Nissan engine stall: A/C clutch seized! DIY repair

My friend's 2008 Nissan Versa left him stranded earlier this summer in my hometown of Ithaca, NY.
Another shop diagnosed the problem as a seized A/C compressor and quoted a large sum of money and several days wait for the repair.
Let's take a little road trip and try to get this hot hatchback back on the road for a fraction of the cost!
Enjoy!
Ivan

[@elcheapo5302]

You know its getting serious when the shirt comes off! :)

[@opl500]

Gotta show that Nissan who's boss.

[@alexarul3124]

Putin style

[@Cheepchipsable]

Could be his "thing". Car needs repair - Ivan to owner..."Hold my shirt..." RRRIIIPPP!!!!!

[@atrahasis3899]

The CVT will go next. Ivan will disassemble it on a kitchen table and rebuild it using household items and Ebay parts after Rock Auto sends him components stamped "mADe in TAnA TuVa"

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Thank goodness this little bucket has a regular slushbox!

[@atrahasis3899]

I guess the White Thing series predated the ubiquity of the Versa CVT.

[@wyattoneable]

I like your style Ivan. Always trying to save the owner some money with DIY fixes. Nice job.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Yeah it was worth a shot...got lucky that the A/C compressor wasn't toast as well :)

[@adamtrombino106]

I got burned on a Lincoln that ate a compressor pulley bearing, clutch turned fine. Installed the new Ford bearing/pulley/clutch, set it to .015-.025 thousandths and it worked for 1 day before the compressor locked up. Sorry, customers, but from now on, you get a remanned or new entire unit. Way too much time involved for a cross your fingers type of repair. Also, I've run across Hondas that owners put an aftermarket fart can exhaust on, and it suddenly runs like crap at idle. Turns out the PCM strategy for the EGR control looks for a certain amount of backpressure to keep the valve seated. When it's not there, the valve floats. Next time you run across an Asian car that won't run well with a broken or modified exhaust, look at the EGR pid and see if it fluctuates at idle. Have seen this 5 times now.

[@opl500]

Gotta love engineers finding every single corner they can and cutting it. Especially those hidden corners that you don't notice right away.

[@throttlebottle5906]

serves then right for ricing out ;))

[@mrb1864]

It not the engineers, it the accountants that advise the penny pinching design choices ...

[@throttlebottle5906]

they're all guilty, from top down tot the bottom.... the only ones with least guilt are the blue collar assembler/line workers/production guys actually making the parts. when they try to throw red flags, they get told to STFU. works great until it doesn't and a big collapse and backlash occurs ;) the housing market was only the tip of the iceberg aimed for the titanic, try and try as they might, it's been let go into extrapolation far to long.............

[@fieldsofomagh]

Why did the compressor lock up on the Ford?

[@robertevans6481]

Great fix...that rattle would have drove me nuts...

[@wysetech2000]

Sadly neglected car. Air filter collapsed, exhaust falling off. Hear a noise, just drive it until it stops. Nice job, Ivan.

[@williamwhite9767]

You are a great friend to have Ivan!

[@rayduffy6172]

Very impressive work ethic. You are a solid mechanic Ivan. Great work !

[@RobertCiampa9112]

We need more people like yourself Ivan. Unfortunately mechanics don't want to spend the time to research better/more cost effective options. A lot of car owners are "Slaves" to their mechanics and have to go with whatever they recommend.

[@brianburns7211]

Rob Carstuff That’s why I like Ivan and Eric O.

[@SmittySmithsonite]

Nice fix, Ivan! Plus, you're a heck of a good dude to drive all that way to help out a friend - just the kind of people I like to surround myself with. 😎

[@Anonymous-it5jw]

Great call, particularly on ordering the correct kit for the car and knowing about the importance of the shims, and how to jury-rig new ones for a perfect fit. The bonus footage was also very interesting.

[@arthurfricchione8119]

Ivan another great fixer upper video. Love how you choose to rebuild a component rather than replace a whole part. My way of doing things. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't but I like to take the chance. In my case time is not an issue so it's the best way to go. ❤️

[@worsttintentions]

Those upside down fuse boxes on nissans are such a pain! Awesome video, my dude!

