A/C part 2,3, 4....

tweety · 07-26-2005, 06:14 AM

I did a search and saw many issues of AC units not blowing right or if at all. My issues is not that way at all.
The AC comes on when going to defrost-I read that this is normal.

But what if I use the AC normally and then decide that it is too cold and want it off? Now I am not using it in defrost mode now but basic dash vents, yet it doesn't shut off even after the all powerful orange light goes off!
Heck, sometimes after dark it gets nice enough to run the outside air and drop the windows but it stays on.
The addition of all the water on the ground hours of driving later tells me that it's still on if the cold air isn't an indication.
Another problem is that I want the fan off. "OFF" means, well, off. Right? So why does the fan continue to blow at level 1 status?

travism · 07-26-2005, 07:18 AM

I'm not sure if I understand your problem, but it sounds like you've read about the A/C system staying on after using the defrost mode. But the fan and A/C compressor should turn off if you have the dial turned to off in any case. On level 1 the fan will blow and the compressor may be on depending on what setting you've been on since you started the truck. I've seen threads that if you run on Max A/C setting, then it acts like the defrost mode in that the compressor won't turn off with the fan on until you turn off the ignition. Is this the problem that you are talking about?

Maryland Hunter · 07-26-2005, 02:51 PM

From what I've heard, the fan never shuts completely off, to prevent CO poisoning, in case of a build up. May be just rumor, but I've heard that for quite a while, and it makes some sense I guess.
I can't figure out what the genius that developed the "stay on AC after 1 minute of defrosting" was thinking. I don't want my AC compressor running in the winter all the way to work while my heat is on, just because I had to melt the ice on my windshield and it took more than a minute. Extra wear on my compressor and less gas mileage. The manual says that is to dehumidify the air, but isn't hot air from a heater already dry? Isn't this why we have humidifiers on our furnaces, and pots of water on our wood stoves? Seems as though the heater air should be humidified, not dehumidified. Oh, well, sorry to rant, this just pisses me off though. A simple switch that would really turn off the AC would solve the problem. Must be the same intellect that decided to put a sliding rear window in a extended cab truck.

MH

Quad T · 07-26-2005, 03:15 PM

I hate the fact that I cannot turn off the A/C when I have defrost selected. I had this same problem in the Honda, but those clever engineers were able to develop an over ride that could be activated by holding a clever combo of buttons in a specific order. Now when the A/C turns on when I select defrost in the Honda I can hit the A/C button and the whole A/C system shuts down.

There was a thread about this a while back, I don't remember if a Titan solution was ever found. I recall a Frontier solution was found.

travism · 07-26-2005, 03:17 PM

No Titan solution has been found that I'm aware of. And I've been keeping an eye out for one as it irritates me as well.

Quad T · 07-26-2005, 03:18 PM

Here is some fuel for the fire, lots of reading...

This is not a feature people like!

air conditioner stuck on!

Air Conditioning is always running

Quad T · 07-26-2005, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travism

No Titan solution has been found that I'm aware of.

I was afraid of that...

TOK · 07-26-2005, 03:58 PM

I didn't go back to read the other threads, but I believe the source of the complaints on the Titan defrost issue is that once you turn the defroster on and the compressor starts, switching the defroster back off won't shut it down. You have to shut off and restart the truck to stop the compressor.
Easy to see the big issue with this... If you're going on a 50 mile trip, and run the defroster for 5 minutes then switch it off, you're running with the A/C compressor on for the remainder of the trip.

My Toyota Tacoma has the linked defrost and A/C, but the compressor kicks off when you shut the defroster off. I have had no issues with this system, and I've read it prolongs the life of the A/C by not having it sit unused for months. I believe this, since the Tacoma is going on 6 years old and the air conditioner still blows ice cold, and has never given me a problem with zero maintenance or recharging.

If Nissan could get the system right, so that shutting off the defroster shuts off the compressor, I'd have no problems with the setup. It does clear fogged windows much quicker than just blowing hot air on them.

