Weak Air Conditioning???

[grizzlyt]

I've been looking at the Versa and the Honda Fit. Like the drive and comfort better on the Versa but am bothered by one thing. I have test driven 4 Versa's adn every time it feels like the air conditioner does not cool down the car. The Honda FIt seemed to work just fine. I live in Arizona so it is very hot and this is a pretty big comfort factor. The sales people tried to make sure the AC was set right and said it was. Has onyone else felt the the Versa lacks in the AC?

[BBISHOPPCM]

Every Nissan product I have ever owned has had horrible AC performance. Not sure why... Actually, the 15 year old Stanza I had (with R-12) was ice-cold.

[KimberKenobi]

you know, there is a thread in which we discussed this, but I'm not used to the new search and wasn't able to locate it... sorry. Maybe someone else have more patience right now. I've gotta run and do a clear coat...

[grizzlyt]

Sorry if I missed a thread on this but I did search on the forum but did not find anything about thes. Only saw threads about broken AC.

If anyone has any feedback I'd appreciate it.

[cucarachafea]

I have the same problem with my V. I feel cooler with my windows rolled down than with the AC running. As for the backseat passengers, you will need to get them one of those mini fans to cool off because they wont feel the AC at all. It makes me feel bad when I pull my son out of the backseat and he’s forehead is all sweaty. That’s with the AC running on full blast and tinted windows to block off the sun. This my only major complain on an otherwise great little car

[KimberKenobi]

ummm.... maybe it was you who asked this in another thread and much of the response was that no one else had that problem.... too tired to exert any more brain power...

zzzzzzz

[Rockhound]

I have the same problem with my V. I feel cooler with my windows rolled down than with the AC running. As for the backseat passengers, you will need to get them one of those mini fans to cool off because they wont feel the AC at all. It makes me feel bad when I pull my son out of the backseat and he’s forehead is all sweaty. That’s with the AC running on full blast and tinted windows to block off the sun. This my only major complain on an otherwise great little car

Then your A/C system has issues. I mean, our Versa isn't the coldest A/C I've ever felt, but it gets quite cold enough. Colder with the windows rolled down versus having the A/C on? Huh?

It's been in the upper 80's/low 90's around here with extremely high humidity, and we rarely put it above 2 fan speed. Sure, it takes a little while to cool down when the car has been parked in full sun when we run errands, but it cools off very nicely.

Plus, I'm unaware of any "typical" Nissan A/C performance, as my family and I have owned a host of Nissan/Infiniti's with perfectly normal A/Cs. Kind of perplexed by that comment.

Try using outside air until you've cooled the interior a little, and then switch it over to recirculate/"max" A/C.

[marleyfan]

I haven't had much call to use the AC yet but the few times I have I would agree with you. The AC in my car anyway is pretty weak. Not looking forward to that first 30+ degree day.

[Bubs daddy]

I live in AZ and the A/C works just fine. 102 today.

[matttail]

From Chicago, high of 91 today with something like 40% humidity. The A/C cools the car down just fine, it does do better while moving than sitting - but that's to be expected.

I had a chance to sit in the back of my versa while traveling for a few hours about a week ago. It wasn't real hot outside, but we did have the AC going the entire time. As long as the fans were on 3 I was quite comfortable in the back.

So I 'd suggest that you take the car to the dealer, it sounds like your AC isn't working at all.

[cucarachafea]

Ok, so I MAY have exaggerated a tad bit. Everything is fairly close to my house so most of my trips are only a few minutes long. So, it may take longer to cool a car that was sitting in the driveway. Never had that issue with my mustang, but I realize that’s far less room to cool down compared to my V. I actually only use it when someone else is in the car. I'm more of a driving around with your windows down kind of guy. I do wish the AC was colder and do, personally, feel cooler not "colder" with the AC off and the windows down. I’m sorry Versa please forgive me...

[Althalus]

Something I've noticed is that the AC in the versa is pretty much a direct relationship to how much gas you're giving the car, at leat for me.

I could let the V sit in my drive way for like 20 mins trying to get the AC going good, but like 5 mins after leaving the driveway and getting up to 55 the AC gets going really well.

[Deke40]

My Versa A\C doesn't cool as good as my 01 Sable but that one had to be worked on 5 times(luckly I bought the extended warranty).

After the car has been setting in the hot sun I found out it is best to open the windows for a short period with the A\C on full blast then you can close them. I very seldom run the fan over 2 and usually have the inside\outside selector on the inside mode and it cools just fine.

