately opened the hood (and beer) and watched my engine bay and temps for approximately 35 minutes. The fans never came on. During this time and about 10-15 minutes in my engine temperature started to creep up and continued until I shut the engine off about the time it reached somewhere between 2 and 3 o'clock. Point proven IMO.

Now, on somewhat of the same note. I have an appointment to drop my car off at the dealership on Monday. If I drop it off and they fix the fans only to find out my compressor is bad, what are the chances they'd fix it as well considering the fans may have created the undue stress on the a/c system causing it to malfunction? I ask because it definitely sounds as if the compressor bearings are gone.
 
Just an update. Called the dealership, confirmed radiator fan extended warranty, had the car serviced and they put new fans/fan motors in and that solved the problem.

The question I have to you guys is whether or not you think they'll service the a/c compressor too. The service guy mentioned that he has never seen an Infiniti with as few miles have a compressor go bad and mentioned that he thought I had a case since the fans created the extra wear and tear on the compressor. Any thoughts? I'm thinking my chances are slim to none.
 
I have a similar problem and i just got my system recharged about a month ago.
even after a recharge with the recharge device that mechanics have mine still blows
cool air and when im driving it blows icy cold air.... so when i am in traffic it's not cold cool
but kinda warm cool if that makes sense.....lol
haha i have the 45 so i guess its not the fans...... but I just want it to get colder...

I have an 05 with 60k now
 
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