I know the problem with the A/C being on when the light is out (indicating the a/c clutch is not engaged supposedly and not in AUTO MODE) has been posted in other posts.
However, the other day I was changing the MODE settings...air deflection to up, mid, and down, AND DEFROST. Apparently the defrost mode (little icon showing airflow arrow and windshield) turns the A/C back on. A/C light never comes on. This is normal, as the cool air directed to the windshield from the A/C being on clears the area quickly.
But, when the mode setting is changed back to just air in the mid area, for example, one would think the A/C is off. WRONG!!!
The A/C clutch stays engaged even though temperature is supposed to be just putting out heat and again the AUTO MODE is not selected!
This was confirmed by noticing water drops coming into the garage after exiting the vehicle the other day on a rather cool day.
I guess the only solution to the above A/C programming glitch is to always press the A/C switch on, off, on, off always before driving or after going into and back out of the "windshield defrost" mode.
Does anyone know if there is a service bulletin addressing this problem?
The A/C clutch being engaged will always decrease the MPG of this vehicle...that is understood. However, when it is supposed to be off and is instead on...this will lower the overall MPG rating of the vehicle especially in the winter months.
The A/C light on the A/C button is useless...off should mean OFF!
Your comments or solutions such as a service bulletin number would be appreciated. Turning on, off, on, off of the A/C button IS NOT THE SOLUTION!
I noticed this abt a month ago...mine is a 3.5S
looks like the only solution is press the a/c on-off switch once...
i can see the idle will drop from 750rpm to 600rpm(stop at a red light)
then i know that the a/c is already off.
now..i am getting around 23.5mpg mix.....
b4....i was getting 20.5 mpg mix....
I know the problem with the A/C being on when the light is out (indicating the a/c clutch is not engaged supposedly and not in AUTO MODE) has been posted in other posts.
However, the other day I was changing the MODE settings...air deflection to up, mid, and down, AND DEFROST. Apparently the defrost mode (little icon showing airflow arrow and windshield) turns the A/C back on. A/C light never comes on. This is normal, as the cool air directed to the windshield from the A/C being on clears the area quickly.
But, when the mode setting is changed back to just air in the mid area, for example, one would think the A/C is off. WRONG!!!
The A/C clutch stays engaged even though temperature is supposed to be just putting out heat and again the AUTO MODE is not selected!
This was confirmed by noticing water drops coming into the garage after exiting the vehicle the other day on a rather cool day.
I guess the only solution to the above A/C programming glitch is to always press the A/C switch on, off, on, off always before driving or after going into and back out of the "windshield defrost" mode.
Does anyone know if there is a service bulletin addressing this problem?
The A/C clutch being engaged will always decrease the MPG of this vehicle...that is understood. However, when it is supposed to be off and is instead on...this will lower the overall MPG rating of the vehicle especially in the winter months.
The A/C light on the A/C button is useless...off should mean OFF!
Your comments or solutions such as a service bulletin number would be appreciated. Turning on, off, on, off of the A/C button IS NOT THE SOLUTION!
Thanks for for your comments.
Thanks again.
Yep, they dropped the ball on this one for sure. Yes, your mpg will be affected by the compressor always being on. Furthermore, the life of the compressor will also be reduced. When I took the car in for an oil change, the dealer dismissed it by saying to go into manual mode. I then showed him that the compressor was also on in manual mode.
One other thing: if you look at the manual, there is only one documented use of the AC button. It is to turn OFF the AC when heating. The light should go from on to off, but of course we know this function doesn't work. The way our systems are currently working, there is no use for the AC button other than using it to fool the system by pressing it twice to turn off the compressor when heating.
I guess I need to get off the dime and at least call Nissan customer service to have this issue logged. Only then will someone look at it and fix it with, what I hope is, a simple programming change.
Maybe that's why I'm not getting as good MPG as I should be.
Now I know my car isn't fully broken in yet but still has me wondering about this whole A/C button problem.
I haven't been clicking on and off once driving so I'm gonna have to try that going forward and see if my gas mileage improves overall.
Do we have 100% confirmation that the compressor stays on even when other modes are in use???
I haven't noticed any audible change when turning the A/C on/off, or maybe I just need to pay even better attention lol.
One of the ways that I have found to confirm the AC is on or off is to open the hood and with the car running place your palm of your hand on the ac pipe which is just above the alternator, if ac is on the pipe will get very cold and when you turn off the ac by hitting the ac button twice the ac pipe will start to warm back up to a normal temperature meaning the ac is off. This way you will be ablwe to figure out what turns the ac on and off.
Yep, they dropped the ball on this one for sure. Yes, your mpg will be affected by the compressor always being on. Furthermore, the life of the compressor will also be reduced. When I took the car in for an oil change, the dealer dismissed it by saying to go into manual mode. I then showed him that the compressor was also on in manual mode.
One other thing: if you look at the manual, there is only one documented use of the AC button. It is to turn OFF the AC when heating. The light should go from on to off, but of course we know this function doesn't work. The way our systems are currently working, there is no use for the AC button other than using it to fool the system by pressing it twice to turn off the compressor when heating.
