I've read and heard of others trying to do this on the Altima but ran aground for one reason or another. The fact that the intake unit, cooling unit, heating unit, or actuators didn't have to be replaced is what made this project possible. Otherwise, it would probably have been too costly to try and do.
If anyone would like to contribute the sunload sensor, aspirator & hose, or ambient sensor please send me a PM.
I hope this thread will serve useful information for others. Just let me know of anything else y'all will like me to include.
I need to explain something that I just noticed recently with this project. It concerns the AC compressor function.
As previously stated before, I used the self-diagnostic function of the Auto Amp to test the functionality of the system. The only thing that indicated a problem were the sunload and ambient sensors. The self-diagnostic test codes 41 through 46 checks the different ventilation in HOT and COLD. The COLD test kicked ON the AC so I incorrectly assumed that this meant everything was working properly. But during the past week the AC system never came ON with the Auto Amp in AUTO or DEF mode.
I grounded the yellow wire of the Thermo Control Amp and the AC compressor kicked ON. Good, that meant either a Thermo Control Amp or Auto Amp issue. I was sure it had something to do with the Auto Amp so I checked for continuity from the light green wire of the Thermo Control Amp all the way back to the Auto Amp and it was good. This meant the Auto Amp was not controlling the Thermo Control Amp. Something told me the ambient sensor wiring that was hanging loose with no sensor attached had something to do with this. Placed the Auto Amp in self-diagnostic mode 5 which tells you what temperature the in-vehicle and "ambient sensor" were sensing. In-vehicle was at 79°F and the "ambient sensor" was at 22°F. That is it!. The Auto Amp thinks it is too cold outside to operate the AC in Auto or Defrost mode. This feature built into the Auto Amp is called "low temperature protection control".
So I checked the specs on the sensor and it said a resistance of about 2000 ohms is similar to the ambient sensor sensing about 86°F outside temperature. Jumped a 2000 ohms resistor in between the orange/black and black/yellow wires of the ambient sensor and the AC compressor came to life. So there you have it. You need to have the ambient sensor working in order for the AC compressor to kick in. I'll leave the 2000 ohms resistor soldered in until I order the parts. At least the AC will be functioning properly for now. I am almost certain that a disconnected in-vehicle sensor would also had stopped the AC from functioning correctly but I didn't get a chance to test it.
In summary, if you have no AC function from the Auto Amp then check for a missing or disconnected in-vehicle or ambient sensor.
Hi All great site you have here,
I have a Altima 1997 that the A/C clutch will not engauge some times.
If I remove the A/C relay and apply 12 volts to pin 52 the motor idles up and the compressor clutch locks, remove the jumper and put the relay back in and high idle but no clutch. Now this does not happen all the time. Any ideas?? Some voltage draw some where?? How much voltage does it take to pull the A/C clutch in?? I will try and attach a print of where I attach the jumper. See arrow on pic
Thanks Russ
good shit man. like said earlier, i wish i had your level of ambition as well. i seem to only do complicated things when theres an absolute need for them.
one question though - you installed this thing and it looks like it was a total pain in the ass. my question - why the stock stereo? too complicated?
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick
asleep is a stream of off-color and low-cooth jokes in person as well. I've been recycling jokes I heard from him for years. He is known by my friends as "the sick fuck."
Quote:
Originally Posted by trmn8r
seems like you just killed someone with your Daewoo Lanos Asleep. lol
Thanks for the comments guys. And if anyone is still wondering, this project is still incomplete. I do have all the remaining parts, just haven't gotten a break to get this finalized, too many dynamics in my life... But I will update this thread for everyone over time as this project is still ongoing.
Russ G: All the clutch needs is 12V to operate and the alternator or battery are capable of delivery it. The AC relay needs at least 12V on pin 50 and 51 and the ECU will provide ground on pin 53. In order for the ECU to provide ground to the AC relay it needs to be told to do this by the Thermal Control Amp. The Thermal Control Amp has a thermistor sensor sensing the temperature off the evaporator inside the cooling unit. That leads to me to believe that one of the following thiings could be an issue; fan blower not spinning up to speed, low AC freon, bad expansion valve inside cooling unit, clogged evaporator fins, bad thermistor/thermal control amp, and finally bad triple pressure switch. Check this entire thread to familiarize yourself with the components I am talking about. And good luck.
asleepaltima: I did replace the radio with a Kenwood KDC-MP4028 CD/MP3/WMA receiver since nobody cared to steal my stock one. Maybe someday I will get into doing a complete overhaul of the stereo components but for now it'll have to wait.
Wow, you have done your research. My only question is why? Not trying to be mean, I am just wondering if it is worth the $200+ and all the time. My ac is almost always on either full cold or full hot with the fan at either 1 or 2. I dont really mess with it.
Wow, you have done your research. My only question is why? Not trying to be mean, I am just wondering if it is worth the $200+ and all the time. My ac is almost always on either full cold or full hot with the fan at either 1 or 2. I dont really mess with it.
Great project nonetheless.
I would say that "The Challenge" is the driving force. But frankly, pricewise, almost anything done and spent on this car is not worth the value. But many of us just do these types of projects for the enjoyment and to add to the learning matter.
I would say that "The Challenge" is the driving force. But frankly, pricewise, almost anything done and spent on this car is not worth the value. But many of us just do these types of projects for the enjoyment and to add to the learning matter.
if it wasnt for this reason right here - quite a few of us wouldnt even own an altima.
i'd end up going crazy with all that wiring work! how much do you charge to do something like that if we supply all the parts since you have the done it and have the time and energy lol
I got some free time over the weekend to do a little more work. I got the sunload sensor wired up.
This is what I did, snapped the plastic cowl piece off with a flathead screwdriver. Put a blank address label around the end where the sunload sensor goes. Used a 3/8" socket to mark a circle. Drilled through the center of this circle. Used my Dremel tool with a cone grindstone to work from the center and outwards until I had a good enough circular hole. And then snapped the sunload sensor in.
I had to use a metal clothes hanger to fish the electrical wiring for the sunload sensor.
Aspirator
Removed the center console. Punched out the plastic piece from the aspirator opening.
Attached the aspirator and ran the rubber hose from the aspirator over to the in-cabin temperature sensor.
The only pieces remaining to complete this project is, wire up and connect the outside sensor, and do some final soldering work on a few wires. We are almost there...
Last edited by jserrano : 01-26-2010 at 07:55 PM.
Reason: Fixed links
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