QX4 / Pathfinder Air Conditioning

[sowlerthjh]

My QX4 has started to take between 5 and 10 minutes for the AC to kick in. When it does it is sudden, as if the compressor has suddendly turned on.

I have notice two ways that usually make it work (listed below), but I feel this is wrong as the car used to blow cold air straight away.

1. If I turn the climate control to "off", and then back to "auto" this usually makes the air cold.

2. If I rev the engine to around 5,000 rpm, cold air soon follows.

Once it has gone cold it stays perfectly cold for the rest of the journey, although not so much when stationary.

My mechanic has recommended that this is the condenser. Is this likely to be correct? I don't want to change it unnecessarily....

[Towncivilian]

Clean the condenser with Simple Green and a hose.

[sowlerthjh]

Thank you.

I will try that but since the air is perfectly cold once the system is working I feel it is more a case of something not activating.

[Towncivilian]

Please try following the self-diagnosis procedure described on page HA-43 of the factory service manual.

[johnjones]

Hi My AC only worked on high - 4, but blew OT air. ('05 Pathfinder)

I found this link and fixed the problem for just the $75 for the part. The local dealership guy knew what the part was as soon as I walked in the door.

The orginal post has pictures. http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f23/ ... igh-42412/

If you can turn screwdriver, you can do this.

[Towncivilian]

The blower motor resistor failure is only relevant to manual A/C control models. The OP has automatic A/C control. That doesn't rule out the possibility of the fan control amplifier being faulty in some manner, but generally that would manifest itself as a nonfunctional blower motor.

[Joe99qx4]

I would do the following.

1. Open the hood and start the car, air off.
2. Have someone else turn on the air. At that point, the AC compressor should kick on. You will hear it.
3. Pay attention to see if the AC clutch is cycling on-off-on-off. It should not be doing that, especially on a hot day and the fan speed on hi.
4. If the AC compressor does not kick on, but then it does when you mess around with the switches inside the car, then it is most likely a problem with the unit in the dash.