I guess I need to get off the dime and at least call Nissan customer service to have this issue logged. Only then will someone look at it and fix it with, what I hope is, a simple programming change.
It would be great if you could find some time to make a complaint to nissan about this issue.
Wish there was a way to confirm this AC issue. Really think Rey MPG should be much better than I'm getting.
I received this email from my Nissan Service Mgr:
"The reason the AC is turned on during certain functions is to dehumidify the interior to keep the windows from fogging up.
You are not going to be able to set it to vent and draw heat from engine, the fresh air vent is in the cowl panel and is insulated from the engine compartment."
"The reason the AC is turned on during certain functions is to dehumidify the interior to keep the windows from fogging up.
You are not going to be able to set it to vent and draw heat from engine, the fresh air vent is in the cowl panel and is insulated from the engine compartment."
Jay
What your service manager said is true, but it doesn't address the issue. Page 4-30 of the manual explicitly details a procedure to provide heat without the AC on. This procedure doesn't work.
This is normal and you won't get anywhere asking them to "change" it. My 4th gen (with auto climate) does it too- although when I put it in defrost the A/C light does come on and it stays on regardless of mode until I switch it off. I've also noticed that if you turn off the climate control with the A/C on, when you turn the fan back on: the AC will come back on as well. Honestly, I don't think it's impacting your gas mileage that much. I use AC all the time in the summer and my mpg average is just about the same as it is in the winter with no AC.
We also have a Lexus and it behaves the same way. My father's Honda Pilot, on the other hand, does not do this.
It has been well researched and documented that running the A/C in a [newer] car has a negligible affect on your gas mileage. I didn't believe it when i first heard it and i did several tests myself a few years ago and could not see enough change to worry about it any further. I forgot some of the actual statistics, but i seem to remember them saying a 1 PSI difference in your tire pressure makes more of a difference in gas mileage than running the A/C.
That being said, it does not change the fact that the A/C light may not be "truthful" in the Altima. I am not as worried about it as some on here but i think several have figured out the trick to turn it off if you desire.
__________________ 03 350Z Crawford 265 Cams, Plenum, Headers, Cats, Big Bore TB, Fujitsubo Ti Exhaust, TS ECU, JWT Intake, Clutch, Flywheel 09 Xterra X - 6MT 2013 Altima 2.5 SV Storm Blue
This is normal and you won't get anywhere asking them to "change" it. My 4th gen (with auto climate) does it too- although when I put it in defrost the A/C light does come on and it stays on regardless of mode until I switch it off. I've also noticed that if you turn off the climate control with the A/C on, when you turn the fan back on: the AC will come back on as well. Honestly, I don't think it's impacting your gas mileage that much. I use AC all the time in the summer and my mpg average is just about the same as it is in the winter with no AC.
We also have a Lexus and it behaves the same way. My father's Honda Pilot, on the other hand, does not do this.
B15,
Keep in mind that on the 2013, the AC light does not come on automatically under any circumstances. You can push the AC button to get the light to come on, but no one is sure why you would ever want to push the AC button if the temperature is always controlled by the temperature setting on the dial. What's the purpose of the AC button? It isn't explained in the manual other than to turn OFF the AC when heating.
On your car, if you set the temp to a higher temp for heating, does the AC light come on automatically?
One of the ways that I have found to confirm the AC is on or off is to open the hood and with the car running place your palm of your hand on the ac pipe which is just above the alternator, if ac is on the pipe will get very cold and when you turn off the ac by hitting the ac button twice the ac pipe will start to warm back up to a normal temperature meaning the ac is off. This way you will be ablwe to figure out what turns the ac on and off.
Good suggestion. An easier way is to just look behind your car and see the trail of water you're draining (or look under the car).
Keep in mind that on the 2013, the AC light does not come on automatically under any circumstances. You can push the AC button to get the light to come on, but no one is sure why you would ever want to push the AC button if the temperature is always controlled by the temperature setting on the dial. What's the purpose of the AC button? It isn't explained in the manual other than to turn OFF the AC when heating.
On your car, if you set the temp to a higher temp for heating, does the AC light come on automatically?
Yes- on my car if I select defrost the A/C will come on, regardless if the temp is at 90 or at 60. The AC is always programmed to come on in the defrost mode to dehumidify the air (which I agree isn't really needed when you have the heat on but that's just how it is). Then if I change it to another mode after selecting defrost- the A/C will stay on until I hit the button to turn it off. But again on 4th gens, the AC button does light up. Not sure why they decided to not have it lit on the 2013s.
Yes- on my car if I select defrost the A/C will come on, regardless if the temp is at 90 or at 60. The AC is always programmed to come on in the defrost mode to dehumidify the air (which I agree isn't really needed when you have the heat on but that's just how it is). Then if I change it to another mode after selecting defrost- the A/C will stay on until I hit the button to turn it off. But again on 4th gens, the AC button does light up. Not sure why they decided to not have it lit on the 2013s.
I'm not asking about defrost, but normal heating. What I'm asking is if you set the dial to a high temperature for heating and the mode is automatically blowing air only into the cabin, is your AC light on?
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