[@laohantun7404]

Great job Ivan......you are one in a million......

[@unclechaz8426]

Absolutely LOVE the "Carpenters Hammer" to the rescue. Never know when you will have to pull a NAIL out of a tire. Good thinking Ivan.

[@CubasAutomotive]

The true moral of the story, don't drive a vehicle which is falling apart, on a long, extended road trip. Lol.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

haha Cuba that is wise advice!

[@opl500]

Nissan isn't what they used to be.

[@CubasAutomotive]

@@opl500 IMO, most cars aren't what they used to be. Lol

[@CheezyDee]

Nissans seem to have a "Metastasized Failure" phase similar to most Fords I've owned; seemingly random parts fail with no warning, usually right after you fixed the last issue. The trick is to stop fixing it when the least annoying part fails like the automatic headlights or a rear power window motor, and you *should* break the cycle. This case was just a bad call on the owner. If he knew the AC failed due to a leak it would have been OK to keep driving it, but not if it suddenly craps out and makes crazy noises.

[@Starcrunch72]

Oh come now, where's your sense of adventure? Lol

[@john7017]

Great video! Nice when you have clearance to replace the clutch without removing the compressor. I never get that lucky...

[@erichagler7842]

just got done doing the very same job on an ac compressor clutch assembly , saving my client tons of cash which some shop would of charged ... 2 thumbs up for the simple repair instead of the max dollar repair

[@MrFreddywise1]

not a bad effort Ivan 2 problems solved in one..... cheers

[@onedayhomestead607]

Another great fix , thanks Ivan.

[@fieldsofomagh]

Disassembly went smooth enough. Cheap fix and car engine sounded great with the new exhaust. All circlip pliers are not the same and a variety is needed for different situations. Informative video with bonus footage.

[@allimkhan7540]

Great video your a good mechanic and a honest one my 2008 nissan sentra had the same problem to.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

I've been seeing a lot of A/C compressors burn up on ~10-year old Japanese cars this year...

[@nevillegoddard4966]

Good one mate! I'm glad you fixed the exhaust. That rattle from underneath was terrible!

[@robertlacob8831]

Very good diagnosis and repair! As much as cars change, they seem to also be the same. Weird!

[@Silent-Lucidity]

Love your content young man! You're very intelligent!!

[@stephenlawrence4362]

Nice one Ivan. Got to see your family and make some money. Also another job out of the deal. Great work in replacement of the clutch.

[@ventura455]

Great video! Now I want to replace the ac clutch on my nissan titan just for good measure.

[@marscruz]

The exhaust leak may pull in oxygen and mess up the O2 sensor. The exhaust pulses can push and pull air from the outside.

[@rusty6666]

great work you get right down to the nitty gritty when it comes doing your work you dont miss a thing and you no your stuff . I love watching your videos i have learned a lot from you thank you very much and keep up the good work.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Hey Russ I do appreciate the positive feedback! I'll do my best to keep up the good work :)

[@Anonymous-it5jw]

If you put a few drops of light oil on the shims and put them in the bottom of bolt hole on the outer plate, the oil causes them to stick to themselves and to the bottom of the hole, so they won't fall out when you handle the outer clutch plate to bolt it on.

[@Twobarpsi]

Good tip!

[@stevevogelman3360]

Saw you on sma. Your very sharp . Must be something in the water out east you and Eric are both very talented young men. I’m a retired mechanic it’s amazing how much the work has changed from when I started in this biz. Good luck I’ll keep watching you both. Bye.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Hi Steve! Yeah for sure. With new cars the diagnosis itself is usually more than half the battle!

[@62ejo]

Thxs Ivan nice work always a great video again...

[@stevejones8665]

I remember I had a Back Silencer (Muffler) blown and when I fitted the new one the Top End speed increased by about 10Mph so Blowing Exhaust certainly make a difference.