Maryland Hunter · 07-26-2005, 04:58 PM

I wonder if Nissan is aware of our dissatisfaction of this feature?
Would telling the dealer/service writer be enough, or should we contact Nissan directly?

MH

dragonhead08 · 07-26-2005, 06:01 PM

anytime I hear the word "software glitch" about a car it gives me a headache. I liked the days back when "I" was the one in control of the car and not some stupid software built into the car.

fklentz · 07-26-2005, 11:12 PM

There is a reason for the A\C running while in defrost. Air is like a sponge and will hold water. Running it thru the A\C is like wringing out a sponge and let's the "Dehydrated" air absorb the moisture that is fogging up the window. all that moisture that is absorbed is then squeezed out again in A\C. Whenever I'm driving in the rain, cold or hot, I always have the A\C running with the recirc button pushed then adjust the temp selector to a comfortable setting.

fklentz · 07-26-2005, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maryland Hunter

The manual says that is to dehumidify the air, but isn't hot air from a heater already dry?

MH

No, hot air is not dry. It's just hot moist air. But you do have a legitimate gripe. When it's winter where you live and everything is iced up the humidity is somewhere near that of the Sahara desert and the A\C will do absolutly nothing to help the windshield clear. There should be a selector to turn it off. If I can find the time I could probably devise one that most owners could do with a momentary button and maybe a relay, cost less than 10 bucks.

Just press the button and it would disengage the clutch on the compressor and hold it until pressed again or the ignition switch was cycled.

Burly · 07-26-2005, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tweety

I did a search and saw many issues of AC units not blowing right or if at all. My issues is not that way at all.
The AC comes on when going to defrost-I read that this is normal.

But what if I use the AC normally and then decide that it is too cold and want it off? Now I am not using it in defrost mode now but basic dash vents, yet it doesn't shut off even after the all powerful orange light goes off!
Heck, sometimes after dark it gets nice enough to run the outside air and drop the windows but it stays on.
The addition of all the water on the ground hours of driving later tells me that it's still on if the cold air isn't an indication.
Another problem is that I want the fan off. "OFF" means, well, off. Right? So why does the fan continue to blow at level 1 status?

I have the exact same problem. My 95 nissan pickup did the same as well. I plan on having it checked next oil change.

dslater524 · 07-27-2005, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOK

I didn't go back to read the other threads, but I believe the source of the complaints on the Titan defrost issue is that once you turn the defroster on and the compressor starts, switching the defroster back off won't shut it down. You have to shut off and restart the truck to stop the compressor.
Easy to see the big issue with this... If you're going on a 50 mile trip, and run the defroster for 5 minutes then switch it off, you're running with the A/C compressor on for the remainder of the trip.

My Toyota Tacoma has the linked defrost and A/C, but the compressor kicks off when you shut the defroster off. I have had no issues with this system, and I've read it prolongs the life of the A/C by not having it sit unused for months. I believe this, since the Tacoma is going on 6 years old and the air conditioner still blows ice cold, and has never given me a problem with zero maintenance or recharging.

If Nissan could get the system right, so that shutting off the defroster shuts off the compressor, I'd have no problems with the setup. It does clear fogged windows much quicker than just blowing hot air on them.

I just got my '05 Titan, so I need some clarification on this topic. Are you guys saying that when I turn on my defroster, the air conditioning comes on?...or the compressor at any rate? It gets damn COLD here in Fairbanks in the wintertime. I need all the hot air I can muster defrosting my windows...especially the windshield. Does it actually cool the air coming from the heater? How about the setting that's partly defrost and partly just cab heat? same situation?

So I start up in the morning and I'll be on at least partial defrost all day..does that mean the compressor is on all day also? Seems pretty strange to me. Also, in the severe cold, at least on my Toyota, if I use recirculate, it REALLY fogs up the windows. Will that happen on the Titan also with the A/C on?

HELP!!! this is serious...I could be blind or frozen...or both.

travism · 07-27-2005, 04:19 AM

Everyone go back and read the other threads that were linked above by Quad T. I think all the questions were already answered. Except MH - I think you need to contact Nissan directly or else the dealership will probably just blow it off.