Author Topic: Air conditionioning working intermittently in Nissan Altima 1997 (Read 3086 times)

klms · « **on:** April 22, 2008, 08:10:21 pm »

Hi. I've got a question. I searched threads and did not see anything that could help. My air conditioning system was serviced several years ago, last year coolant was added. Ive been trying to use it over the last few weeks. It seems to only work intermittently. Mostly it blows hot air but once in a while very nice cold air. I dont really know how to troubleshoot this. I was hoping there is some kind of fix that I could do myself if possible. Ijust dont know where to start... Any advice ?
Thanks so much.....

articsteve · « **Reply #1 on:** April 22, 2008, 10:27:09 pm »

The cheap method is to refill it yourself. It's not hard, but ALWAYS wear goggles.

They sell DIY kits in the USA for $15.00

klms · « **Reply #2 on:** April 22, 2008, 11:15:39 pm »

you figure it ust has to be refillled ? this caused the intermittent problem ?
does canadian tire sell this kinf of kit?

articsteve · « **Reply #3 on:** April 23, 2008, 12:11:18 am »

Kits and self refilling is banned in Canada.

Since refrigerant was added last year logic would point to a small leak in the system.

klms · « **Reply #4 on:** April 23, 2008, 12:21:54 am »

yes this makes quite good sense. so I should try to find a kit in the states. maybe I can order on line ?

articsteve · « **Reply #5 on:** April 23, 2008, 12:26:34 am »

Possible, never tried. I have it brought in undeclared. It's sold everywhere including Walmart.

klms · « **Reply #6 on:** April 23, 2008, 01:03:40 am »

actually I saw some places to buy this on line. I included the links if you dont mind to check them out...

- a kit costs about 15-20
http://www.jcwhitney.com/INTERDYNAMICS-R-134A-E-Z-CHARGE-SELF-DISPENSING-MULTIPURPOSE-REFRIGERANT/GP_2002866_N_111+1997+200731167+600011024_10114.jcw?reviewflag=1

- a kit which includes some kind of computerized device to fill it costs about 45.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Item?storeId=10101&Pr=p_CATENTRY_ID%3A100000434516&mediaCode=ZX&productId=100000434516&appId=100000434516&catalogId=10114&langId=-1

do you think its worth it to go for the higher end thing ?
Or do I basically just put on whole can in ?

Finally I want to thank you so much for your help !!!!!

xviper · « **Reply #7 on:** April 23, 2008, 01:11:10 am »

Quote from: klms on April 22, 2008, 08:10:21 pm

My air conditioning system was serviced several years ago, last year coolant was added.

You've got an 11 year old car. Having it serviced "several years ago" is quite a long time ago for a A/C system on that vintage of car. When you said "coolant", do you mean refrigerant in the A/C system? Coolant goes in the radiator and also called antifreeze. If you had to add refrigerant last year, this means that the A/C got depleated. You might want to have this professionally serviced. You might have a leak and you need to know where it is and get this fixed first. This isn't something that you can or should do at home. A licenced auto refrigeration tech is required. Authorities get pretty fussy about mishandling of refrigerant these days. I doubt Canada Customs will allow such things to come across. Buying it online might just get it seized.
Your questions lead me to believe you might not know much about this sort of thing. It's not something you want to mess without some training and knowledge.

articsteve · « **Reply #8 on:** April 23, 2008, 06:03:45 pm »

actually I saw some places to buy this on line. I included the links if you dont mind to check them out...

134a is the stuff you want and you can try that site and see if they will ship to Canada.

What you need is the kit with the dial gauge. Usually it and one can is $20.00

Try Pep Boys. It's sold absolutely everywhere in the USA. Two years ago the stuff was selling for $8.00 a bottle. You will need at least 2.

Go over to the USA. Buy some stuff you might need and declare it, but forget to declare the AC stuff. They will never search you and if they do they will just take it or maybe they won't. Put the gauge in the glove compartment out of the box and the cans in the trunk out of there wrappers.

If you do get some post back for instructions. But you will need some sort of gauge to refill properly. WEAR GOGGLES.

barrie1 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 23, 2008, 11:46:50 pm »

You can buy the stuff at Canadian Tire now with the injector ket with it as well. Just verify that its the correct fluid that you are installing for that compressor. Some compressors have to have the seals changed before they can be updated to the newer fluids as they are not comaptible at all. The Harrison Compressors by GM are good for both the older type as well as the newer 134A as well. As long as they have sufficeint 0il in them of the correct type as well as pressure of refigerant then they should be good to go unless you have a major leak.

klms · « **Reply #10 on:** April 24, 2008, 02:08:50 am »

Quote from: articsteve on April 23, 2008, 06:03:45 pm

actually I saw some places to buy this on line. I included the links if you dont mind to check them out...

134a is the stuff you want and you can try that site and see if they will ship to Canada.

What you need is the kit with the dial gauge. Usually it and one can is $20.00

Try Pep Boys. It's sold absolutely everywhere in the USA. Two years ago the stuff was selling for $8.00 a bottle. You will need at least 2.