[@jimkillen1065]

Nice job on the repair ..Yes i replace my AC clutch on my old second gen dodge before..i appreciate your videos

[@HUBBABUBBADOOPYDOOP]

That whole mess looked like it was ready to catch fire. You're a wonderful Friend to have, Ivan. Your Folks are incredibly humble. That unit came off very easily, I was very surprised stuff wasn't heat seized beyond removal. What a strange, flimsy air filter/box design- it didn't even look like it seals properly? Great repair.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

lol this Nissan is truly an "econobox" that was made on a budget ;)

[@MrJet30]

THANK YOU thank you thank you!. I know this video is almost 2 years old but i had to give you a big thanks. even the bonus footage was good.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

My pleasure Jett :)

[@designertjp-utube]

My God Man! Brilliant Work! If I wasn't fighting Inflation/Recession Wars over here, I'd beg you to take a Road Trip to my Barrio in *East* *Hollywood.* Got a 2004 Dodge Dakota cryin' for some mechanical attention.

[@baxrok2.]

3g/s for a 1.8? Curious. Replacing a compressor clutch is one of those oddly satisfying repairs. That custom spacer was a work of art and must have taken quite a bit of work. Wow! Great repairs Ivan. Thanks!

[@AP9311]

Great video, Ivan! What I normally do is use the feeler gage, to measure the space between the clutch face and the pulley. Look up the manufacturer specs, use the feeler gage to shim it if necessary.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Hi Josh! I did use a feeler gauge off camera, but just "shim it till it doesn't rub" works just fine too ;)

[@mikethompson3534]

Your a great mechanic

[@rizwanahmed1756]

your work is great man. so great.

[@allimkhan7540]

Very good diganotics A Plus Mechanic!!!!!

[@lonwillis783]

My Old nissans needed an exhaust system to run right. Had many of them Good Job

[@s980845]

Nissan: Car without a temp gauge. A fool proof way to have your car explode.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

lol yeah a lot of new cars just have dummy lights. It's kind of sad!

[@johnferguson7235]

Many cars have fake temperature gauges that work just like the idiot light.

[@opl500]

It's a Nissan, it's going to explode no matter what.

[@throttlebottle5906]

out of all the blown up cars over the years, the temp gauge is useless on many of them due to sensor location. A prime example "ford taurus 3.0 v6, coolant temp sensors are both in a double T in heater hose line by thermostat. the issue with that? blown hose or no water in system from the start and the gauge never reads hot or by time it does do, the person has already ran it until total meltdown. think, spark plug boots burnt off spark plug porcelain blistered white.

[@utuber2940]

Jenn Kitten you are a hottie.....

[@Usmanthemecano]

Nice job Ivan! Ain't it nice when things go according to plan lol

[@hughjass1274]

One of my favorite videos because of the appearance of Shirtless Ivan.

[@waltershulas623]

Great video Ivan

[@mikem1014]

nice going PHA first time for me fluctuating idle a exhaust leak after cat fixed.... i will add tat to my minds tool box for future reference ..

[@jeremyanthony9300]

Way to go again Ivan.

[@johnaclark1]

Ivan, I just got burned on a job just exactly like this except on a 2003 Mercury Sable with 102K miles. Bearing went out, was very loose, and was making quite the racket, enough to melt the coil, although unlike yours the coil still worked. I couldn't get to it on the car as you did so I had to discharge the system. I found a clutch assembly at a nearby Advance Auto, changed the clutch assembly with stator and reinstalled with new o-rings on the hose manifold where it bolts to the compressor. Went to pull a vacuum and it wouldn't pull down less than about 20". I pulled the hose manifold assembly back off the compressor, and put my fingers, with rubber gloves on, on the hose openings and it pulled right down to 29" and held. Moral of the story...the heat from the failed bearing, enough to melt and damage the coil, also melted or damaged the compressor shaft seal. If the bearing goes out like that and creates that much heat I don't change just the clutch anymore. I was able to return the clutch and buy a compressor but it cost me extra time and that phone call to the owner with the not-so-good news.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Yeah I hear you. Have gotten burned myself too. In this case I made it very clear to the customer: I can make your car driveable for cheap. If the A/C still works that would be like a "bonus" ;)

[@ThisIS_Insane]

As far as I know, back pressure from the exhaust system has been necessary, for decades. Always taken into account for most any ICE, during tune-ups, to possibly detect engine performance issues. I worked on cars for standard oil gas stations back in the early 1970s, but only for a year or so. Love troubleshooting, but cars weren't doin' it for me. Moved to Home computer systems and I liked that much better.

