In this video I bring you along as I check out a customer complaint of "no a/c" on this Nissan Altima. It ends up being a pretty easy fix once we gather a little data. -Enjoy!
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South Main Auto Repair
47 S. Main St
PO Box 471
Avoca, NY 14809
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained.
If an SMA Video has helped you out please consider giving using "Patreon" to help support us. The videos take real time to create and pull us away from real work that pays our bills. CLICK HERE: https://www.patreon.com/southmainauto
CHECK OUT OUR "SMA SWAG" STORE! Go on Teespring and get your very own SMA merch!
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If you don't like Patreon feel free to use the "PayPal Me" link: https://www.paypal.me/SouthMainAuto
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Thank you for all the continuing support!
--Eric & Vanessa O.
Feel like sending some swag to SMA because you love the videos but don't know where to send it?
Just ship it here:
South Main Auto Repair
47 S. Main St
PO Box 471
Avoca, NY 14809
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained.
Hey there, viewers welcome back to the south main arts channel. That's our 2014.. It's the nissan! It's the ultimate! It's got the big two five and uh. It's got no ac and it's hotter than a mother lover out, and you know how hot that mother lovers can get whoo.
It is roasty toasty today 95. It says here in the dash uh what we're gon na do. He told me that he had a problem with the ac, but he said it was kicking on too much so he pulled the fuse and uh, and that was it and then anyhow he put the fuse back in it before he brought it here and apparently now It doesn't work at all, so that's what we know so i'm gon na pop into uh - and i tried to ask a few questions about that. You didn't really have the answer for me, so i just want to pop in here and just see.
Are we getting the command? You know everything look like its function here, a lot of times. We can see the pressure switch and stuff here. So that's what we're gon na do. I'm gon na look up ac here.
We go ac relay ac signal, ac pressure. That's odd, uh! Let me start it up here. Folks, you push fine so down here on the hvac. Let me show you the ac button here that appears to be normal.
It's not blinking at me or anything. So that seems to function. You know on and off, but what's weird, if you look at the scan data scan data is not changing there, but what's weird, what sticks right out to me is the oh. You see that ac pressure sensor.
Let me turn this off. It's hot. It says zero! Volts uh, which that's weird um. If it's a three wire sensor uh, it should never go to zero.
It's gon na have a range you know half to four and a half volts. I would assume so that's kind of bizarre um before we even go any further. We'll see if we can find that little guy, i don't think, there's any more ac stuff here to look at now. I don't think so.
Um. Let me poke around here for a minute. I didn't see anything else, useful uh in scan data, so we're just gon na do a little lookie check out the components, maybe push the schrader valve. You know stuff like that.
Don't push a schrader valve you ding dongs uh, let's see so there's our compressor lives down there. Just kind of a little visual inspection see if we can see the that pressure switch anywhere, so there where it goes into the cabin comes down just try to identify some components here. Real quick, like must be the uh, oh yeah, that other line runs underneath all that business over there. Underneath the electric power steering still don't see a pressure switch.
That's interesting! Is it on the uh on the old hvacker. Sometimes that's the case. Let me stick around the uh core out here: wow i'll be depth. Where is that little fella? I think i see you and there it is well.
I don't know if i'll be able to get you guys to see that and hence intense so there she is. There's our pressure switch. I think when i look in there with the light, i think i see something that i don't like, so we're gon na pull these little clips out here. Ping alright got 250 some thousand miles on that one. Try this one again come on little fella there she goes only broke just a corner of it and uh. So it's been around the block a few times come on baby. There we go. Will that get us to it? Let's see, i want to bring you along in case i'm right.
Do we want that one? We want that one, let's go see here. I thought i saw some green. Let me make sure you're in frame. Nobody wants to miss the money.
Shot could be wrong. Oh, no, i'm right! We didn't even need this. That wire is gone. Come on.
I should have brought the 90 degree picker huh. Look at that folks, so the wires broke. I thought i saw some green dust laying on the edge of that sucker uh stand by folks. It looks like the pins inside that switch look good, but yeah she just crowded off the back, but i start looking around here and i see some open wires out of this harness there uh, but anyway, we'll uh, tackle the problem by hand, looks like gon na Be a little field trip i'll, be right back, we got tornado warnings, i'm gon na have to haul that's the fastest trip i've ever made.
