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1987 Nissan Maxima AC Help


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yearlingsun
New User

Aug 15, 2015, 2:53 PM

Post #1 of 6 (1744 views)
1987 Nissan Maxima AC Help Sign In

1987 Nissan Maxima - V6 3.0 - 137,000 Miles

Hello all,

I'm fairly new to working on car AC systems, I do most of my car work on my own but am inexperienced with AC. I have a 1987 Nissan Maxima. When I first purchased it about 4 years ago the dealer I got it from overcharged the AC system and locked up the compressor. They gave me a refund to replace the compressor which I did. After charging the AC system up the air would blow cold for about a minute and then get hot. At the time I didn't care too much about the AC system because it stayed fairly cool where I lived at the time. I ended up moving somewhere a little warmer so I had a mechanic check out the AC system for me one day. After messing around with it he told me their was a pressure switch that screws into the dryer/accumulator that needed replaced.

I finally got around to purchasing the switch about a week ago, it arrived today so I installed it. When I took the old switch off of course the refrigerant in the system all came out, (I used an environmentally friendly alternative to charge my system after replacing the compressor so I wasn't too concerned about some of it escaping) I used a rag to soak up most of the stuff as it came out. Based on the amount of refrigerant that came out I don't believe the system has any leaks. I used an AC system dryer and sealer this time around as well when I recharged the system.

Once I got the system all charged up I tried running the AC again. Same deal as last time, it would blow cold for about a minute and then cut off. I've noticed that the system will blow cold as long as the radiator fans are on, as soon as they cut off the air stops blowing cold. The compressor also spins fine so I know it's working correctly. I have no idea what my next step should be as far as determining where the problem in my AC system lies. I imagine that the pressure switch might not have been bad and the wiring running from it is damaged somewhere, I hope that's not the case.

Any advice is appreciated!


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 15, 2015, 3:09 PM

Post #2 of 6 (1737 views)
Re: 1987 Nissan Maxima AC Help Sign In

Your next step shop be to lay down the tools and walk away from the car.

You have made about every possible mistake that could be made. I don't even know where to start.

  • Not using R134
  • using sealer
  • installing a compressor without doing anything else after the first one grenaded
  • Letting the refrigerant just blow off taking all the oil with it
  • Thinking you have no leak based on how fast it blew out.
  • The compressor spins fine so it is working correctly? ......... really?
  • No gauges or pressure readings

The only advice I can give you is take it to an AC specialist, not the fool that told you to change the switch.
You don't learn AC repair through experimenting or posting on a forum.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Aug 15, 2015, 3:24 PM

Post #3 of 6 (1731 views)
Re: 1987 Nissan Maxima AC Help Sign In







Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


yearlingsun
New User

Aug 15, 2015, 5:29 PM

Post #4 of 6 (1715 views)
Re: 1987 Nissan Maxima AC Help Sign In

I don't have the funds to take it to an AC specialist otherwise I would, I can afford parts, I can't afford the ridiculous costs of labor on auto work. This car probably hasn't had any AC work done since it was built so I figure it might need some work and I do have the funds and time to repair the system myself. I've learned the basics of AC systems, I figure the best way to really learn about them is actually work on them, even if I do have to go through some trial and error. The AC compressor is remanufactured, it's not been on the car very long and since the AC doesn't work it's not really been used. If you could provide me with some more information about working on AC systems and at least a list of things I need to do that would be great. I don't expect to learn enough to fix the whole system overnight, I do know that I can learn what I need to learn in order to fix it myself. Everyone has to start somewhere right?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 15, 2015, 5:35 PM

Post #5 of 6 (1713 views)
Re: 1987 Nissan Maxima AC Help Sign In

OH, and you used a reman compressor too. Add that mistake to the list.

You may think you don't have money for any specialist labor but believe me, after you have replaced all the same parts multiple times because you ruined the system, you're going to think that labor was really cheap.

You couldn't learn everything you need to know in a year of posting on forums.
AC repair is not a DIY job.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 15, 2015, 8:15 PM

Post #6 of 6 (1707 views)
Re: 1987 Nissan Maxima AC Help Sign In

My few cents: With no money and this exact car at the age plain forget having A/C. Try to get your money back if you can for the compressor is really new you didn't have to give them your old one so put it back on for the pulley it probably need for the belt(s)


If you must have A/C this is totally now the wrong vehicle. Made for another gas than you must have used and totally hopeless now if you would spend thousands and thousands to make it right.


That doesn't seem likely and would be a waste for a car IMO of no particular interest anyway and not be worth much with great A/C still.


HT was wrong it wouldn't take a whole year on the web to learn this it would take a lot more than that! If everything was OE parts and situation would still take skills but throw in now the list of horrors rules this car out for A/C. Get a cig lighter fan for about $10 bucks and put up with it.


Rock and hard place big time. Can you manage without a car at all? Just rent when a must? Other options for having a car if communing and must have one? They all cost something no matter what you do,


T







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