Aircon Cooling...Blowing Warm Only

ICE, Equipment, Options
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calnorth
Posts: 2719
Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2019 2:01 pm
Qashqai Model: Mk.2 Qashqai Facelift - J11b (2017–2021)

Post by calnorth »

DaveBerlin wrote: Fri Apr 02, 2021 6:54 am Lewis, a nice clear concise explanation of the system. 👍
I can remember here in 2014 when I fired up our Dealer & Nissan NCS because New customers were not informed on the possible fire risks only by a Sticker under the Bonnet. The system Gas had been changed to the new R1234yf which at that time had been tested here and deemed to be dangerous due to fire 🔥 if leaks occurred. MB was the main critic and the ADAC issued the Test Report which included fire risk video, but the criticisms have died down now as the Gas is a Std.
As I mentioned our Dealer changed our Condenser, changed relevant parts, re-gassed and checked the System and it worked👍 I know that our Dealer had to buy some expensive new equipment (not compatible with the old stuff) which in the beginning was shared between the Family Dealerships - Dave 😉

Colin, this was our Condenser after the Nissan checks :
49071CD7-A3B7-46D0-ACFD-B75E5BE3B21F.jpeg
Thanks Dave...I'll have a closer look at the thing. Weather went dead cold again...so cannot be ar*ed at the moment.
Mk2 Qashqai Facelift - J11b (2017–and onward)
1.6 Dig-T N-Connecta

User avatar
calnorth
Posts: 2719
Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2019 2:01 pm
Qashqai Model: Mk.2 Qashqai Facelift - J11b (2017–2021)

Post by calnorth »

andy2019 wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 11:17 pm
calnorth wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 2:13 pm Just wondered when i'd get clobbered. My QQ commencing some very unexpected trouble. I am at 14k miles from new late 2017.

Yesterday in the blasting UK heat I pressed the Aircon button and no cooling at all....just high warm wind. All lights/controls on the display correct and blower going well. Engine revs increase slightly and I think I heard the dainty clatter of the compressor.

Reviewing the evidence and not checking for DTC's I surmise that this thing has of late dumped its gas load.....extremely expensive R1234YF flavour I suspect. £130 for regas procedure it seems.

I think I'll try the £50 Amazon regas kit as am sure I'll get whacked for about that on Nissan dealer or other diagnostics. At least I'll land up with a gas gauge at the end of it.

Perhaps I see a condenser on the horizon?

Anybody done the regas procedure themselves?
yes have done re-gas on many cars over the years most are easy to do. you won`t get a regas kit from amazon for £50 for the QQ as the gas can is around £130 and then you`ll need the filling trigger/gauge around £25. the new gas in cars now is R-1234yf. the older cars use R-134a (thats around £55 a can). i went for the trigger/gauge when it was on offer as it`s a cheaper way of finding out if the system has enough gas in it (before you splash the cash on the gas can)
There is a kit on Amazon and Ebay using R-1234yf. Same supplier. Its about 340gms of refrigerant. Its a big risk though and the gauge would be a better buy first I suspect. Decisions..?
............

9022k.png

Last edited by calnorth on Fri Apr 02, 2021 8:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
Mk2 Qashqai Facelift - J11b (2017–and onward)
1.6 Dig-T N-Connecta
andy2019
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Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2019 8:47 pm
Qashqai Model: Mk.2 Qashqai - J11 (2013–2017)

Post by andy2019 »

get the gauge 1st it will then put your mind at rest if the system has enough gas in it or not, and it will always come in useful for checking any friends cars too, get the STP gauge and gas bottle as you get £10 cash back when you return the empty gas bottle :D
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calnorth
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Qashqai Model: Mk.2 Qashqai Facelift - J11b (2017–2021)

Post by calnorth »

Update No 1 (for those interested)

Trying to get quotes for a Condenser change. Have had a fairly long look about the web and not found a local car aircon specialist. Most "services" are about gassing only. I did find a fixer in Wales (Barry) which means I won't be able to get there due to the Welsh Wall. I am about 20 miles off the Welsh border near Malvern. However, this reveals a ball park figure (£280) for a non OEM replacement plus accompanying work:

https://coolconltd.co.uk/common-faults

There is a QQ related Customer feedback on this site which illustrates the dealer game.