The one big difference I see is it's inability to maintain the temperture when setting still. Don't know if it has one or two electric fans. Once it is moving it cools just fine and I live two miles from the Gulf of Mexico with high humidity all the time with the temps in the 90s.

My small mechanic's temp gauge in the air duct usually stays around 38 to 40 and that is about all the a\c can do.

We delivered a Versa with the base upholstery in it the other day and that material sure made you sweat versus the material in the SL.

[nfntruth]

I have the same problem in my V. In order to keep the car cool, the fan has to be on 3 or 4. It does get cool quickly, but I leave the windows cracked and put up a windshield visor, but I would agree that Nissan's A/C units as a whole are weak. I traded an 02 Sentra SER for my V, and it had the same problem. If I was sitting at a light, might as well roll down the windows, it isn't going to cool down until you start rollin, and I had it serviced and inspected by Nissan, they said it was normal...

[Rockhound]

Ok, so I MAY have exaggerated a tad bit. Everything is fairly close to my house so most of my trips are only a few minutes long. So, it may take longer to cool a car that was sitting in the driveway...

Well, that seems to be your problem(s) in a nut shell. Short drives combined with leaving the car in full sun = poor A/C performance. I know what you mean about smaller interiors, my dad's GMC Sierra regular cab cools off extremely quick even when outside - but it has just a fraction of the Versa's interior space. If you had a longer drive for your errands, you'd get better A/C performance, as well as if the car was garaged.

Something I've noticed is that the AC in the versa is pretty much a direct relationship to how much gas you're giving the car, at leat for me.

I could let the V sit in my drive way for like 20 mins trying to get the AC going good, but like 5 mins after leaving the driveway and getting up to 55 the AC gets going really well.

It's not how much gas you're giving it, it's how fast you're going.

I have the same problem in my V. In order to keep the car cool, the fan has to be on 3 or 4. It does get cool quickly, but I leave the windows cracked and put up a windshield visor, but I would agree that Nissan's A/C units as a whole are weak. I traded an 02 Sentra SER for my V, and it had the same problem. If I was sitting at a light, might as well roll down the windows, it isn't going to cool down until you start rollin, and I had it serviced and inspected by Nissan, they said it was normal...

Well, I wouldn't call your experience with 2 Nissans the definitive truth in this matter. Not that I'm a qualified expert, but the Nissans/Infinitis that I've owned haven't ever behaved in this way. Perhaps there are some design issues on the HVAC air-intake that are more pronounced on the cars you've owned, but I don't think you can make a blanket statement based on 2 vehicles...

[DreamU]

I live in Panama and in six months of ownership have never driven the car with the A/C turned off. Every day is 85-90 degrees with very high humidity. It works fine. My wife often sits in the back seat and is always asking me to turn down the A/C (as in its too cold for her back there). Generally I drive at fan setting #1. Have never used the fan above setting #2. I don't think there is any difference between the Tiida and Versa A/C.

[pingflood]

I've noticed that the a/c is pretty weak until you're moving. Guessing this is affected by the substantial interior space too... but my WRX had ice cold a/c blasting as soon as I cranked it and that engine wasn't much bigger.

Once moving however, I usually end up turning the fan down to 1 after a mile or so when it's 90-95 outside and it's perfectly fine.

Just a minor nuisance, nothing worth complaining about if you ask me.

[Ever Victorious]

For those who say that your A/C performance is linked to your speed... make sure you set the A/C system to recirculate air. It takes less effort for the A/C to cool up air that's already been cooled as it is to suck in new air and cool it.

My wife's Tucson has somewhat weak A/C... that is until you turn on Recirc, then you get Instant Nipple Freeze (TM) (R).

[ace rothstein 81]

I'm not a person who relies upon the air conditioning all that much, but when I've had passengers in the car, I've used it for their sake and it's worked just fine. Is it the most powerful ever? Doubtful. I'm sure it's far from the weakest, though. As for Nissans in general having A/C issues, I certainly can't substantiate that. My '92 Maxima had excellent A/C that would absolutely freeze my hands on many occasions. I had the car for six years from 2001-2007 and its performance never wavered.

[ApexVersa]

Funny, I just logged on to start a weak AC thread and saw this existing one. I live in Raleigh (Apex) NC and my AC had been working just fine UP UNTIL yesterday. All of sudden I have to put that damn thing on full blast to feel it cool off.

