Bad controller? Getting very little heat. Usually on only a second before it blows cold again.

Heater seems to take extremely long to come on even with engine at operating temp and when it does it is only partially and it cycles on and off repeatedly. Car is otherwise in excellent condition and at 80K relatively low mileage.

When you say it cycles ... you feel cold air from the vents? ... or does the fan change? What tells you it's "cycling"?

"Extremely long to come on" could mean the door is stuck and the engine has to get to full operating temp before you feel heat. But in that case it should stay roughly the same temp, once warmed up. If you're having trouble with the Darlington, your fan will only run at full speed or off.

96Qowner wrote:When you say it cycles ... you feel cold air from the vents? ... or does the fan change? What tells you it's "cycling"?

"Extremely long to come on" could mean the door is stuck and the engine has to get to full operating temp before you feel heat. But in that case it should stay roughly the same temp, once warmed up. If you're having trouble with the Darlington, your fan will only run at full speed or off.

Takes about 10 to 15 minutes of driving before any hot air comes out and then its only for about a second or two before it blows cold again. Cabin never warms up even when ACC is set at 85 . Fan speed is adjustable manually and usually will not change if set manually. Also my rear defroster is not working. Not sure if related. I tested it for continuity and it checked out OK. Good thing I'm hot blooded. Worst part is driving with frosted windows. I did notice some frequent cycyling this summer with the AC on so it might be symtomatic of the controller going out.

I just want to shout out an update. I was cleaning my air conditioner fins that is attached to the motor in the glove box last weekend, when I came across:

the glove box all pulled out I could see the old job I did on the heater door lever back in 2006

It has been nearly 2 1/2 years since then cant beleive it. But none the less it look good in there no wear problems still operating great after two winters. Nice to have heat.

Two things I have to mention about Nico since I have been gone from this site so long.

1. If it wasnt for Nico I probley would have trade my car by now.

2. I notice how much quicker people respond now to post's. that just shows you how many more members are on here now, it has grown for sure.

Glad to hear it is still working! Your writeup will help many as they experience this issue.

How dirty was your evaporator? I recently did the same job in April and posted results{6 degree lower air temps out of center vent after cleaning} I think about 25-30% of my evap. face was blocked with black gooey lint/grime mat- mechanically cleaned with brushes and used the can of expanding evaporator foam cleaner

Thanks for the update and don't stay away so long next time.

Be sure to update Infiniti in your profile now you are a seasoned member.

Actually it was not even that dirty at all. I was suprised. I went ahead and cleaned it anyways.

Are you still having cooling problems while at idle?

Ya it is still not that cool at idle.It might need to be recharged

If it is the condenser I dont think I want to spend that much right now sinceI plan on buying something next year after tax returns.

With the gas prices going crazy and all I think I might pick up a used hybrid or a toyota corolla or yaris.

I will garage the Q I am not selling her. I will drive it on the weekends. So I will not be driving it as much so I cannot justify spending to much.

Maybe I am talking about something different. What is the evaporator?

All I cleaned was the plastic fins on the fan blade that connect to the fan motor for the a/c

I did not take the big black box out. I seen some posts on that one that was real dirty. It look to hard to get out and it was getting dark.

Mine could be dirty as hell in the black box. I clean the fins but that didnt help much if at all.

My blower works great.

You will want to go back in there to clean off all the junk on the evaporator face, as that will give you cooler air from the a/c,

Remove the glovebox and fan again, and take out the darlington resistor{fan speed controller} with a flashlight inspect evaporator face{to left of fan and darlington, looks like a mini radiator} for black garbage blocking face of evaporator.A toothbrush can be used to scrape junk off face of evaporator reaching in from the 2 openings, no need to remove black box-I did this and got 6 degree colder air out of vents from air conditioner.

Wow, Hey Brian!

I can't believe that you posted recently on this thread. I haven't been here much at all, but stopped to check on something about my AC. My heater is still working, too. It's weird though, I sometimes have to mess with the temperature control to get the door to close all the way and let the REALLY HOT air in.

I saw someone had posted about it taking a long time to blow hot air. After this repair, I replaced my thermostat. It was in bad shape and made a huge difference in the heat up time. Even though the gauge was showing in the middle, it wasn't blowing warm. The thermostat fixed the problem.

Anyway, glad to hear that your repair is holding up, too.

Steven AKA Jman

I can't see the pics in this post and I desperately need to do this repare.
Anyone know how or where to view the pics?
Thanks in advance

where are the pics at i dont see anything can some one post the link please

Looks like BD sold his Q back in October. You might try sending him a PM...

Heath

My plastic post broke as well. I tried to customize the piece, but decided to just spend 30 minutes twice a year and take the radio and heater control out and turn the knob by hand from hot to cold. It works fine for me - when I start getting too hot for venting I switch it to cold and use the AC. When I start getting too cold in the fall I just switch it to Heat.

Oh no!!! Where are the pictures?

I have the same problem, but in my '99 Q. Any body know if this is the same problem and fix?

Thanks.

Thanks for this post.It helped to know where it was at...I took the rig to the next level and bought a small vice grip, the smallest available at harbor freight or anywhere I know about.....clamped on broken post, turned it to open door and duct taped it to the metal vertical piece to the right side of radio...its apparent when you stick the vice grip in their as there is only one way it can be done...works great...10 minute repair, but after winter, it will have to be manually put back on AC.... Duct tape is god among fasteners..
Perhaps I will properly fix it when its not 10 degrees outside...breaking record colds this year...I got it cranked up all the way and shimmed it to get it that extra turn.....toasty...its never been so hot...

It's nice to see these old threads still helping people out. I'm glad you have heat again!