This 2000 Nissan Xterra came in with the complaint that the a/c works good sometimes but it may not work at all at other times. The easiest place to test is at the thermistor lead connector (white) at the bottom left of the glove box.
It can be done without removing the glove box but it is easier with the glove box assembly out of the way. There are two screws located in the lower corners. Two screws located in the upper corners and two screws located in the upper center at the latch bracket.
The testing is as follows. Key on and engine running with the a/c turned on: Green/orange wire will have battery voltage from fuse #29 in the underhood fuse box, the Blue wire will have battery ground from the a/c control assembly and the Blue/black wire will have a nominal 4-5 volts with the thermistor off (temperature below 40 degrees F) and less than .5 volts with the thermistor on (temperature above 45 degrees F). The thermistor assembly applies a ground to the circuit which is sent through the dual pressure switch and then on to the engine control computer. This one failed the test and needed to be replaced. The proper way is to remove the refrigerant and then the evaporator case but I prefer a simpler way. It can be a little painful but it only takes about ten minutes from this point to change it. There are three phillips headed screws that have to be removed along with three 10 mm headed screws as shown in the following pictures.
Once the screws are removed, the two halves of the evaporator case can be separated enough to look in, see the thermistor, carefully and a little painfully insert your hand into the box and removed the sensor. Slide the new one in, in the reverse order and install the previously removed screws. The long tab pointing down slides into the evaporator fins and tab pointing to the right is the actual thermistor bulb.
I have a 2002 xterra and I replaced the thermal amplifier but no luck. Still blows hot air. System is charged.
The blue/black wire should have a nominal 5 volt signal with the evaporator below 40 degrees F and .5 volts with the evaporator temperature above 40 degrees F. The engine control computer outputs the 5 volt signal and the thermistor pulls the signal to ground when the a/c system is turned on and the evaporator temperature is above 40 degrees F.
hello sparky, I have a 2000 xterra and doing the test I ha e battery voltage on blue/black wire with a/c switch off.with it on I have .45 volts. is this right?
Thank you Sparky. I don’t really like to work on cars. It’s not my thing, but I don’t have money either. I was able to Google my A/C problems that my 2001 Xterra was having and Google brought me to you. With your simple pictures and explanations, I was able to fix my A/C for $28! I am very thankful! -Gary
The trick for you will be to have the system inop long enough to do the testing outlined in the article. I would suggest having panels down to access the connector for the thermistor. If possible have your meter connected while driving down the road to see what is happening. I recommend an extra person so one can drive and the other watch the readings.