[@likearockcm]

Ithink Ivan is on to something ! Nude repair ,the ladies will love it👍

[@1977jelliott]

Nice backyard repair, Ivan, got your friend out of a fix. Like for your ingenuity.

[@1977jelliott]

Ps, I don't have any envy about working on cars that see salted roads.

[@sinegra30]

I Love regular old fashioned A/C Compressors! Soo Back pressure is important after all!

[@williegillie5712]

Your up early Ivan. New York rust. Fun fun fun. You work like I do Ivan, on Jack Stands. Nice job Ivan. You made it look easy.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

I'm just happy the parts fit so the owner could get it back on the road!

[@Automotive_Solutions]

You know it's serious when the claw hammer comes out 🔨. Nice work 👍

[@orinmangar2333]

It is unfortunate to see neglected cars. I am sure if the owner just spent a little more money you could do some maintenance for him/her to make it safe. Again good job Ivan.

[@DaveSender66]

Nice work Buddy! Ipdm not a serviceable item other than fuses. Ivan you pour the slab for your new shop and we'll have a meet up one weekend and finish it !!!!!

[@gottosahani7571]

Nice video thanks for the information

[@jackpatteeuw9244]

I missed this the first time. Have the fuse box upside down is smart because any moisture that gets in will drain out !

[@timothygolden5321]

Yours is the only video for the Versa of this vintage I believe. Thank you. Mine has just gone and I got a loose quote of $700 for the compressor and the clutch, which the mechanis says is the way he does it, whereas I see the after market clutch goes for around $80. I'll probably do it myself. Still haven't ordered the parts though.

[@timothygolden5321]

Success! The 7groove pulley does fit the six groove belt on my 2011 Versa 1.8liter. Sure enough the coil was cooked along with the bearing. Swapped the rear defrost fuse(15A) for the AC fuse (10A) and have cold air blowing with AC on, and warming when AC off. When the outer three lobed thing spins the compressor is engaged. Had to add one shim washer on mine to free it when allen bolt snugged. Unfortunately my $50 clutch bearing is not spinning freely, but I'm hoping it will wear in. The bearing grabs when turned by hand; after ten minutes run time it was warm but not hot. Oh, the electrical connector: It does not just pull out: the coil side of the connector mounts to a steel tab on the compressor. I destructively removed mine. Once you've got it off the metal tab you can verify your connector by pulling the wire up to the top of the engine through the hood. Proving that, I passed it back down, made the connection with coil mounted, then used steel wire to secure it to the compressor to prevent vibration chafe. Thanks tons Pine Hollow for guiding me through this job. Would not have tried it without your help.

[@ysalogistics6636]

Very good job mate, keep it up..

[@davidraezer5937]

Good job Ivan! Had a old Ford F-250 with a 7.3 drive me nuts with a slow crank no-start. Stupid alternator was seized. If you got the truck running. No noises belt just slid over the pulley. I will take my humble pie served warm!

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

wow! Yes humble pie every week haha

[@throttlebottle5906]

i've had snow and ice melt get into mine on old van where it freezes inside and locks it up, go to start after sitting and it cranks a bit slow and fires up to a horrible "SHRRIIEEEEKK" cuss at it, grab the torch, heat it some and good to go :)

[@zx8401ztv]

Smashing job ivan, great that it was just the clutch assembly :-D. Odd that the exhaust pressure is a touchy variable, it makes sense but some cars don't give a dam. I would prompt them to get that idle pulley replaced, bearings that rattle are a worry.

[@johnferguson7235]

It is certainly better to fix bearings when you hear them instead of waiting until you smell them or they are glowing.

[@alexarul3124]

@@johnferguson7235 I don't know what it says about me that I laugh more at car repair video comments than so-called comedy shows.

[@Skandalos]

With older cars even a tiny hole in the exhaust could cause engine trouble. One of my 70s Audis was a bit unwilling to shift in the lower gears. I fixed the hole and it shifted smoothly again. Last year I had similar trouble with my 97 Corsa. Hard to shift into 1st gear and stalling after cold start. Fixing a hole in the exhaust pipe solved it for a while but later it turned out the underlying problem was a dirty idle control valve.

