AC issues

Tiny
DENNISD6253
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 NISSAN FRONTIER
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 160,000 MILES
Air half as cold as desired but better than warm, short intervals between cycling on and off, will have brief but audible belt screech about one out of every ten cycles. Tension-er pulley bearing replaced radically reduced screech. No gauge readings taken. Is it possible there is another cause other than bad internal compressor bearings? Thank you for your expertise.
Thursday, April 19th, 2018 AT 12:45 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Good evening.

You need first to get the belt tight. Noise from the belt indicates the compressor is not at speed when the belt slips.

The next step is monitor the pressures while running. If you have gauges, let me know the high and low side pressure with the engine running and the AC system on.

As far as the compressor, I doubt at this point it is the failure. It may be low on Freon but we need the readings first.

Roy
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Thursday, April 19th, 2018 AT 5:51 PM
Tiny
DENNISD6253
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
1998 160,000 2WD 2.4L Frontier reporting ac static readings 70 high 73 low. Cycles on clutch engaged low 16 high 109, cycles off low 47 high 80. About ten to fifteen seconds. Cycling inter volts. Ambient outside air 57°. After ten minutes. Engine off readings within 3 or 4 psi of returning back to same static pressure started out at. Need help diagnosing. Made sure belt tight. No screeching while gauges engaged but was experiencing previous periodic belt screech. Vents not too cold. Sorry for all the mumbo jumbo, mucho. Thanks
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Monday, April 30th, 2018 AT 1:51 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Okay, your high side is low and the low side is low. It cycles because the low side drops below 20 lb.

Make sure the Freon level is correct. If the Freon level is correct, then the expansion valve is the issue.

Roy
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Monday, April 30th, 2018 AT 3:49 AM
Tiny
DENNISD6253
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Could I just be clear that the TXV is not necessarily bad but if having any issues continue after the right refrigerant levels are installed than the TXV is done. Thank you
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Friday, May 4th, 2018 AT 5:23 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Yes, it is bad if it is below 20 lbs. It should be rock solid 25 to 30 lbs. Compressor shuts down at 20 lbs from the low pressure switch.

I would change it and the dryer, vacuum it down. Vacuum down at fifteen minutes per pound of Freon required. If it takes 3 lbs, forty five minutes to vacuum down.

Roy
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Friday, May 4th, 2018 AT 5:26 PM
Tiny
DENNISD6253
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Okay, but it has not gotten any refrigerant yet I am confused to where to proceed. Getting more AC educated but still a total rookie and a total something else. So just going from not having done anything but taken those readings you can tell if TXV is bad. Not hesitant to take your advice to replace.
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Friday, May 4th, 2018 AT 6:24 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
I have been doing this for forty eight plus years. That valve is not working causing the evaporator to starve for Freon flow thus no cold air.

Roy
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Friday, May 4th, 2018 AT 6:34 PM

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