Nissan: Xterra AC units are designed to NOT turn off

[miamiJoe]

I bought a new 2007 Nissan Xterra a couple months back and the AC won't turn off unless I shut the entire truck down.  The dealer and Nissan told me the unit was designed that way.  I'm not kidding.

I bought the truck in Naples, FL. On the drive home to Miami I realized the AC wouldn't turn off. I shut the truck down at red light and that did the trick, but when I used the defrost, which automatically turns the AC on, the AC wouldn't turn off again. It didn't matter what mode was selected after that, whether the AC button was in the "on" or "off" position, the AC stayed on until I stopped the truck, shut the entire thing down and restarted.

Like most Floridians, I use my defrost a lot when it rains and humidity fills the cabin. But running the defrost will infringe on my gas mileage and unnecessarily wear the engine and the AC unit.

I took it back to the dealer and they said it could not  be fixed, that it was designed that way.  I called Nissan's corporate offices and they said the same thing.

Is this possible?

[SPW]

Insane...
Is that only the 07 models I wonder?

[happyx]

I have a 2006 S and mine shuts off. Go to another dealer and dont and dont tell them what that dealer has told you.

[dude]

My 2003 just started doing that!

[Rick]

My 07 does the same thing. Though mine does it with both heat and AC. I just havent taken it in to the dealership yet.

[calgonman4u]

miamiJoe wrote:

I bought a new 2007 Nissan Xterra a couple months back and the AC won't turn off unless I shut the entire truck down.  The dealer and Nissan told me the unit was designed that way.  I'm not kidding.
I bought the truck in Naples, FL. On the drive home to Miami I realized the AC wouldn't turn off. I shut the truck down at red light and that did the trick, but when I used the defrost, which automatically turns the AC on, the AC wouldn't turn off again. It didn't matter what mode was selected after that, whether the AC button was in the "on" or "off" position, the AC stayed on until I stopped the truck, shut the entire thing down and restarted.
Like most Floridians, I use my defrost a lot when it rains and humidity fills the cabin. But running the defrost will infringe on my gas mileage and unnecessarily wear the engine and the AC unit.
I took it back to the dealer and they said it could not  be fixed, that it was designed that way.  I called Nissan's corporate offices and they said the same thing.
Is this possible?

I had a 92 Nissan SER and a 96 Maxima with the same symptons. I replaced the dash switch and a switch under the hood for the A/C and dont remember what it was for to no avail. One dealer said the ECU controlled the A/C. I replaced that on both cars which were both low milage cars but were in a high humidity area and that worked. The dealer said that there was a lot of corrosion on the plug in pins and the resepticle for the ecu.??? