[colin4989]

Good evening


I need some advice please



I bought a 1.4 ntech 2011 5000milesex demonstrator 4 weeks ago, it had a lot of issues with aircon, auto lights,wipers not working amongst other things. (discovered after i collected it)



The garage had diagnosed various corrections but finally stated after contacting Nissan that it was configured for a left hand car instead of a right and that it was to do with the BCM.

This seems to have corrected the issues but when the compressor kicks in with the aircon it makes quite a noise and affects tickover and accelaration etc is this normal?



Any feedback would be greatly appreciated



thanks

Colin

 

[John h]

Don't sound normal to me I should get it checked

 

[SneakyElephant]

YES of course the aircon robs power from the engine, this is perfectly normal. You probably lose at least 8 bhp with it on.

 

[mnl]

when the compressor kicks in with the aircon it makes quite a noise and affects tickover and accelaration etc is this normal?

It shouldn't make any noise, apart from a clonk as the compressor clutch engages.
The tickover should dip slightly and recover quickly as the ecu brings it back under control.
It will affect acceleration noticeably on a 1.4.

Sounds as though there is something wrong, possibly there is too much gas in the system or the expansion valve is blocked.

 

[alfisto]

colin4989's advice is spot on. The "drag" effect will be more noticable on small-ish petrol engines than diesel. Normally the ECU will quickly detect the compressor load and adjust the idle speed accordingly.Some engine management systems control this faster than others. An overcharged AC system worsens the effect. A good independent garage with AC expertise should be able to correct that and check the operation of the expansion valve.


The "clunk" from the compressor clutch plate engaging is normal. I haven't heard the compressor engage on the Nissan petrol engine versions but it's quite loud on the 1.5 dCi (Renault K9K)! That same compressor is used on Clio/Modus/Kangoo petrol and diesel, and the noise is the same. Those compressors oftenmake amomentary rattling soundafter first starting up, especially in warmer weather - it's "normal" and characteristic of that compressor design. We've owned Modus petrol and diesel, both of which made the compressor start-up noises but without any technical problems. The compressor is basically a sound design and usually reliable provided the AC is maintained properly.



There are three versions of compressors used on Nissan Note (and Micra 2003-2010).

1. Zexel model type DKV-08R - 1.4 petrol

2. Calsonic model type CR10 - 1.6 petrol.

3. Sanden model type SD6V12 - 1.5 dCi.



These are "variable displacement" compressors which adjust their output according to heat load. With a hot cabin air temperature the displacement is at or near maximum. The compressor's output (so energy consumed) reduces as the cabin temp is lowered.



My company's business is vehicle air conditioning (28 yrs). A little research yesterday with the compressor manufacturerrevealed the power consumption of the Sanden SD6V12 used on 1.5 dCi is typically 3.6kW / 4.8 hp at 3000 rpm. The compressors used on the Nissan petrol engines have smaller capacity so will consume less engine power. The clue is in the numeral used in the compressor model type. But, as the 1.4 is quite challenged in the power delivery stakes you'll certainly feel the load of the compressor, especially when overtaking or on gradients.

 

[alfisto]

mnl, excuse me. That good advice was yours. Must change my glasses

ATB

 

[mnl]

Cheers

My little Corsa had air-con, and ended up with too much gas because it stopped cooling, and had a noisy pump that really sapped power at speed. (I half expected it to seize and shear off the pulley)
So I put in some do-it-yourself coolant, until I got the low side pressure into the green.
Made no difference to the noise or the cooling, so I bought a new pump. Took it to get the system drained (must save the environment) and there was loads too much gas inside.
Fitted the pump and regassed, and within a week it was the same.
Conlusion from much research : blocked expansion valve (The "specialist" didn't suggest that, if I'd known I could have fitted one when I changed the pump)
Replacement price £30 plus £50 for another regas, so I never fixed it.

 

[alfisto]

Hi mnl,


What model Corsa, and which engine?



Corsas aren't reknowned for problematic compressors so my guess something fundamentally wrong within the system! Compressors rarely fail of their own accord - some other defect causes it to happen - as you probably already know. Unless that cause is solved the replacement compressor invariably fails and usually very quickly.



Expansion valves are often very inaccessible. For that reason inspecting or replacing them isn't popular and usually expensive. A blocked valve signifies debris,frequently from a failing compressor's internalsand sometimes decomposed dessicant from thedehydrator.

 

[mnl]

FWIW
it was a Corsa-C 1.0 engine.
I don't have it anymore. On the Corsa the expansion valve is right against the bulkhead where I could easily have changed it, apart from the regas.

Could have been dessicant I suppose, or a small piece of the first pump, or even the thermostat part of the valve stuck , I'll never know now. No debris appeared in the recovered oil when it was regassed, don't know enough about the regassing machine to draw a conclusion from that though.

 

[alfisto]

I must say, you know your stuff. Better luck with the Note! Let me know if its AC develops any weird tendencies or you need any parts!


ATB

 

[colin4989]

Dear all thanks for your replies!
The garage tested the a/c and found gas pressures okay and the compressor operating normally.



However as I said at the start there was an issue with the Bcm which has now been replaced and although the a/c is noisy it is no longer compromsing the notes perfomance, in fact the car is performing much better in general.



thanks

Colin

 

[alfisto]

Noisy? -in what way Colin?

 

[colin4989]

Hi


It makes a noise when the compressor kicks in, like a grinding which it continues to do for about 10 secs then stops as the compressor stops

 

[PeaceDak]

Hey friend this is clearly not normal in my opinion this is a problem with your aircon, I had a similar problem on my Nissan almera g15. I had a neighbor who was pretty well versed in air conditioners and used to work for a company https://www.socool.sg/ that serviced all kinds of aircons, he immediately determined that the problem is in it and literally 10 minutes was able to fix everything, and now everything works perfectly without noise and cracking.

 

[Nigel B]

The thread is seven years old!


The Op's car is now probably resting in a yard or is now a fridge or oven having been recycled.

 

[silverhairs]

When I first opened this post on page 1, I thought this guys purchased a 2011 ex demonstrator with all the problems, then I looked at the date it was posted :surprise:.


Please take note of the original posting date, as Nigel said "The thread is seven years old!"