A/C Compressor in cold weather

[lovemycarM35]

Is this normal for the A/C compressor to not engage in cold weather it's 18 degrees here. The manual states that the front defrost doesn't come on manually unless the temp is above 23 does this mean the A/C will not engage till the temp comes up I no my A/C is working

[M37owner]

All modern cars run the A/C compressor year round (keeps lubrication moving through system). I think the statement you are referring to in the manual just means that the defrost air is not going to start blowing on the windshield if the defrost air temp is too cold. Blowing really cold air on the window won't help defrost it much. So the car (engine coolant) temp needs to come up some before the defrost air temp is high enough to start clearing your windshield. it should only take a minute or so of running the engine to get the (engine) defrost air temp over 23.

[lovemycarM35]

Ok I get that but the My compressor will not engage when the ambient temp is under 23 I tested this last night after parking in the garage for about an hour when the temp got up to around 40 degrees I hit defrost and the compressor came right on I guess what I'm asking is at extreme cold temps like 18 there is a sensor that tells the A/C compressor to not power on.

I know this to be true in my 2004 maxima although the light comes on but the compressor doesn't engage

[yomoms16]

The ac compressor on mine doesn't come on when its cold.... but blows ice cold air summer time...... freaked me out the first year I owned the car ....

[lovemycarM35]

confirmed!!!

[svard75]

The AC has nothing to do with hot/cold like many think it's to regulate the humidity. As a hvac specialist explained to me when I had my home AC replaced it will condition the air by removing the humidity. In the winter the air is usually much less humid so the AC wouldn't need to cycle, however the front defrost may still kick it on if needed. Regardless in colder months the air is heated removing moisture why would you want to further remove moisture to make the air even dryer? Here's a good write up a nicoclub member shared a while ago http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/air-co ... finit.html