[@mikechiodetti6737]

When I first saw the A/C clutch, I thought, "oh no." YOU got lucky! I've never seen one come off that easily! I don't know about Nissan, but older Ford, GM, and Dodge had gap specs for the A/C clutches. Most I've done were close to 1/8 inch. Good Job, Good Video. Again I don't know about Nissan but, older E.G.R. system's relied on some back pressure to function properly. Just saying. Maybe that helps stabilize the exhaust pulses? HMMMMMM.

[@oby-1607]

Good ol' E Bay. Our friend sold us a car that had been quoted a transmission job for $3,000. We did some research and found that the car needed a lock-up solenoid for the trans and ordered a part for $75 off of E Bay. Has been running good for 5 years now.

[@stevejones8665]

The Moral of the Story is Tell your Customer to fix those Bad Crazy Rattles when they first happen and don't just leave them until something seizes up or falls off (Exhaust on the Freeway).😊👍👍👍Great Job.

[@viewmaster6949]

Ivan thanks for the idea of your cart for your tool box I am going to build me a cart for my tool box so I can roll it around whenever I take it out of the vehicle

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Easier to just buy a dolly at Tractor Supply or Home Depot :)

[@eXdXgXe4life]

You are a hero.

[@johnwhan7288]

Great vid have the same car same year and after adding freon still blows warm. I'm hoping the fuse is the ticket. If not ill try and jump the compressor clutch with a wire and add more freon.

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

Good one. I need to do mine. I get a horrible noise when the a.c. engages when the engine is hot which I think is the clutch. The noise will stop after a while and the a.c. works perfectly. This has been happening for the last 12 years but is getting worse now.

[@mrblonde2013]

Nice 2 for 1 Ivan. As an aside, the oem steel waterpump gasket is RAZOR Sharp.....I found out too late. 😕😕

[@briankotze57]

Great share. Thanks

[@IBenZik]

Great vidio Ivan. how many miles on the belt? How you work with a creeper is amazing. We need to get you an electric hoist and a story and 1/2 shop. The noises are from the rust belt. What band of gloves do you wear?

[@kevinbyrne4538]

7:16 -- The cardinal chirping in the background suggests that this video was recorded in spring of this year.

[@NewLevelAuto]

Very nice observation!

[@ahill007ny]

I was thinking the same thing Upstate NY and Ivan is taking off clothes this time of year 🤣

[@mijo7025]

Awesome viewing

[@billbyrd9845]

A whole different thing of course, but still, a story of exhaust back pressure. It was 1960. I was fifteen years old. My parents were away. I had just removed the thirty pound 30" chrome muffler from my Allstate 125. I so wanted it to be bigger and louder and faster. I got the first two, but the bike-- it wouldn't fall out of a tree as we used to say. Three WFO trips around the neighborhood and it bacame painfully obvious: the loudness was not correlated to power. An adult neighbor came storming across my yard. He had blood in his eye. He just happened to own a rent-all store and knew everything about two strokes (and everything else). He gave me a lecture about the folly of looking for love (and power) in all the wrong places. I was disappointed to learn that mufflers weren't installed merely to make your neighbors happy and hold back the horses. But it was true. Expansion chambers were years away for me. Now that's where the power is in the world of ring-a-dings! www.searsallstateriders.com/assets/images/models/810.94151-photo1.jpg

[@thecuss6817]

A couple of years ago, had intermittent slipping AC clutch on my 1998 Nissan Frontier; I was able to remove drive plate and remove a shim to fix it, didn't even need to remove the AC drive belt to do this !!!

[@mava5634]

Ivan my man, more movies will be appreciated

[@jdmeaux]

A lot of newer vehicles are VERY sensitive to back pressure with the exhaust. Many hot rodders have had to reflash their computers after installing to a freer flowing exhaust system. Moe

[@rfcarlson1]

The back pressure pulses in the exhaust are used to help scavenge the exhaust gas from the cylinders. The effect is especially important on smaller engines or highly tuned engines. Without the negative pressure pulses in the exhaust to clean out the cylinders the intake ends up with a less than optimal mixture. Before chips in computers were available to be remapped a lot of work went into designing header lengths and exhaust pipe diameters. Getting just the right suck at the exhaust ports at the right time was like tuning a musical instrument.