So we'll put you pull out a bat yeah we're supposed to have some nasty, hail, tornado and high winds. I guess you're saying uh in this connector for what it's worth. I should have brought you along, but i wanted to be quick like a bunny uh, apparently so what i did to find out where the connector fits is. I looked up a pressure switch for this on the napper website and this pressure switch nissan uses on everything.
So the first nissan car i walked to was a the smaller one in these, not the ultima, whatever the sentra and it's like boom, it's right there boom, i cut it off, and hopefully it's right that didn't even look. I didn't even take a freaking picture. Oh yeah, look at that. It's the right one.
I think the wire color is different, but how about uh about this? We don't want to tear the whole stinking front end apart on this car just to get to this harness and that's as far up as we can pull it. Of course, it had to be in row freaking 16 way on the back. 40. wait hustle um! How about we could probably just make the repair right here there were some teeny tiny wires.
Let's do it now i feel guilty for not taking you guys with me. Let's see, i just wanted to cut that back a little bit, so we can expose expose these little fellas where there are some teeny tiny wires. I don't even think i can get them with the strippers. I mean we can, but i know if they're like 24 gauge or what they are, but man they are tiny.
Now, let's see we're going to leave a little bit extra, so we know who's who here all right. So those are all soldered heat shrink down there. Now the big dilemma of trying to get it taped up everything looks good. I double check to make sure that we've got it going all in the right direction, so we've got a little tape here. On the end of the pick classic trick me ma taught me it's a mini roll on a stick. That'll at least get us taped up down here on the bottom side there, but we can't get our fingers in give it a little bit of protection. Anyways get it up here where we can actually tape it using the scotch super 88 best stuff on the planet. Snap-On straight pick, you can use any street fig boom.
We were right so that uh pressure sensor works. What does 1.28 volts translate to as far as pressure and you've got as good as mine? Let's see if the ac works now, according to this she's on, i heard the old clap out here of the old clutch kick on where's that it is down boy, you guys can't even see it. I can't even see it down at the bottom, but i heard the clutch kick in we're not feeling much coldness, so i did hear the clutch engage fan just kicked on. Let's get some gauges on it.
Oh it's only about 74 degrees. Out of that center vent, our compressor is working. Our pressures are a little low. I'm going to take i'm going to evacuate it we're going to see what we have in there for refrigerant.
I'm thinking not much or it is quite low. I don't know if it's ever been serviced before, not to be honest with you yeah, with only about a 20 degree difference between inside and outside air. We like to see somewhere around 30, at least so we'll draw it down. Uh see where it's at get our charge make sure it has a proper charge on it and then check our cooling system performance at that point, but uh yeah a lucky find on that sucker huh, we don't find broken wires.
Broken wires find us that doesn't even make sense, but we put this back together, super thankful for wilbert's. Being so close. I think i often lose sight of how big a blessing that place is especially for nonsense. Stuff like this, you know so yeah she's.
Only about half charged only took out eight ounces um, so we're gon na take i'm gon na put a little oil in it. Here we only took out about a half ounce, so we'll just put a half ounce back in there and then we'll take and get her charged up. We just want to charge on low side and uh so 0.52 kilos and then we're going to start kind of like say just a smidge over 90 out right now, but expect us to be in around 60 or so we see it where we're at here 50 That 67, oh no, it's 57. beautiful! Now we're just going to head back to the shop i'm going to take and make sure the.
Let me turn this thing down here. I want to make sure that the condenser is good and cleaned out. Usually i take the blow nozzle try to go across them when i can make sure that's cleaned out, radiator's cleaned out make sure it's got. You know real good air flow and then i'm gon na go along and check for leaks with the old sniffer and see how things are doing in that department and also just free tip for you, when you're putting your caps back on the system, make darn sure You've got the o-rings in the caps they're, you know part of a part of the system that seals so just a pre-tip. I guess i don't know uh this many miles on. I don't know if this fella's ever had the ac serviced on it or not. What i've noticed doing a you know yearly service uh for customers on cars is that most cars are about, i would say, a half ounce to an ounce a year. It's not uncommon to see them.
