[Jfieldsfamily]

Gents,

I aquired a new (to me) 2000 X 3.3 4WD AT. 150k, buta beautiful Texas truck. (No rust, anywhere). I knew the other shoe was going to drop at some point, and it did, so I have two very important questions...

1) what is the max tire size that will fit on a 2000 gen 1 with stock suspension,and with a PML. dont answer that.

2) what the heck did the previous owner do here????? AC compressor runs constantly. All the time. No change in defrost or fan setting, it is always running. I traced a black wire from the plug on the compressor, along the fitewall, to the AC relay position by the battery. No relay, just shoved into the slot the furthest aft in the socket. I am concerned this may not have been stock. . So my question is this, how is the ac compressor actually wired. I assume he had another problem and this was his solution. I've been running only short trips (10-15 miles) and its a gazillion degrees outside. I realize this is not a correct setup and could lead to multiple system failures. Anyone have a pic of the ac compressor plug and can tell me wire color? Where its supposed to lead? Is there a pigtail or connector? I won't be able to find the real problem until I put this mess back together.

Thanks,

Jason

PS. So what IS the max tire size you can get on a 2000 gen1 no lift?

 

[beef tits]

Gents,

I aquired a new (to me) 2000 X 3.3 4WD AT. 150k, buta beautiful Texas truck. (No rust, anywhere). I knew the other shoe was going to drop at some point, and it did, so I have two very important questions...

1) what is the max tire size that will fit on a 2000 gen 1 with stock suspension,and with a PML. dont answer that.

2) what the heck did the previous owner do here????? AC compressor runs constantly. All the time. No change in defrost or fan setting, it is always running. I traced a black wire from the plug on the compressor, along the fitewall, to the AC relay position by the battery. No relay, just shoved into the slot the furthest aft in the socket. I am concerned this may not have been stock. . So my question is this, how is the ac compressor actually wired. I assume he had another problem and this was his solution. I've been running only short trips (10-15 miles) and its a gazillion degrees outside. I realize this is not a correct setup and could lead to multiple system failures. Anyone have a pic of the ac compressor plug and can tell me wire color? Where its supposed to lead? Is there a pigtail or connector? I won't be able to find the real problem until I put this mess back together.

Thanks,

Jason

PS. So what IS the max tire size you can get on a 2000 gen1 no lift?

1. Keep your stock size tires and get a winch or a locker. It is a much more useful and comfortable set-up, off-road and on.

2. You need yourself a factory wiring diagram found in the FSMs here; http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/nissan-xterra-factory-service-manuals.html Also, your PO sounds like a fucking dumbass. Only a Texan would do something so ignorant as to wire the compressor to be on 24-7. If I were you, I'd look over all of that cars wiring and everything else really well before driving it again.

 

[Jfieldsfamily]

Awesome. Thanks for the wiring diagram, that really helped. Off to get a relay this weekend, and then the real fun begins....finding out why he bypassed it to begin with.

 

[Jfieldsfamily]

I've been working my way through it. I knew I was in trouble when I found the fuel filter on backwards.

 

[beef tits]

Oh man... keep us posted.

 

[Jfieldsfamily]

Good news, been running it with the compressor disconnected, and I can say the compressor was definitely the cause of my scalding underhood temps. Relay aquired. Time to dig in

 

[Jfieldsfamily]

Update. Replaced the relay, so it's brand new. AC compressor will only engage when jumpered from 3 to 5 on the relay. When compressor is engaged system put out cold air, but I have no reliable way of checking system volume or pressure.

 

[Jfieldsfamily]

If anyone has a 2000 with the 3.3' I could really use a picture of the harness near the compressor, or a few good pictures. I cannot seem to locate an unattached wire, and I think it may be up in the loom a little bit. My compressor was jumped along the firewall, probably to bypass a problem rather than fix it.

Thanks,

J.

 

[Jfieldsfamily]

A little more progress

Direct connect from pin 3 on the relay to compressor (normal routing). Relay in place. I disconnected and bypassed the triple pressure switch and was able to get the compressor to kick on and off a couple of times, both by controlling it (switch on control panel) and uncommanded. This is the closest to "normal" system operation I have seen. Air was coldish. not hot-definate AC. So 3 possible scenarios? 1) Pressure is really low, and compressor won't stay running. 2) pressure is high (overfill by PO?) or 3) bad triple pressure switch.

I have a low side gauge - and not a trustworthy one. I hooked it up to the low side with system running compressor on pressure started normal about 40 on the gauge. Then it gradually and steadily rose into the 50's, at which point I chickened out.

So now I am thinking overfill? I think I have to go get a set of guages so I can check high and low side.

J.

 

[beef tits]

Id take it to a good AC shop for a diagnosis.

 

[Jfieldsfamily]

Update-problem resolved?

So this will be my last update on this thread for a while. Yesterday I ran the wire from the compressor to the correct pin on the relay. I also temporarily bypassed the triple pressure switch, and in the process cleaned the contacts and reseated it. I did not leave it bypassed.

Today I take my boys on a drive, and I had accidentally left the AC switch on. Lo and behold, after we drive for a few minutes with the windows down, I start feeling cold air on my hands. I turned the fan from 1 up to 4, more cold air. I turned the AC switch off. No cold air. I turned it back on. More cold air. AC switch off, defrost selected, cold air. Hear the clutch and relay clicking on and off with each selection.

Now, it's cold enough I can drive in the 90 degree temps with the windows up, but it isn't freezing me out. Also, when I stop at a light it is a *little* warmer, and while driving it's cooler.

Everything I know about AC systems and the XTerra, this is all normal ops. So I guess I will stop troubleshooting until I get more symptoms. Hopefully none show up.

The wiring diagram was invaluable, BT.

J.

 

[beef tits]

Awesome

 

[Jfieldsfamily]

Update to the update. System was still inconsistent. Sometimes it would turn on. Other trips it wouldn't work at all. Cooling not the best. Decided to swap out the Thermo Control Amp. $35 later and half an hour install, and AC now works perfect. So, I'm guessing that was probably the original problem the PO experienced. I hate him.