Needless to say, it is going into the shop this week to be looked over. Might as well because I also have a piece of black trim around the passenger window that is starting to rust. Basically it has a knick in the metal that is rusting. So far my experience with my Versa has my worrying.



Apex Stang

[BBISHOPPCM]

As I mentioned before, all my Nissans had weak AC when compared to other vehicles, but I failed to mention that all my Nissans were 4 cylinder models. If I'm not mistaken, the compressors used in 4 bangers are not as large/powerful as those used in V6 models. For example; my mother had a 1996 Mercury Villager, which uses a Nissan Maxima drivetrain and most electronics are sourced from Nissan. That thing had ICE COLD A/C. So did my fathers' Ford Econoline (V8) and his V10 Dodge. Every 4-cyl car I've ever owned with R134A refrigerant has lacked the ability to ice up quickly. I know this has been mentioned time and time again, but here goes again;

Optimum settings for quick cool-off; Recirc, dash vents only, blower on "4," A/C "on," and you must be doing about 20 mph for this to really work well. And only crack the windows if it's hotter inside the car than it is outside.

[cnsmike]

I live in San Diego and my AC is super strong. Compared to my Lexus, the Versa has a better AC. Both of the cars have the same tint.

When I first got the car, it seemed to be a bit weak, but after use it works great.

[stevejonas1088]

I think the weak a/c has alot do with the louvers. if you look at how the a/c ducts are routed with the angle of the louvers its easily noticable that the angles of the two contridict max air flow capibilities.

[PB]

I think the versas air is average,I have seen alot of other newer cars that are worse.I keep my fan on 2 and it works fine after a 3-5 minutes waiting.

[Bubs daddy]

Quote »I think the weak a/c has alot do with the louvers.[/quote]The Versa doesn't have a weak A/C. It's 112 today and the air worked just fine.

[damnedkero]

here´s the same...113...not the quickest A/C but works

[lakebrenda]

I agree my a/c has improved and I live in So Fl (90 degrees). It might help to read the manual - it tells you exactly how to set it and which position to put it in first. It really does help to follow the suggestions!

[erocuroc]

just bought my Versa hb a week ago, then realized the a/c wasn't working. brought it into the shop today and they said the compressor was leaking thus the a/c wasn't functioning. they need to order a compressor and it should be there in 3-5 days. Point is, if you don't think your a/c is working properly, take it in! there really shouldn't be a question of whether it's functioning or not. A/C should feel like A/C. I sat in a different car, same model, and the a/c was functioning well. Other than this problem I love the car. And I don't foresee future problems once the faulty compressor is replaced.

[CodeRed]

Welcome to Nico!

And good luck getting that compressor in 3-5 days, it took them 2 months to fix my FL power window.

[erocuroc]

just bought my Versa hb a week ago, then realized the a/c wasn't working. brought it into the shop today and they said the compressor was leaking thus the a/c wasn't functioning. they need to order a compressor and it should be there in 3-5 days. Point is, if you don't think your a/c is working properly, take it in! there really shouldn't be a question of whether it's functioning or not. A/C should feel like A/C. I sat in a different car, same model, and the a/c was functioning well. Other than this problem I love the car. And I don't foresee future problems once the faulty compressor is replaced.

I'm writing to update my situation. They repaired the compressor a couple days after diagnosing the problem by overnighting the part from Nissan. This failed to correct the problem. The a/c still only functioned when it wanted to. So I took it back for them to look at it again, taking a free loaner car in the meantime. They called the next day saying they were going to replace the body control module (bcm). They overnighted the part, replaced it, still a stubborn a/c. So they called Nissan who suggested checking the pressure control valve which they then replaced. Called me, said car was working. Went there to pick it up and the a/c worked. stopped at the gas station, got back in the car, a/c didn't work. I took it to the dealer (mind you I just left 2 minutes earlier) and let them know nothing was fixed. They were very apologetic, brought out the mechanic who had been working on the car from the start and he was frustrated and at a loss. They are going to call me tomorrow after they call Nissan to see what other possiblilities to explore. To say the least this has been very frustrating, though the dealership itself has been helpful (other than one employee who is just a complete jerk, but I don't deal with him anymore, and believe me they know about that situation). So I'm to the point that if it doesn't get fixed this time around I'm going to ask them to replace the car. If they choose to dance around the situation I'll have to begin the lemon law process. Worst case scenario I'll have some paperwork and waiting to endure. At least I have a nice Altima as a loaner I guess. Anyways, any suggestions about possible fixes would be appreciated. Thanks for reading.