2010 SL AWD Intermittent A/C working

[Cadencewildbeast]

Hello all,

Last summer I had to have the A/C compressor replaced on the wife's Rogue because of the clutch went bad on it. We replaced the compressor, and the Filter Dryer with a local mechanic that i had used for years. About a month later he passed away and the A/C stopped working. It has been back and forth to shops now for 4 or 5 times, and the system checks out and is not leaking. If we are on about an hour long drive the system will kick in and blow ice cold for 2 or 3 min then blow ambient temp for 30 min then back to cold but its random. I have checked all fuses and connection at the compressor. I cannot find out what wrong, and I am hoping that someone can point me in the right direction. Help!

[amc49]

Water in the system from lack of a good vacuum, it gets cold until the slight water freezes over the orifice method used there then the system blows hot until the ice plug melts to go cold again, ad infinitum................

The ice plug will show instantly if present and the mech checks the highside at the time, the pressures will be bonkers there. A basic thing that everybody who is competent at all on a/c knows about.

[Cadencewildbeast]

Water in the system from lack of a good vacuum, it gets cold until the slight water freezes over the orifice method used there then the system blows hot until the ice plug melts to go cold again, ad infinitum................

The ice plug will show instantly if present and the mech checks the highside at the time, the pressures will be bonkers there. A basic thing that everybody who is competent at all on a/c knows about.

Thanks for the reply, but I don't believe that would be the issue. Since being replaces it has been to 2 different shops 3 different time, and now has vacuumed out and refilled 3 times. Last visit system pressures were checked and all was good, but still works only part times.

[Rogue Jarhead]

Start your car set the ac to full /high, pop your hood. Are your radiator fans running? If not you have a blown fuse or the fans need replacing because they are seized. If the fans do not run your ac will not work.

An entire fan assembly is available on eBay and probably Amazon, it’s relatively easy to swap out the plastic fans and fan housing.
Even easier to replace a fuse.

[amc49]

X2 the last post. Past that errant pressure switches or relays. No rocket science there.

[zengshengliu]

If the system is overcharge, this could also happen. (AC on for a few minutes and hot air, and back to AC)
I once use a DIY AC recharge kit to recharge my 08 Rogue. Using the gauge on the kit, I add the refrigerant until the pressure indicator reach the green area. After that, the car AC start acting up. On some long drive, it will blow hot air mid way, and after a while, back to cold air. I then discover that the AC pressure for the Rogue should be lower than the gauge indicated, so I let out some refrigerant and its back to normal.

[amc49]

ALL auto a/c uses about the same pressures depending on the gas used.................you just found out why reading the lowside only with DIY equipment has torn up more systems than can be counted, the pits there. HIGHSIDE is what determines when to quit charging a system.

[dave08902]

The only method to properly service an automotive A/C system regardless of make or model is from a known quantity (weight) of freon. All automotive manufactures do not give you superheat or subcool charts to service your a/c, all they give you is the weight amount. In stationary units they give you superheat and subcool charts, then the low and high side readings can be used to service. If you have been to several shops with RRR machines, then your service should be perfect. When I service my A/C, I always recover the freon and weight the amount in my recovery bottle, then I re-service it and add additional freon as needed. I don't have a nice fancy RRR machine but I have everything to service stationary units so my equipment will work on automotive. Your Rogue has an expansion valve and not an orifice tube, if the expansion valve is not properly metering freon to the evaporator it will freeze over time and you will be blowing warm air. You can see this on the low side when it happens, your low side gauge will be very low to almost pulling a suction.

amc49 is correct that those quick shot bottles are the worst thing and a total waste of money.

[Cadencewildbeast]

Thanks all for the suggestions. I cannot personally say that the system is charged properly, but it has been vacuumed out and recharged at a qualified shop 3 times since this ordeal started, so I am fairly sure the levels are correct.

I will take a look at the radiator fans and see if that is the cause.

Thanks for the help so far!