Well worth the drive.- 01 Aug 2019:
I drive a 38 month old Nissan Qashqai J11(2 months out of manufacturers warranty). Nissan main agent quoted 550GBP to replace the a/c condenser, with the possibility of ''maybe'' getting a goodwill payment from Nissan if I payed 160 upfront for a regass with them. Neil at Coolcon did the entire job, in less than 3 hours , for 280 . Using parts with a two year guarantee. When we returned to pick up the car he was already working on another Qashqai.
My wife also drives one, so we may well be back soon. It was well worth the drive down from Cheshire , and would not hesitate to recomend him.

Note:
The concern with this kind of job is testing the integrity of the system as regards gas retention. Not the enviro friendly thing...its simply the crazy price of R1234YF gas. From days of old (Freon R12/22) I'd expect the system to be on a vacuum test for at least 12 to 18 hours. So 3 hours total work as above feedback is a worry?

I'll call a dealer (2 in range) next week. They should be aware of faulty Condensers circa 2017 ..... :roll: I'm not in a big rush so will likely undertake the gas top up as pic above. I'm theorising/guessing that this condenser is leaching gas at quite a slow rate. I'd thought of pouring system sealer in but its a worry as to what that does other than allegedly fixing seals?

I suspect the Condenser is degrading (gathering holes) and will cause contaminants to enter the system.
Mk2 Qashqai Facelift - J11b (2017–and onward)
1.6 Dig-T N-Connecta
berryr99
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2020 11:28 am
Qashqai Model: Mk.2 Qashqai Facelift - J11b (2017–2021)

Post by berryr99 »

Got exactly the same problem - still under warranty so back to the dealers
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calnorth
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Qashqai Model: Mk.2 Qashqai Facelift - J11b (2017–2021)

Post by calnorth »

Update No 2

Looked at the Top Up option further as above. Decided against due to Condenser failure history on this site and the legality problem of venting R gasses into free air. And safe disposal. Leaving the dealer out of it. Just imagine gas handling compliance in the big 3rd world.... :(

Trawled the web and came across a UK mobile Aircon company.....https://www.coolcaraircon.co.uk

Contacted said company and gained a diagnostic visit yesterday pm. Within 10 minutes the chap identified a green dye (indicator) leak at the bottom of the Condenser. So I'll have the Condenser changed in the next few days. Looks like £315 inc VAT to diagnose, replace (gas up etc, test and go) at home here.

The chap had done the same job on a QQ 1 year older than mine that morning and showed me the leaky Nissan Condenser.

He's also going to apply a mesh across the lower exposed part of the Condenser. Its a standard for him to do that. He replaces about 50 Condensers a year, mainly on QQ's, so his Condenser orders to the supplier are 5 at a time.

2016 production cars and on:
R1234yf gas from Honeywell is about £20 per 50gm. The Aircon system takes about 500gm and a top could be about 250 gm. Spendy game due to Honeywells licence. and need for dedicated equipment. Commonly the price of gas falls over time...not this bloody stuff though.

This gas allegedly has a life of 11 days in free air. Pre 2016 cars use R134a which is less than half the above looney price and much more persistent in free air.
Last edited by calnorth on Fri Apr 16, 2021 9:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
Mk2 Qashqai Facelift - J11b (2017–and onward)
1.6 Dig-T N-Connecta
User avatar
calnorth
Posts: 2719
Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2019 2:01 pm
Qashqai Model: Mk.2 Qashqai Facelift - J11b (2017–2021)

Post by calnorth »

Update No 3

1 week since Mobile A/C Mech diagnostic of leaky Condenser a new one fitted. He added metal protective matrix to full front of Condenser as stone protection.

Gas, oil (+ anything else) extracted and left on vacuum for about 25 mins. New seals, gassed completely (0.5Kg refrigerant) and oil.

Awkward part was releasing plastic body side panel/trim thus releasing whole front to access Condenser. Not removal of whole front grille etc, simply pull forward for access. A minimal deconstruct really.

No other fault apparent but will need to check OBD.

Note number of oil leaks at top/side of Condenser. No stone hits...this is poor quality stuff IMO. Diagnostics + Fitting = £315 gross. (3.5 hours work)
...............

RAd.jpg

Mk2 Qashqai Facelift - J11b (2017–and onward)
1.6 Dig-T N-Connecta
berryr99
Posts: 13
Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2020 11:28 am
Qashqai Model: Mk.2 Qashqai Facelift - J11b (2017–2021)

Post by berryr99 »

Exactly my problem so took it to the dealers under warranty. Oddly enough they could not fault the aircon and sent me a video showing it blowing at 5 degrees C which is exactly what it should do. Went back to the dealers and tested it myself - all working fine. All very odd and I wondered if they had done some sort of fix but they denied it. Just wondering if there is a setting which only dealers can use - has anyone else seen this ?
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