[@arciefan]

Tell of the tape 39:05 .... Time after time, I've watched Ivan make these successful repairs. If someone were just to go thru his videos and add up all the savings, just to his own vehicles it would be astounding. His friends are lucky to have him as a friend. Truly my favorite you tube channel for mechanical

[@pastmasterdan4080]

Very informative

[@aleksandrzinkevics1253]

Красава! Так держать. На этот раз обошлось без изоленты.

[@Garth2011]

Nice guy Ivan. The poor car shows much neglect if you can call it that. Those clutch coils go bad more times that folks think yet the shops are selling them new systems only because the shop wont take the risk of a come back. Seems unfair, all they have to do is document the paperwork what they did to cover themselves. I hope you made a list of suggested repairs to the car owner. I always tell folks if they have a car thats paid for, just think, you have no payments so spend a little extra on the maintenance for a sound vehicle.

[@gonzgarr1592]

nice fix

[@ethanrbutler]

What up and thank you from Mansfield, PA Horrible location for that compressor BTW, wtf 😩

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

Thanks for the comment Ethan!

[@nigelclark7360]

Very good

[@tiredoldmechanic1791]

Another great "fix" instead of replacing everything. Those clutch kits should come with shims. Does that Nissan use EGR? They can be very sensitive to exhaust pressure. I keep thinking about the old Frigidaire compressors where the front seal ran on the clutch so the system would vent when the clutch was disassembled.

[@carnynja9966]

Curious about what g/s should you typically see based on liters of engine? Isn’t it g per liter?

[@Bunkysworkshop]

Every time you do a video you make it look so easy. Great video. I do find it strange when people get bent out of shape or focus on no shirt....I guess they like it and that puts questions in their minds that make them feel uncomfortable when a person with no shirt on is normal and its just a body. Please keep up the good work.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

LOL It was like 90F in the sun I was roasting!

[@Bunkysworkshop]

I think you have a few guys that are looking at you in a different way then just a guy working on a car. A name as ( AlwaysChristian) ??? HMM What is on his mind is my question. I am truly sorry that all the hard work that you do for people that this is what's on his mind. Just saying.

[@rrmech11]

Nice work with not having to remove ac assembly.😉

[@TheCowgirlNiamh]

Nice job Ivan! I was thinking his air con was the least of his problems lol maybe some advice on preventative maintenance? Lol I can't believe he took a car in that condition on a roadtrip.

[@Panhead49EL]

That bend in front of the muffler is notorious for collecting exhaust moisture and rusting out. A 'flange delete' is a common fix; the shop just cuts out the flange and welds in a piece of pipe...good for a few years until it rusts out too. I

[@gregoryblair9810]

Have a 2010 Versa....the dipsticks are very finicky about position. One way it slides right in but turn it anywhere (but 180 degrees) and you will bend the shaft!

[@brunski1966]

29:22 Ivan, do you have the link for B&B industries where you get your wiring diagrams? great job! I like your style -- new subby :)

[@kenman1717]

did one on a Toyota tundra. my boss diagnosed a bad clutch. but he did it in late fall, so customer waited until the middle of this summer. I went to install the new clutch on a Saturday, and found that the compressor shaft was seized solid. the only thing that spun was the actual pulley for the belt. so I called the Toyota dealer which is in the city about 200km away. only place I could get an a/c compressor. come to find out there compressors don't come with the clutch or the pulley or shims. so the clutch/pulley kit I had was $250 and the new compressor w/o clutch/pulley was $800. put it together with original shims and snap rings, worked fine.

[@PineHollowAutoDiagnostics]

That's an expensive fix but gotta pay for comfort haha

[@s980845]

"That white thing over there" I'm ded 😂

[@redpanda2401]

Great vids Ivan, Lurve your channel, but would be nice to hear the customer reviews in your vids 'if possible', would make an ahhhhh,their satisfied moment. maybe? anyway awesome stuff buddy xx

[@xxrodneyxx]

Maybe rinse the condenser and check the cabin filter (possibly plugged filter/ no heat exchange)?