Looking at a friends car, A/C is only blowing warm air

MERK6

MEMBER
2003 NISSAN ALTIMA
150,000 MILES

Looking at a friends car, A/C is only blowing warm air. They said it has been getting worse for the past few months and today not blowing cold air at all. I checked and the compressor clutch is engaging, it spins freely when off. Not like a box fan or anything. But I don't feel any resistance. Checked the 134 in it and it was reading 65 on the low side in 2 different gauges. If tapped the valve maybe 3 times for all of 1 second each to let a little out and the gauge then read around 40 lbs, which makes no sense I know I did t release 20 lbs of pressure. No leak in the high or low valves. Condenser doesn't look like its leaking and the interior selector switch works fine. Could it be the condenser dryer? Compressor control valve? Trying to figure out the best way to run this down. Thanks for any help!

6 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
108,401 POSTS

Welcome to 2CarPros.

As far as checking for resistance on the compressor pulley, the only time you will get it is when the compressor engages. You may just have a bad clutch on it. Have you checked for power to the ac clutch when it should be running? Also, what is the pressure on the high side and what is the ambient temperature when it is tested?

Let me know. Also, here is a link that you may find helpful:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-air-conditioner-not-working-or-is-weak

Take care,
Joe

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Tuesday, May 25th, 2021 AT 11:28 AM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
108,401 POSTS

Welcome to 2carpros.com

As far as checking for resistance on the compressor pulley, the only time you will get it is when the compressor engages. You may just have a bad clutch on it. Have you checked for power to the ac clutch when it should be running? Also, what is the pressure on the high side and what is the ambient temperature when it is tested?

Let me know. Also, here is a link that you may find helpful.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-air-conditioner-not-working-or-is-weak

Take care,
Joe

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Tuesday, May 25th, 2021 AT 11:28 AM

MERK6

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Hi Joe,

No I haven't tested the high side, don't have the ability to do so. So even though the compressor is kicking on and working the clutch could still be bad?
Thank you,
Ronnie

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Tuesday, May 25th, 2021 AT 11:28 AM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
108,401 POSTS

Welcome back:

No, if the compressor is engaging the clutch isn't the issue. I must have misread what you originally posted Often times, however, the high side pressure along with the low side can really help. Most parts stores will lend / rent you an AC manifold gauge set.

As far as the system, if it is showing 40 on the low side, that is around normal. I don't know what the outside temps were the day you tested it, but it shouldn't be too far off.

Have you tested the system to see if it does what they told you? Does it start to warm up after it is run for awhile? Is the fan turning on when the system is on? Is there anything partially blocking the AC condenser? Does the compressor continue to cycle properly?

Joe

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Tuesday, May 25th, 2021 AT 11:28 AM

MERK6

MEMBER
9 POSTS

Temperature was hot that day. This is Alabama, it will be 95° on Christmas, haha.
Yeah, I tested it all. They've had problems with it for a while but said it would work okay until the outside temperature got in the high range, 80's - 90's, but said it would still work, just not well. Now it doesn't work at all. Night or day, outside temperature doesn't matter.
Soon as I started it up and turned it on the compressor kicked on, fans kicked on after about a min, but it never blew any cold air at all. A/C blower inside is fine. Everything seems to work except the fact that it doesn't blow cold. Leaning toward condenser/evaporator clogged.