1999.5 Pathfinder AC HELP

[Wkz1gg0a]

So the past few days were getting kinda warm so i go to turn on my AC and i got warm air coming out. Waited 5 mins thinking it was taking time to start up since i havent ran it since last summer but it stayed warm.
I listend and heard my compressor turn on perfect i just think it needs a recharge. i know that theres a High pressur and Low pressur valve and i need to recharge via low pressure side but cant fig which one it is. I look under the hood and the service valve is placed diffrnt then on the pic. Plain and SiMPLE MY QUESTION IS DO I NEED A RECHARGE and IS the Service valve on the Driver side or Passenger side?

[Towncivilian]

It sounds like you need a recharge, but I'm no expert on A/C by any means. I do believe that those crappy cans of refrigerant with gauges on them you can find at auto stores won't be very sufficient as the manual (knob controls) system takes 1.32 - 1.54 lbs of R134a, and it'd take a bunch of those small cans to fill that up. Also don't use the stop leak garbage, that'll just cause things to clog up after enough applications.

You can look through the HA section in the FSM to see if you find anything of use.

I had an A/C hose replaced and my system recharged and oiled by Nissan at 90,549 miles (now have ~122250). They charged $8.40 for the refrigerant, but I don't know how much labor costed since a bunch of other stuff was done as well. The hose cost $176.22. Invoice says "R.R NEW OEM LOW SIDE AC LINE ADDED 1 OUNCE OF OIL EVACUATE AND RECHARGE RAN AC PERFORMANCE TEST OPERATING AS DESIGNED NOTE COMPRESSOR NOISY WORKS O.K." My A/C is working great to this day, blasts cold air and with a new in-cabin filter it's even better. I think that recharging the system yourself is just a stop-gap measure, I'd get a shop or the dealer to fix it and have working A/C for another 10 years, personally.

[Pathy415]

In the future it's good to turn the ac on at least once a month to lubricate the compressor. Seals dry out, gets brittle and leaks can occur.

[ARKQX33V6]

Most cars automatically turn on the A/C when defrost is selected to clear the windows, summer or winter. There is also a temp switch to keep the compressor off when it is too cold. Most compressors are activated via the clutch mechanism. Controlling the clutch controls the pump.

[Towncivilian]

There is also a temp switch to keep the compressor off when it is too cold.

I read on BITOG that this elusive "temperature switch" does not exist - R134a is liquid (or is in the wrong state in which it doesn't function, anyway) at 40F or below if I recall correctly.