'02 Infiniti QX4 A/C Issue

[dollerprod]

Hello, I found this friendly, helpful site after coming across this epic thread which saved me over $500 and took 20 mins to do on my own to fix the A/C. Turns out this was a notorious problem with the I-QX4. nicoclub has bailed me out of trouble a couple of times now.

Anyway I am now having another issue with the A/C. This time it is blowing fine and all, but the air is not cold at all.

Someone has told me I should try to recharge the refrigerant, but my understanding is that that shouldn't really be needed unless there was another underlying problem. How can I determine whether it is a problem with the compressor or something else? I suppose I need to check for a leak/blockage but I am not so sure exactly how to go about that.

Again, the "volume of air" being blown is fine, but the air is not cold whatsoever... Could someone please advise me where to start to try and workup what the problem. Is there some type of diagnostic I could run from the A/C panel?

2002 Infiniti QX4. Thanks for any help!

[Jesda]

If the compressor isn't coming on, the first thing I'd do is top off the system with R134a. It's easy to do. Buy a can and a pressure gauge.

Youll want to take it to a shop to make sure the refrigerant level is correct, but you can do it yourself and top it off until it blows cold. Follow the directions on the can.

[dollerprod]

Thanks Jesda! Yes I think that the compressor is turning on as when I turn on the A/C and look at it I can see the clutch rotating. Being that it appears the compressor is operating as far as I can tell, what is my next step here?

Thanks so much for your input!

[dollerprod]

So I really just kind of out of the blue thought to come back and report what has happened with this issue. I don't want you loosing sleep out of curiosity over it. It kind of resolved itself. I didn't do anything but the temp if "acceptable" now.

It does, however, now makes this sort of "knocking" sound when the a/c is on. It's pretty obvious. I even turn off the a/c at drive through windows just to shut it up. But it blows cold so...