Go over to the USA. Buy some stuff you might need and declare it, but forget to declare the AC stuff. They will never search you and if they do they will just take it or maybe they won't. Put the gauge in the glove compartment out of the box and the cans in the trunk out of there wrappers.

If you do get some post back for instructions. But you will need some sort of gauge to refill properly. WEAR GOGGLES.

You guys are all great. :DI really appreciate the help. Tomorrow morning I am going to Massena, New York with my aunt and uncle ( we will drop my uncle off in Cornwall to visit his mom). Then my aunt and I will go to Massena as apparently they have a new Wal Mart there. I will look for the Pep boys stuff and hopefully can find it. Otherwise will get a can of the 134-A and the guage of another brand. I did buy a Haynes manual so did read a few things about filling up the AC.

OK, so I will get back to you after I have done the shopping.

Hey Barrie1 I will also check with Canadian Tire in the AM before we head out. So far when I check on line here in Quebec they dont seem to have it.

klms · « **Reply #11 on:** April 24, 2008, 05:35:58 am »

Quote from: xviper on April 23, 2008, 01:11:10 am

Quote from: klms on April 22, 2008, 08:10:21 pm
My air conditioning system was serviced several years ago, last year coolant was added.
. When you said "coolant", do you mean refrigerant in the A/C system? Coolant goes in the radiator and also called antifreeze. If you had to add refrigerant last year, this means that the A/C got depleated. You might want to have this professionally serviced. You might have a leak and you need to know where it is and get this fixed first. This isn't something that you can or should do at home. A licenced auto refrigeration tech is required. Authorities get pretty fussy about mishandling of refrigerant these days. I doubt Canada Customs will allow such things to come across. Buying it online might just get it seized.
Your questions lead me to believe you might not know much about this sort of thing. It's not something you want to mess without some training and knowledge.

Thanks for your post. Sorry I mispoke, yes I mean the refrigerant.... Yes you have a point, there must likely be a leak. I agree with your approach, it makes sense. The problem is that I have other financial priorities now with this car.
-I have to buy summer tires.
-I think there is a problem with the suspension because of montreal pot holes from this last winter.
- For some wierd reason the ABS brake light is on- wierd though as the brakes were all re-done in the last 2 years.

I bought the car Nov 06 from my cousin in quite good shape..I think the car could likely go another 2-5 few years....likely now over this summer I will have to invest money in a few repairs to keep it going long term... so really I am trying to cut corners now. If I can just refill the refrigerant for now...that is good enough for me as I have other priorities as I mentioned.

xviper · « **Reply #12 on:** April 24, 2008, 08:27:53 am »

Good luck. I know what it's like to run a car on a shoestring budget.

mrthompson · « **Reply #13 on:** April 24, 2008, 08:33:19 am »

If you suspect the AC system has a leak, why bother refilling it? If a swimming pool has a leak, does it make sense to fill it?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R-134a

tpl · « **Reply #14 on:** April 24, 2008, 09:16:25 am »

Could it be a loose connection to the compressor clutch solenoid? or to a temperature sensor somewhere rather than a lack of refrigerant..

articsteve · « **Reply #15 on:** April 24, 2008, 03:43:14 pm »

If you suspect the AC system has a leak, why bother refilling it? If a swimming pool has a leak, does it make sense to fill it?

Depends on how big the leak is?

Every used car dealer in Ontario; brand name or not refills on way or another.

Often a can of 134 stop leak will cover the system for the summer. It costs $10.00 Tearing into an AC system can be a horrible can of worms. $2000 is nothing to spend on what might be just another patch job.

PJungnitsch · « **Reply #16 on:** April 24, 2008, 03:49:28 pm »

I have heard of good luck using Duracool recharge kits (I think Redtek sold at CT is the same). It's basically propane, and the larger molecules means it seems to stay in AC systems that leak with 134.

klms · « **Reply #17 on:** April 25, 2008, 01:36:07 am »

You're all really great

Thanks for participating and helping me out.
So we went to the states- Massena New york. I did get a kit from Walmart with a guage. I was really impressed with the variety they had. I'll post more about what I got at another time. We actually got the suspension problem fixed for 133 ( a broken sway bar link... replaced both as the other needed it..)Thankfully not as big a problem as I was worried about. Now my uncle has a friend who is an airplane mechanic/does automotive stuff that will fix my breaks ( I got these checked out today also...)

I'm pretty keen on learning to fix things. I just enjoy it. I replaced a broken link rod in the wiper assembly last week-pretty easy.
Basically I am going to do some reading so I get familiar with all of the parts of my A/C system... then will try out the kit next week.

xviper · « **Reply #18 on:** April 25, 2008, 01:46:35 am »

You're lucky you can just zip across the border and get stuff. I'm hours away from the nearest Wallymart in Montana.

klms · « **Reply #19 on:** April 25, 2008, 01:54:32 am »

Yes I totally agree- it was 1.5 hours away roughly. I'd love to have alberta tax rate though... its horrible here in quebec......