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idcgreen Newbie
Joined: May 23 2009
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Posted: May 23 2009 at 5:34pm | IP Logged
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Thank you so much baykahz. I have a 2000 nissan altima, it has the same AC problem as everyone else. I spent a little over one hour to put the new TCA in, The car is blowing cold air!
Thank you so much
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s37shamus Newbie
Joined: May 25 2009
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Posted: May 25 2009 at 10:01pm | IP Logged
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2005 Nissan Frontier Nismo, 34000 miles.
Does anyone know if the TCA problem is something that could be going on with my 2005.
When my fan is on 1 it runs cold but the blower does not blow. When I turn the fan to 2,3, or 4 the blower turns on but the AC shuts off and does not blow cold. The AC light turns off when the blower starts. Has anyone had or heard of this problem? It is not intermitent, it is like this always. Any sugestions would be greatly appriciated.
Thanks
Shamus
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Boatbuilder306 Newbie
Joined: Jun 20 2008
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Posted: May 27 2009 at 8:24am | IP Logged
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s37shamus: The symptoms you describe are not the same as the "TCA problem." While it could be the TCA, I highly doubt it. The TCA problem is generally the same for everyone, every Nissan make/model. Here is what the TCA does, from wiki.answers.com: "...it is a device that protects the evaporator in Nissan and some other automotive AC systems from freezing up. The device is a transistor switch component driven by voltage or current derived from an integral thermistor. Colder/Freezing temperatures cause the circuit to open and through the ECM and Air Conditioner Relay stop the compressor. The unit used by Nissan works as follows: As the temperature is decreasing the circuit opens around 38 to 37° F to turn off the compressor. There is a one to two degree hysteresis in the unit to prevent rapid cycling of the compressor. The device closes the circuit when the temperature reaches 39 to 41°F." I suspect that there is an electrical problem on the Nissan that causes the TCA to fail -- a voltage/current surge, for example. One of the two cigarette lighter outlets on my console blows a fuse when I depress the lighter or insert any device (e.g., cell phone charger) that works off that outlet. The other outlet is fine (the one with the "dummy" plug in it). It may be unrelated but I suspect there is a wiring/electrical problem that could be frying the TCA.
For those of you wondering what happened when I registered a formal complaint with Nissan's Consumer Services Division, I got an automated response with a reference number but no indication what they planned to do about it. I'm calling them in the next few days to see if they will actually address the problem and I'm pointing them to this discussion thread. If you google "A/C problem nissan" you'll see that there are several other automotive forums with what looks to be hundreds of people discussing the same problem and eventually coming up with the same conclusion (TCA).
Great post... keep up the good work! lakota
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frontierguy Senior Member
Master Mechanic
Joined: May 20 2008
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Location: U.S. - Pennsylvania
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Posted: May 27 2009 at 7:44pm | IP Logged
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s37shamus wrote:
2005 Nissan Frontier Nismo, 34000 miles.
Does anyone know if the TCA problem is something that could be going on with my 2005.
When my fan is on 1 it runs cold but the blower does not blow. When I turn the fan to 2,3, or 4 the blower turns on but the AC shuts off and does not blow cold. The AC light turns off when the blower starts. Has anyone had or heard of this problem? It is not intermitent, it is like this always. Any sugestions would be greatly appriciated.
You need a blower motor resister, located at the bottom of the blower housing near the blower motor.
