J30 questions/issues

[ralphp]

Just found this site. Wish I had seen it a few months ago before I spent a ton replacing headlight relays and window motors at the shop!!

Anyway, I have a few questions I was hoping others may have answers.

Details: 1993 J30 Emerald Green with Beige interior. 152K, love the car.

1. For quite a while we have had an A/C issue. After driving for about 45 minutes the A/C will stop putting out cold air. You can hear the fan unit blowing hard and you can feel a light breeze of cool air coming from the vents, but hardly a draft. Turn off the A/C for a while and turn it back on later and it works for a while. I have seen one other person post this problem on another forum, but got no responses. Hard to diagnose at the shop since i have to drive the car around for a while and then have them look at it as soon as I drive in. Like they will drop what they are doing. Any help appreciated!!

2. I need to replace the spare tire, but the dealer wants a bundle for the stupid thing. I never have used it in 13 years, but somehow it had a puncture in the side. Have not found one in a local junkyard. Anyone know what other Nissan/Inifiniti models share the same tire. I know the pattern is 5x114.3, is this the only thing I need to worry about?

3. Bose head unit works intermittently, but I have found great info through this site to remedy this. Thanks!!!

4. I am looking for new leather seats (beige) as well as a new trunk lid (Emerald Green) in case anyone has these to get rid of. SF Bay Area. Anyone know if any other Nissan/Infiniti (Front) are compatible?

Thanks for all your help!

[93j30t]

the a/c sounds like there may be a coolant leak. try one of those 2 step items from your autoparts store. it fixed my problem

[NismoChi]

To me, your AC problem seem to be the compressor or the clutch or both, if the clutch is not engaging or the compressor is not working(when it is running too hot) you will not get cold air, period. Next time when you are not getting cold air (w/the AC is still on), look under the hood and check on you compressor and see if the clutch is engage, but, either the clutch or the compressor is bad, you'll need to replace the whole thing(used or new) anyway.

[ralphp]

Thanks for the thoughts on the A/C. I do not think this is the problem though. The air coming from the vent is VERY cold. It just is barely blowing. The fan unit is running hard as you can hear it at full speed (the control indicator shows the fan on full). It seems there is a problem with a door in the duct not opening or something. But the question is why? It works fine for about 30 to 45 minutes and then all of a sudden this happens. Maybe a sensor or something.

Someone once suggested that the condensate line may be freezing and water was backing up into the system. I am not very knowledgeable on A/C units. Does something like this make sense?

Thanks!

[NismoChi]

Someone once suggested that the condensate line may be freezing and water was backing up into the system.

What are you talking about? AC system doesn't have water in it.

[ralphp]

Like I said, I don't know much about these systems, that is why I asked if this made sense. Apparently it does not.

I am just frustrated with this problem as they cannot diagnose at the shop due to the time required to recreate the problem.

[yodawill2000]

I believe he's talking about the condensation drain line backing up. Maybe freezing up the exchanger where the air is cooled causing low air flow.

[KUL FIR CHICK N]

Your evaporator is freezing up. After 45 minutes, the evaporator has frozen to a solid chunk of ice. When you shut it off, it thaws and all is fine. First, make sure the drain line is not clogged. Run a pipe cleaner up through it and make sure there is no obstruction. If it drains on the driveway for more than a few minutes after parking it, you have an obstructed drain.

The J has a variable displacement compressor, which will not cycle. This may mean the problem will be difficult to cure. My J has the same issue, but I have not yet taken the time to dig deeper.

If you run the system on recirc. mode, there will be less condensate to freeze and you should be able to go much further w/o problems.

[ralphp]

Thanks, this seems to make sense. i will look for the drain line and see if there is an obstruction. I do recall noticing that when the problem exists you do not see condensate dripping from the engine which could indicate the line is frozen and not allowing the condensate to drain.

Thanks, I will post what I find when I have the chance to check it. I just have to find the drain line

[KUL FIR CHICK N]

The line itself doesn't freeze, the evaporator freezes which locks up the condensate as ice. A clogged drain will cause condensate to fill up the bottom of the case, making the freezing problem worse.

I need to check to see if the J system uses a thermistor in the evaporator to safeguard against freeze up. Most systems with variable displacement compressors don't have a thermistor, but the compressor is designed to reduce capacity before freezing becomes an issue. In '93, variable compressors were new technology and may not have been as good at preventing freeze up.

Ryan

[vegasjohn]

I found a couple of J30 leather seats at the Nissan Recycler in Rancho Cordova California (Just east of Sacramento). Cost $250, and they were like new! They have a lot full of Nissan products, and a number of J30's in decent condition.

[yardyetti]

I have a j-30 spare tire for sale. $50.00 and whatever shipping is and it's yours. E-mail at [email protected] My seats are for sale as well but it sounds like you can get better ones out there in cali.