I have a small issue that just arose in my car. I was driving to work in the morning and my AC was working fine, all of a sudden it switched to fresh air and stopped cooling. Just blew air from the outside. It did that for 10 mins and then started cooling again as normal. I drove the car around during lunch and it was on for a few minutes then no cold air like before. Did the same thing, switched to fresh air by itself after a few moments. It was working perfectly fine yesterday and over the weekend on a 120 mile trip.

It has done this in the past twice but would just start cooling again in a min or so. I had to change my radiator over the weekend so not sure if anything got damaged during that time. Would a coolant leak do this? I havent had a chance to check if my compressor is kicking in but seems like it isnt.

 

Update: AC came back on on the way home to work yesterday and is working fine. Dont know WTF is going on.

 

Sounds like the ac charge is a little low. The charge pressure has to trip a pressure switch before the ac clutch will activate. Your pressure may be borderline, or the ac clutch or pressure switch has a bad connection or is going bad.

 

Where is the pressure switch located? Dont know if the rain had anything to do with it. My AC has done this in the past. Like about 7 mths ago. Its been working fine since Wednesday (it rained like crazy and temperature outside dropped by 25degF)

 

There should be one on the low pressure line. Never looked on my Infiniti, so without searching I couldn't tell you exactly. Im not sure if outside temp would cause the line pressure to fluctuate or not. Next time it happens, find that switch and jump it out with a wire so see if its the cause. Dont leave it jumpered out though.

 

sounds like the compressor is short cycling due to low pressure - +1 to the low refrigerant level as the likely cause

 

Low refrigerant level = leak?

Its been running fine since wednesday. When I got in the car at work to leave that day, I popped the hood with the AC on and the compressor wasnt kicking in. As soon as I started driving it kicked in. My idle has been somewhat low (around 500rpm) without the AC running.

 

When did this issue arise?

at a dead stop, or while moving forward?


Can you check your radiator reserve, and see where the fluid level is?

I am aiming for bad fan clutch... But this just be a low refrigerant level but since I see you have a 2003 i am trying to remove the variables you have here.

 

Pressure switch is on the a/c condenser. If you are standing in front of the car it would be to your left (passenger side) in front between the grill, and reinforcement bar.

I highly doubt it's that though.

 

The 03's didnt come with e-fans?

 

They came with 1 auxiliary/ac fan (pusher) and 1 18 inch mechanical fan.

 

Good to know, thanks.

 

So OP have you fixed it yet and what was the cause of the problem?

 

Sorry for the late reply....the AC issue went away but then it came back today and lo and behold it was while it was raining. Last time the compressor didnt engage was when it rained and it was the same today. It was on when the car was parked and turned off as soon as I started driving

 

so yeah anyone know what the heck is going on.