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SGL1
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| Posted: May 22 2008 at 1:40pm | IP Logged
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thermal control amplifier (ac issue)
2001 crew cab SE, v6, 111,000 mi, auto.
Ac blows cold for awhile. But if I park somewhere and come back out ac doesn't blow cold. Intermittant problem. If I push the ac button to off then back on awhile later it may or may not blow cold again.
I just had the ac charged today and they added dye to check for possible leaks but haven't checked yet. As I left the shop it did it again. Wouldn't blow cold then it started to feel like it was getting colder then quit. Parked, got back in 5 min later and it blew cold. They told me to drive over the wknd and come back Tuesday to let them check for leaks if it acted up.
Does this sound like maybe the thermal control amplifier is bad or going bad?
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jamesdales
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| Posted: Jun 02 2008 at 7:50pm | IP Logged
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Sounds like the exact same problem I had and the thermal control amp
was the reason, which no one diagnosed, learned about it on the Internet
and switched out the part myself. I learned from several different
message boards that most repair shops, including Nissan dealerships
don't commonly look to this as the problem.
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frontierguy
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| Posted: Jun 03 2008 at 9:31pm | IP Logged
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yes we do check the thermal control amp. It is an intermitent concern not a leak type concern
jamesdales wrote:
Sounds like the exact same problem I had and the thermal control amp
was the reason, which no one diagnosed, learned about it on the Internet
and switched out the part myself. I learned from several different
message boards that most repair shops, including Nissan dealerships
don't commonly look to this as the problem. |
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__________________
'10 Altima SL
Traded 08 Frontier for 16 Frontier SV CC Long box, quite an upgrade. I do miss the 6 speed and Dynomax ex.
Nissan Technician 25 + years
2011 John Deere X720SE
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Boatbuilder306
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| Posted: Jun 20 2008 at 6:03pm | IP Logged
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There is all sorts of info on the net about this Nissan THERMO CONTROL AMP OR AMPLIFIER (TCA) problem - Xterras and Frontiers, and probably Altimas and everything else. Everyone apparently has it, and if you haven't, you will. Many forums refer to this as a THERMAL control amp, so the information on the net is spread out all over the place. Strangely enough, all the Nissan mechanics want to flush your A/C system, recharge the freon, check your compressor, run die through the system and do all sorts of diagnostics to the tune of $500-$1000, and THEN they'll replace this $40 part after all else fails. The part no. is 27675-9Z000. It is located on AND inside the black evaporator box immediately behind the glove compartment. Remove several screws and the glove box comes off completely. Lay on the floor board and look up. Then remove three silver screws holding the evaporator box together. You can pry it apart gently and then TRY to reach the RED plug-like thingy sticking out of the LEFT SIDE of the radiator-like thingy inside the evaporator box. If you aren't careful, the box WILL crack. No big deal. There are several screws reportedly holding the back of the evaporator box together, but nobody seems to have been able to actually remove them, except for (as one forum poster remarked) a small child who worked for Cirque d'Soleil. Use small hands or long needlenose pliers to pull the RED plug-like sensor out and try to remember what it looked like sticking in -- turns out you can stick the replacement part anywhere in the same general vicinity -- if you get it back in the same spot it is entirely a fluke. This red thing connects to a white connector thing (which is mounted on the OUTSIDE of the evaporator box and PLAINLY visible even without removing the glove box) by some wires that fold over a small slot in the seam between the top and bottom halves of the box. The white connector is TRICKY -- it slides DOWN over a little notch/detente in the back, and if you haven't cracked the box trying to remove the red TCA inside, you'll probably crack it trying to slide this connector down. HOLD onto the box with your left hand and use pliers or something to firmly grasp the white connector and slide it down -- the prongs on the side of the connector do not hold this connector on -- ignore those. It shouldn't take more than 30 minutes to get to this point, and another 5 minutes to stick in the new part, add some glue to the crack you just made in the box, then about 5 more minutes to screw everything back together. My guess is that if you have an intermittent A/C problem with your Nissan vehicle (any model), it's this TCA part. I've thought of starting a web site selling nothing but these TCAs along with drawings of the repair process. Why Nissan hasn't recalled these vehicles and repaired the problem at no charge is really inexcusable.
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SGL1
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| Posted: Jul 22 2008 at 10:46am | IP Logged
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Thanks for the great info. Ordering today.
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kcspeed
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| Posted: Aug 30 2008 at 1:53pm | IP Logged
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Boatbuilder 306:
God bless you for taking the time to post the TCA issue, and with such detail. I have a 2000 XTerra which I bought new and have been living with the A/C problem for years. The local Nissan dealership, among other mechanics, have taken my money and never resolved the issue. I'm so fed up that I'm going to buy the part and do it myself.
I too can't believe that Nissan hasn't come clean with this issue. They must have seen sales for that part no. (27675-0Z000) spike in recent years. Shame on Nissan service division.
