2001 Nissan Maxima AC CLUTCH will not engage in hot temps

Tiny
ATDGLD
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
MY AC CLUTCH WILL NOT ENGAGE IN EXTREME HOT WEATHER OR WHEN CAR IS FIRST STARTED--HAS MANUAL AC--WHEN DRIVEN FOR 7 MINUTES THE AC CLUTCH ENGAGES AND THE AC WORKS FINE
Friday, July 9th, 2010 AT 2:48 PM

26 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
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Hi atdgld,

Thank you for the donation.

Some part of the control is not working correctly and would not be easy to diagnose as it starts to operate after a few minutes so the diagnostic time is limited till the next time it happens.

I have emailed you the diagnostic files.
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Sunday, July 11th, 2010 AT 1:43 AM
Tiny
ATDGLD
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DURING OUR HEAT WAVE OF 102 DEGREES THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT ENGAGE. WHEN THE TEMP WENT TO 95 IT STARTED TO WORK. TODAY WHEN THE TEMP IS 90 THE WHOLE SYSTEM WORK FINE. IT'S DEFINITLEY OUTSIDE TEMP RELATED
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Sunday, July 11th, 2010 AT 10:54 AM
Tiny
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The ambient temperature sensor is the only item that would affect the compressor.

Did you go through the diagostic files I sent you?
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Sunday, July 11th, 2010 AT 11:23 AM
Tiny
ATDGLD
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I will check the temp sensor

could not open the files you sent
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Sunday, July 11th, 2010 AT 4:17 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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The files are under pdf format. Is there any error in the file?

I would try to send in other formats and hope it is usable.
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Monday, July 12th, 2010 AT 12:19 PM
Tiny
ATDGLD
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I OPENED THE FILES AND PRINTED THEM THANK YOU
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Monday, July 12th, 2010 AT 3:15 PM
Tiny
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Ok, keep me posted of the outcome.
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Monday, July 12th, 2010 AT 3:49 PM
Tiny
ATDGLD
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HI YOU HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL. MY NEIGHBOR, WHO IS A RETIRED HOUSE AC MAN, SAID CHECK THE CONDENSOR. I DID AND IT HAD VERY LITTLE DIRT IN THE HONEY OF THE TUBES I USED A BRUSH AND GARDEN HOSE. I DID NOTICE THAT THE HONEY COMB THAT HOLDS THE COOLING TUBES WERE BENT AT THE BOTTOM, MAYBE FROM ROAD DEBRIS BUT NOT TO BAD AT THE TOP. I REMEMBER FEELING THE CONDENSOR WHEN THE AC WOULD NOT WORK AND IT WAS SUPER HOT AT THE TOP AND COOL AT THE BOTTOM NOTHING INBETWEEN.
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Monday, July 12th, 2010 AT 4:00 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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If the cooling fans are working, then the condenser is clogged internally and would require replacement.

Splash some water onto the condenser to see if the cooling is bettter.
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Tuesday, July 13th, 2010 AT 7:39 AM
Tiny
ATDGLD
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Ok
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Tuesday, July 13th, 2010 AT 8:01 AM
Tiny
ATDGLD
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I JUST GOT BACK FROM A FREE AC TEST "OF SYSTEM" THE PRESSURES WERE FINE. HE SAID THE REASON THE AC DID NOT WORK ON THE 100 DEGREE DAY WAS BECAUSE EITHER THE COMPRESOR SAFTEY SWITCH WOULD NOT ALLOW THE CLUTCH TO ENGAGE OR THE INSIDE OF CAR ELECTRONIC SWITCHING WAS BROKEN----I HAVE MY DOUGHTS.
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Wednesday, July 14th, 2010 AT 1:56 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Logically those are correct but problem is how to get it fixed.

The compressor relay is controlled by the PCM ground and seems that is not working intermittently.

Likewise the cooling fans are also controlled by the PCM. Hope it I snot a failing PCM that is causing the problem.
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Thursday, July 15th, 2010 AT 10:04 AM
Tiny
ATDGLD
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WELL I GUESS I AM AT THE MERCY OF MOTHER NATURE -WHEN IT GOES TO 102 DEGREES AGAIN I'LL RUN TO AN AC REPAIR PLACE--SHOULD I KEEP THE CAR IN THE SHADE TO PROTECT THE PCM FROM THE HEAT--
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Thursday, July 15th, 2010 AT 12:41 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Intermittent problems are never easy to diagnose and the time for diagnosing is limited as in your case.

Are you able to perform testings yourself?
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Thursday, July 15th, 2010 AT 2:14 PM
Tiny
ATDGLD
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THERE IS A PLACE DOWN THE STREET THAT WILL CHECK THE ON BOARD PCM. WILL AC PROBLEMS SHOW UP ON THE TESTING MACHINE, I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST POWER AND ELECTRICAL ANYLIZING
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Thursday, July 15th, 2010 AT 2:40 PM
Tiny
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The HAVC system do have a self diagnostic and trouble codes can be retrieved if there are any.
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Thursday, July 15th, 2010 AT 3:13 PM
Tiny
ATDGLD
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What is the havc system or is that hvac
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Thursday, July 15th, 2010 AT 9:54 PM
Tiny
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Sorry for the typo error.

It should be HVAC.
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Friday, July 16th, 2010 AT 6:50 AM
Tiny
ATDGLD
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THAT'S OK ABOUT THE TYPO. WELL IT'S ALMOST 100 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND I TOOK MY CAR TO RUN SOME ERRANS. THE AC WORKS GREAT. THAT 5 SECOND ACCIDENTAL BLEED OFF I DID, CKECKING THE SYSTEM MY SELF, MUST HAVE LOWER THE HIGH SIDE ENOUGH TO KEEP THE COMPRESSOR ENGAGED AND CLEANING THE CONDENSOR MUST HAVE DONE THE TRICK- AC WORKS FINE IN 101 DEGREES TEMP- THIS HAVE BEEN SOME HOT SUMMER---YOU STAY COOL AND THANKS
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Friday, July 16th, 2010 AT 1:33 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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You're welcome.

Glad to know you have fixed the problem.

Was the system by any chance overfilled? If possible, get the high and low pressure readings to confirm.
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Saturday, July 17th, 2010 AT 12:26 PM

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