You know i'm talking like brand new cars. You know they'll have the ac system service just as a normal service to make sure that it's completely charged. So you know oil doesn't start to accumulate in the evaporator and things like that on a thermal expansion valve system and i've noticed that it's not uncommon to see. You know like this half ounce to one ounce.
You know loss so to speak, uh per year right or wrong. I don't know, but that's just been my observation, so perhaps this guy's never had this ac system service. I don't know i'll have to get a hold of him, but in uh either way. I'm still gon na go over it go with the little sniffer uh see if we see anything all the common spots.
You know the crimps on the hoses uh connectors where they hook together. You know ac compressor body seal everything like that. So anyhow, it feels wonderful in here and i don't really want to get back out, but why don't you get back out into that comment section the questions, the comments, the concerns, the nc, the facebook just from our viewers. If i can do it, you can do it thanks for watching.
Them storms went through Minnesota. Here where I live north of the cities we had the same hail,strong winds, and I believe at least one tornado. I was watching the trees bend almost completely over. We had a lot of tree damage here. Nice job finding the crusties and broken wire. Logically diagnosed and repaired.
Can someone educate me about Civic -08 (R18) A/C system? I already checked all the SMA videos about A/C repairs and some others too. Can't find my problem. I bought this car and it had no A/C. Took it to service thinking it's low, that didn't help. No leaks, system is full so i checked relays and fuses because clutch still wasn't kicking on. Pushing the button didn't send power to control the relay so then i took out the scantool and it had a pressure switch code. Got a new switch and tried changing it because internet told me it would have a valve in it so that you can swap it without recovering first. Not the case, back to service where the technician emptied the system for me. I borrowed some tools from him and swapped the switch, he filled it back up but still not engaging the clutch. He then told me it's the clutch and that magnet switch is just not strong enough to pull it. I went back to my garage and took the one shim plate out to fix the gap. I did active test with my scantool and it did engage the clutch on and off. So the clutch now has the ability work. Now when i start the car and press the A/C on it engages the clutch for maybe 5 seconds and shuts off. Gives me the same pressure switch code and it will not let me turn it on unless i clear codes. Did i get a faulty new pressure switch? This is what i am thinking now. My scanner shows this switch sitting at 5v all the time no variation at all. Or is there something i'm missing here.
You went to the junk yard and you didn't take us? How do I complain to the management? 😉
Great video Eric your awesome buddy
Hail Wilbert and his U-Pull!
Did you pull the cabin filter off camera ?
I have never had my 98 4Runner AC serviced and as Scotty always says …it's an old Toyota and still blowing cold.
That was a quick video.
That's messed up you didn't take us with you! I would've taken you….
Thanks for sharing the tape trick.
I love the trips to the recycle place. Oh well. Next time!
Well another great fix well done 👍
104 today out in Lathrop California where I live.
Mr rainman always changes the Schrader valves also.
You owe us a Field Trip Eric O’. 👍🏻🛠
Dude.. tape on a stick.. Fuckin legit.. Added to my arsenal! Thanks man!
"We dont find broken wires, broken wires find us" 😂😂😂 Great channel and great video bro. Im an avid watcher of your videos and you are definitely a one of a kind mechanic. Thorough work and very honest. I just found ur channel maybe 8 months ago. Iv been binge watching all of the videos. Still got some catching up to do. Keep em coming !! 💯💯
Question, have you ever owned an Xtool diagnostic tool? I notice you use a lot of Autel OBD2.
No, don't feel guilty. But Field Trips were always the best part of elementary school. Don't steal that from me… shame, shame! 😀
Love your vids, say "Hi" to Ray for me. 😀
I think the problem with most mechanics today is the fine art of, patience
Thanks
Hey yall got the crazy weather up there too I see! Good job finding that wire so quickly 👏
Are you really still on facebook? That dog is dead.
People bitch about Chrysler, but our 06 T&C has 250k on the clock and the A/C still works fine. AFAIK, it’s never had any A/C service….
Lots of miles lots of green stuff hiding.
