Nissan Almera air-con problem! Pls Help

kes83

Hi

I currently drive a 2000 Nissan Almera 1.5l 5dr hatchback very similar to the one in the photo below (which I hope has attached itself correctly).

Im having a problem with the air conditioning and I hope someone can help me resolve it. Theres 3 dials at the centre of the dash for heater/cooler/air-con, the one on the left for blower selection/direction, centre one for fan-speed/power of the blowers, and the the one on the right for temperature. The problem is that regardless of where the dial on the right is there is warm air coming through once the engine heats up. Even turning it fully anti-clockwise to the cold position theres warm air coming through in whatever direction is set by the dial on the left, and if it increase the right hand dial the air only gets warmer and warmer. The centre one for fan-speed/power can also be set to the zero mark or turned off but still warm air comes trough, similarly to what it would have been like on fan-speed 1 before the problem.

Please can anyone tell me what may be the cause of this? and how I may resolve it? Im not that good with cars unfortunately.

If it helps, I had my car go through a full service in Lismard AutoWorld recently and it was a couple of days later when I noticed this problem come up, something I've never had happen before. Would there have been anything in the full service that would have altered how the air-con should work?

It's prob something simple and hopefully it is. Any help with this is much appreciated.

dont know how I could stick any warm weather in the summer (if we get any...) without being able to use the blowers for some cold air :eek:

Tropheus

Has your aircon ever been regased? If not, it's definitely due it. A Nissan dealer or a specialist listed in the Golden Pages should be able to help.

Aircon works like a fridge and needs a special gas to function. This gas will only last a few years depending on how much you use the aircon.

You can get DIY cans of gas from Halfords and other motor factors, but if you're not into DIY then that's not an option.

A regas is definitley worth trying. There are other possible issues, but gas is most likely for a 9 year old car if it hasn't been regased recently. Checking the aircon is not normally part of a service unless you tell them that you have a problem.

kes83

thanks ksimpson. i've had the car about 2 years now and its not been regased while i've got so i'll give this a shot. cheers

colm_mcm

sounds like you've a problem with the cables running from the heater control to the heater (behind the glovebox) is there a phone kit fitted to the car?

kes83

nope, no phone kit

colm_mcm

When you turn the heater knob, a cable joined to the knob (similar to that on a bicycle brake cable) pushes/pulls a lever behind the glovebox. find that lever and make sure that when you turn the knob, this lever is moving properly. make sure that where the cable is mounted to the heater conrols, or the actual heater unit (behind the glovebox) isn't loose or hasn't come off.

That's what I think is wrong anyway.

kes83

cheers colm, will try that before i go spending money somewhere. thanks

netwhizkid

It is also a good idea to remember to run the A/C around once a month during the winter or whenever you haven't used it in a while. It helps to keep life in the GAS and is good for it. Alot of cars in Ireland might get the A/C used for two weeks in August and nothing for the rest of the year so it is a good idea to give it a stir once in a while.

hogwind

kes83 wrote: »

thanks ksimpson. i've had the car about 2 years now and its not been regased while i've got so i'll give this a shot. cheers

Just bought a regassing kit from Halfords for €60 (not sure how much you'd pay a garage) and currently it comes with a free aircon cleaner worth another €20. it also includes a leak sealer so if that has caused your problem it should get round that.

I got the Halfords guy to have a look at the car first and he was able to tell me that it was definitely out of gas. He also asked the question about whether the controls were working properly otherwise but as mine were I don't know what the relevance was.

Might be an alternative for you.

netwhizkid

I thought regassing A/C was regulated and could only be done by trained professionals due to the chlorofluorocarbons involved similar to the gas refrigerants.

colm_mcm

Isn't the problem here that HOT air is coming out when the heater is set to cold. Hot as opposed to not freezing. sounds like more than a lack or aircon gas.

Borzoi

netwhizkid wrote: »

It helps to keep life in the GAS and is good for it.

No it's not - the Gas (usually 134a) does not wear out, period. Over time it will leak from the system, the rate of leakage will depend on the quality of materials used by the manufacturer, the build quality, and the amount of shake rattle and roll the car gets.

hogwind wrote:

IJust bought a regassing kit from Halfords for €60 (not sure how much you'd pay a garage)

These kits are illegal here and in the rest of Europe, because to sell F-gases in non-returnable containers is against EU law. Unfortunately the govt hasn't yet signed the papers that will give the EPA the power to seize and destroy these disposable kits. When that happens it will also be an offence to sell gases to non-qualified installers

al2009

under proposed legislation automotive regassing will not have the same stringent regulations attached, wish it would as it would stop cowboys regassing cars, unfortunately due to the design of car ac they all leak over time, usually through the hoses. Regas/service should be carried out by a refrigerant handling certified professional, its easy to overcharge these systems without the proper gauges/tools.

al

bubba1990

I recently bought a 2001 Nissan Almera Hatchback and there are a few small problems, first of all the heater knob is broken it looked like it was super glued back on but to no avail so I cant control weather its hot or cold air, secondly my defog button is broken so i cant defog my back window, usually you just press the button in and a light comes on to confirm its on but it doesn't press in anymore and there is no light has gone and this has now stopped working . Can someone please help me an d tell me the bus thing to do!! Would it be expensive to get fixed??

ianobrien

Edit - Never looked that the date on the OP

TestTransmission

bubba1990 wrote: »

I recently bought a 2001 Nissan Almera Hatchback and there are a few small problems, first of all the heater knob is broken it looked like it was super glued back on but to no avail so I cant control weather its hot or cold air, secondly my defog button is broken so i cant defog my back window, usually you just press the button in and a light comes on to confirm its on but it doesn't press in anymore and there is no light has gone and this has now stopped working . Can someone please help me an d tell me the bus thing to do!! Would it be expensive to get fixed??

Please don't dig up old threads, you've posted the same question 3 times now!