Thanks
Shamus |
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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 Newbie
Joined: Jun 20 2008
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Posted: Jun 10 2009 at 6:02pm | IP Logged
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Update on the TCA response from Nissan Consumer Affairs:
They sent me to the local Southern States Nissan dealership in Raleigh NC to have them diagnose the problem, and instructed me not to have the dealership do any work, but just to report back to Consumer Affairs with their diagnosis. The dealership then charged me $190 for two hours of diagnostic work, determining that I had a leaky head gasket and cracked hoses, resulting in loss of coolant, overheating of the engine and therefore inability to generate cold air from the A/C system. They needed to "send the cylinders out for testing" as well; total estimate: $2800 (no, I'm not making this up). When I picked up the truck a few hours later, I asked the service rep if he wanted to know what the real problem was with the A/C, and he said, "yes!" I said, "Sorry. Can't tell you. I was sent by Nissan Consumer Affairs. But you're estimate was off by $2750." Less than a mile from the dealership my temperature gage shot up and I immediately pulled over and saw that my radiator and coolant overflow reservoir were mysteriously bone dry. A friend of mine drove me to an auto parts store nearby and we replaced the fluid. I measured it out carefully and have been monitoring it for the past two weeks and haven't lost a drop. My A/C has also never been so cool, comfortable, and consistent; however, we haven't had any scorching days like we had during the week I was getting intermittent cooling. It's possible my coolant level was low (I said "low," not "dry"), but I know that there is absolutely no leaky head gasket (the mechanic claimed coolant was spilled all over the engine but there is no evidence of that whatsoever -- I have 80k miles on the truck and it has been pampered). I also inspected all the hoses and there are no scratches, nicks, or cracks of any kind, and, surprisingly enough, no knife or screwdriver puncture holes. After appealing to Consumer Affairs again, they eventually agreed to cover the diagnostic charges and the cost to replace the coolant, and to file a formal complaint with the dealership on my behalf. They said there is nothing else they can do about it, because the dealerships are all independently owned and operated and the "complaint" is simply for the benefit of the owner/operator's management. Maybe I should wait for my check to arrive (6-8 weeks!) before sticking my neck out any further...
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crgardner1951 Newbie
Joined: Jun 12 2009
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Location: U.S. - Texas
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Posted: Jun 12 2009 at 11:47am | IP Logged
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Thank you very much for the details on that problem. Me and my wife have been battling this problem for 3 years now. I am not sure if I can do all that work but now that I know I might be able to take it in to my regular guy and he will know exactly lwhat needs to be looked at .... We went through all kinds of voodoo... push the a/c button... change the temp setting, and even roll down the window and sometimes that actually seem to work....
__________________ OldGuy
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lakota Moderator Group
Nissan Frontier Forums Moderator
Joined: Feb 14 2005
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Location: U.S. - Texas
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Posted: Jun 12 2009 at 3:50pm | IP Logged
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..
Welcome old Texas Guy;
It's strange some vehicles have problems (any Brand) and some don't. Our 6 Nissans have been trouble free. I screwed up and bought a '08 Camry I-4 for the wife but it's been good so far. We're lucky we did't get an '07 V-6 Camry... a lot of problems with them.
Very Old Texas Guy... let's compare PIX of our Great Grandkids...
It would be nice if our members would add their vehicle information to their signature (similar to mine) plus add their City and State . A member in the same town might be willing to drop by and help you with a problem. Or drink all your beer
__________________ PLEASE >>> A SIG similar to mine can be VERY HELPFUL to all the members!
'99 4x4 3.3 Frontier Se KC Auto, 48,000 miles
'76 4x4 401 Wagoneer QT
'04 FWD 1.8 Sentra '08 FWD 2.4 Camry LE
Fort Worth
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kcidmil Moderator Group
HI! My name is Ben and I have Car ADD.
Joined: May 02 2005
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Location: U.S. - Utah
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Posted: Jun 16 2009 at 10:57am | IP Logged
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Boatbuilder306 wrote:
Why Nissan hasn't recalled these vehicles and repaired the problem at no charge is really inexcusable. |
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Volkswagen has been doing the same thing with their coil packs. Apparently it's just easier to ignore the problem. I guess with GM and Chrysler in so much trouble, they're thinking people will just walk right over to them and buy.
__________________ Fight back this year, do your Tax Return in Roman Numerals.
05 Toyota Tacoma X-Runner
90 Nissan Maxima SE
12 Nissan Xterra S
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ronm69 Newbie
Joined: Jun 30 2009
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Posted: Jun 30 2009 at 9:43pm | 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 have a 2000 Frontier Crew Cab that I bought new, and this A/C issue is the first major problem I have encountered. I followed your directions exactly and it took right at a half hour. Fortunately I didn't spend any money on wasted efforts, but I did get two different diagnosis from a Nissan mechanic and an independent mechanic and neither mentioned the TCA. As soon as I plugged in the new part, I had ice cold air blowing immediately. Thanks for the great site.
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Boatbuilder306 Newbie
Joined: Jun 20 2008
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Posted: Jul 01 2009 at 8:30am | IP Logged
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Thanks for the note ronm69. For those of you who stumbled upon this forum and have experienced/solved "The TCA Problem," it takes only a few minutes to join and post an update. At some point in time it will become obvious the problem is systemic and should help to influence a recall decision by Nissan.
- 2001 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab
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