Why didn't you take us with you Rainman Ray would've
Would you recommend starting a shop/ do you have any advice for someone who wants to have their own shop?
I was a bit disappointed we didn’t get to go to the junk yard
Reminds me that I need to get my Pilot serviced.
Broken wires find me to lol
My absolute favorite mechanic ….you made my day! Thanks for the video, we are going to call you the broken wire god! Awesome. Stay safe from the tornados. Love from AZ ❤ where a/c is required 24/7!!!!
God I love the junkyard
I still remember when there used to be a sight glass on A/C systems. Kind of dates me doesn't it. Lol
Down here in Miami my name is Phil by the way they want I got a quote or estimate for a complete breakdown two dishes in the front two drums in the back and all the parts and all that stuff hey wanted for $20 in Miami Florida I'm just curious how much you charge to Miami to where you are I don't even know exactly where you are can you maybe you can tell me I don't know I think I want to move because I don't like Miami Florida anyway it's a good place but too many too many crooks everywhere I like the way you are do things up there that's all for now just I was just comment I had what's your channel all the time it's good I'm accustomed mechanic okay that's all for now
Just had a crv in shop was in accident. Completely empty. Figured oh body shop never charged system. Held vacuum for 25 mins. Started charging and started blowing out condensor. Turns out it holds vacuum. But when the bottom line isnt tight it leaks on pressure hahahaha
We enjoy road trips to the you pull it yard.
I'm pretty pissed we missed the field trip to the Bath wrecker.
Just noticed you're at 699K (not Kelvin), good deal.
Why do ac compressors seize?
Great skill brother, love the videos and knowledge, I work at a dodge dealership and you have saved me from so many headaches with your tips and tricks of the trade, God bless brother from Los Angeles ✌
Good job Eric O. Thanks for sharing buddy 👍
The air con compressor on my 1995 Neon siezed what should I also swap out? I had the system drained in a shop but want to put the parts on myself.
Well done Dotor O. Yes we like seeing Wilberts too. Next time please.
Ya coulda got an unbroken clippy-do too…? 😜😘
Awesome job Eric.
Eric, your like a hound dog when it comes to broken wires. Great repair job.
no trip to wilbert's?!?
🙁
blowing ice cubes!…
I don't know about you but I love my mother.
90 and raining? Whew. 💦
Tape on a stick thank you for the free tip.
I think finding broken wire qualifies as a sixth sense for Eric, at this point. It’s at least an instinct.
Rainman Ray said to watch your stuff. Ah, yep.
90 degrees and no stop off for ice cream?
I'll be dipped… vice grip garage reference?
Problem: AC doesn't work. Data observation: pressure switch reading 0v. Diagnosis: pressure switch appears to be missing.
You can make up for not taking us with you to the boneyard by putting Mrs. O in the next video.
No Wilbur's. Damn.
Man you have a gift!
Do you automatically replace the Schrader Valves like Ray does?
I'm wanted to go to Wilburts 😟
Dont think anyone has ac done unless stop working and runout. They are supposed to be closed so should not get low or dirty. Guess could be how much used. If you use it all the time the oil keeps rubber good bit if you go for months without useing rubber Can dry out? Think they say should use every month at least even if cold out to keep it working
Don't feel bad about not taking me along on the pressure sensor hunt, I don't take you to the pick & pull when I go….😆🔩🔧⚙️🧰⚒️ Great vid, Eric!
Are the port caps part of the system on older 1970's and 80's cars Eric? I use to watch the techs I worked around pull those line caps off and toss em and it seemed like hardly any cars had them for very long back then.
I now refer to my car the same way you do!
That's a 2010. It's a Plymouth. It's the PT Cruiser. It's the convertible. It's got the big 2.4.
did he really solder the wires together or is that a connector ?
Wow, the transmission lasted long enough for the AC to fail.
Thanks Dr. O!
I constantly spray my condenser radiator. With a hose every chance I get gets it clean
You need to put ac in the shop I did and the electric bill only went up about $100 to $150 but everyone is happy and the work gets done faster should’ve done it 10 years ago….
