Common Problem?

[nissanmastatek]

Hey guys,
I have owned my 08 frontier for about 3-4 months now and noticed a problem with my a/c. I have been a nissan tech for about 6 years now and have been able to see plenty of these trucks. And they all seem to have the same problem. While idling, the a/c will kick on and turn off within 10 seconds and then re-engage within 2-3 of turning off. We call this fast-cycling, and it wears down the compressor as well as idling components like the throttle. I quite working for nissan a few months ago (you dont want to know) so i dont have as much inside access. Id like to see how many others have this problem b/c id like to present it to nissan so we can get a tsb on an ecm reprogram to fix this. Thanks for the feedback.

[stormrisin]

Originally Posted by nissanmastatek

Hey guys,
I quite working for nissan a few months ago you dont want to know)

Oh yes we do! Do Tell....PLEASE.

[black_pearl]

I have this same issue; it seems they all have it so I just assumed this was normal. But it definitely does annoy me.

[shaggyusm]

My 2007 V6's A/C does it too. My wife noticed it a month or two ago while we were at the drive thru.

[06nismoKC]

Who doesn't have this going on with their truck?

[spraynbuckshot]

I have come to accept this as the norm. Mine does as you describe.

[JrummerJ]

Yes, my new 08 CC Nismo does this as well. I just noticed that this past weekend. I heard the compressor go on and off rapidly while the vehicle was parked and we were loading kids and gear.

J

[nissanmastatek]

Well it seems that it is "normal" for these vehicles, but as standards go this is considered fast cycling. And for those without extended warranty I can say that you will feel the $ from the wear of the a/c and idling components. I will contact nissan about this, but it may take a group effort to get something done. It usually takes an act of god to make nissan pick up a pen. I will let you all know, and please keep chiming in on this, the more the better.
Somebody asked so ill make this brief. I was with Nissan for 6 years. I am a certified master tech, and hybrid specialist as well as ASE master with L1. I left Nissan of my own free will and have found a car manufacturer that will treat its employees and customers the way they should be treated. That is about all I will say, i will not get into detail b/c nissan does monitor these forums. This does seem appropriate however....

If you have any questions feel free to ask. I know these cars inside and out and most dealers/800nissan1 are less than helpful with a lot of issues like the one above. thanks

[nathancrx]

I believe my 1st gen does this as well. Have you seen any 1st gens doing it? Mine is a 2004 sc crew cab..

[Mainerunr]

every vehicle I've ever owned has done this when idling.

and, for the record, it's short-cycling. we use timers to prevent this in buildings. not sure how an ECM fix would cure this as the compressor probably runs off sensors while the ECM maybe enables/disables it depending on the position of the switch but probably doesnt know when it last cycled.

as for compressor life, short cooling season here, I've run my ac once this year, not too stressed about it. typically, it's a loading issue, when the cooling load is light, the compressor comes on, satisfies whatever sensor told it to run, then shuts off, as soon as the sensor is not satisfied, the compressor has to run again.

yes, it is hard on compressors.

oh, and TSB's are worthless to me because I have to pay to have them done so unless it's something I deem necessary, that wont happen (and this, I dont deem necessary)