Regards,
Jon, Orange County, CA
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kcspeed
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| Posted: Aug 31 2008 at 1:53pm | IP Logged
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FIXED!!!! The TCA was definitely the issue, as my 2000 X-Terra is blowing constant, ice-cold air. Thanks again Boatbuilder 306. You saved me hundreds of dollars. I have to say that the evap box was definitely a challenge, and I decided to saw off a portion of the upper left corner in order to access the defective TCA (the glove box covers it up anyway). If any of you have specific questions feel free to email me at kansascityspeed@yahoo.com
Wish I had the time and energy to file an official complaint with Nissan. Maybe on day soon..
Regards,
Jon, Orange County, CA
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Kornstalx
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| Posted: Sep 02 2008 at 5:13pm | IP Logged
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Boatbuilder306 wrote:
| There is all sorts of info on the net about this Nissan THERMO CONTROL AMP OR AMPLIFIER (TCA) problem - Xterras and Frontiers, and probably Altimas and everything else. Everyone apparently has it, and if you haven't, you will. Many forums refer to this as a THERMAL control amp, so the information on the net is spread out all over the place. Strangely enough, all the Nissan mechanics want to flush your A/C system, recharge the freon, check your compressor, run die through the system and do all sorts of diagnostics to the tune of $500-$1000, and THEN they'll replace this $40 part after all else fails. The part no. is 27675-9Z000. It is located on AND inside the black evaporator box immediately behind the glove compartment. Remove several screws and the glove box comes off completely. Lay on the floor board and look up. Then remove three silver screws holding the evaporator box together. You can pry it apart gently and then TRY to reach the RED plug-like thingy sticking out of the LEFT SIDE of the radiator-like thingy inside the evaporator box. If you aren't careful, the box WILL crack. No big deal. There are several screws reportedly holding the back of the evaporator box together, but nobody seems to have been able to actually remove them, except for (as one forum poster remarked) a small child who worked for Cirque d'Soleil. Use small hands or long needlenose pliers to pull the RED plug-like sensor out and try to remember what it looked like sticking in -- turns out you can stick the replacement part anywhere in the same general vicinity -- if you get it back in the same spot it is entirely a fluke. This red thing connects to a white connector thing (which is mounted on the OUTSIDE of the evaporator box and PLAINLY visible even without removing the glove box) by some wires that fold over a small slot in the seam between the top and bottom halves of the box. The white connector is TRICKY -- it slides DOWN over a little notch/detente in the back, and if you haven't cracked the box trying to remove the red TCA inside, you'll probably crack it trying to slide this connector down. HOLD onto the box with your left hand and use pliers or something to firmly grasp the white connector and slide it down -- the prongs on the side of the connector do not hold this connector on -- ignore those. It shouldn't take more than 30 minutes to get to this point, and another 5 minutes to stick in the new part, add some glue to the crack you just made in the box, then about 5 more minutes to screw everything back together. My guess is that if you have an intermittent A/C problem with your Nissan vehicle (any model), it's this TCA part. I've thought of starting a web site selling nothing but these TCAs along with drawings of the repair process. Why Nissan hasn't recalled these vehicles and repaired the problem at no charge is really inexcusable. |
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I just registered with this forum simply so I could say THANK YOU!
I've been having A/C problems with my 2001 Desert Runner for two years now, with the compressor cutting on and off at random times, and I've spent at least 500$ at local repair shops but it never got fixed.
On a hunch, I decided to go down to my local Nissan dealership today and pickup this part. 30 minutes and my A/C is working perfectly! I went back to my mechanic and showed him the part (with the glovebox still off) and he had no clue about that sensor.
Thank God for the internet!
And thank YOU, Boatbuilder306!
--Kornstalx
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Boatbuilder306
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| Posted: Sep 02 2008 at 9:03pm | IP Logged
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Thank you! I'm like a superhero now. How do we notify Nissan that we're well aware of this problem and it's time they come clean with a recall? There is another thread on this same forum called 'AC issues' and it's the very same problem -- that poor guy is buying a Nissan Frontier that's being parted out and he's wondering whether the entire AC system for that model year will fit the model that he has! And all he has to do is stick the silly little red TCA sensor in and he's good to go! Of course, the one that's being parted out is probably fried, too, so there's no point in even doing that. Come on, Nissan, it's time to fess up! You're not going to make me start up a whole web site called 'www.nissanrecalls.com' are you? Oh darn, it's already taken...
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jsanderson
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| Posted: Sep 03 2008 at 7:15am | IP Logged
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Hey guys, I'm the poor guy who was going to buy the other system, I will be going to buy a replacement TCA sensor today and installing it before I blow money on another ac unit.. I should have searched more on the forum about my problem, since I've had the same problems as you, ac works, then quits, then works after it sits for a for minutes.
Thanks Boatbuilder!
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98 Nissan Frontier XE 4x4 Extended Cab M5.
www.fquick.com/jsanderson
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Nissan Frontier Forums : Problems / Technical
Topic: Thermal control amplifier (ac issue) (
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