Thank you Erick my AC randomly stopped working everything checks out hearing you say it could just be low makes me wonder if it just needs a charge. All electrical is good no leaks condenser looks fine. I’ve been told it’s a sealed system there should be no leaks but hearing you say cars happen to loose some gas in system makes me think now maybe just needs a charge I don’t think the cars ever had the AC maintained
I live in communist California and the temperature is been in the 100° degrees for the past two weeks. Without A.C. you will cook slowly in your car. By the end of the day you will be juicy and tender.
I had to do my 98 Ford e250 ac evac and recharge it's doing about a 30 35 TD
I love going to Wilbert's 😔
So how do you know the difference between tornado siren and rhe lunch since they use the same thing for both i am guessing?
You Sir, have a gift for finding broken wires. I have had my truck for 10 years now ( 9 yrs old when I got it) and haven't had the A/C services, and it blows ICE cold. I wouldn't mind getting a service done, but nervous about opening a system that seem to be running great.
Ah man, we missed getting to go to the junkyard? : (
Ha!
😥B-b-but, we like to go to junkyards too-oo…
green crusty ninja. Just sayin
It made sence to me
Days like today make me wish I’d picked a different job, the shop was so hot I had to go home an hour early because I was in danger of passing out from heat exhaustion, and of course it’s so humid, all the huge swamp cooler did was make the concrete wet and slippery.
I understand you pump down the compressor to take the freon out. I don't quite understand what moves all the oil out of the system. You would think it would just stay where ever it's at. Usually you see oil where's its leaking.
Nice
thanks for not taking us along with you,,,,, we would have stayed in the car
Awesome job. Like they told us in Armours' school, always fix the easiest stuff first and then go from there. S
A/C? I'm amazed a 2014 Nissan Altima can run 257,000 miles and seemingly run good!! What?! A/C never touched … and the CVT is still working? Amazing!
You would not believe, my 92 Prizm (which is rebadged 99% toyota Sprinter AE90) with 286K miles still got ORIGINAL AC and Ice cold in TX weather! The only part I replaced is the clutch bearing (NSK brand). Also, my 97 4runner and 2000 Land Cruiser still got all original AC and GAS (no part has been replaced), and yes ICE cold!
Okay, I get it. The car has 250,000 miles, which is more than you would get in an old car. Moreover, I'm starting to warm up to the fact that cars are actually computers with an engine attached. And smart guys, and teenagers can figure that all out.
Eric, now my sticking point is how unserviceable cars have become. Go back 95 years and cars were simple, but also provided unlimited access to all parts. Open the hood of a Model T or Model A and nothing is hidden.
Logic would inform me that as cars become more complex that even more access should be provided to locate and service those complex parts, but that hasn't happened. The way they cram the engine bays of modern cars is criminal on the part of the car makers.
Does this car have the original transmission?
Thanks for the tape on the pick trick.
Cool hack with the pick and tape. You didn't take us to Wilbers. yeah. 😩
“If I can do it, you can do it”. Not true, but I appreciate your confidence in me!
1 hour. 13,000 views. Awesome. Oh, I can't do it.
New monitor here and I just figured out the metal pieces on the bill of your hat are not staples to hold it together, its test pins for back probing! What was I thinking? That hat is good for another 5-10 years before you need to staple it together… Take care.
I'm a commercial hvacr tech and if it's low, it leaked out or was taken out by removing gauges that are over 2ft long…
hoses hold 2 ounces for the 36" ones and 3ounces for the 60inch hoses…
love your videos, most restaurant equipment is critical charge and I'd now odorless propane, big boom in car
Do the buttons blink when there is a problem?
I have a 2002 Ford Lariat that has the coldest A/C, knock on wood, and never been serviced. My new GMC Sierra A/C doesn't get as cold as the 20 year old Ford. 👌 Don't know what Freon is in the GMC may be -yf.
Absolutely about the caps they help keep contaminants from entering the system and is the final seal for the service ports. I carry those pigtails on my service van as I am a mobile tech and see a ton of damaged connectors and corroded wiring. Great thing about used engines they typically come with a partial harness that can harvest pigtails from which can fit a multitude of different OE'S. I normally have new but used is a great option on very hard to find pigtails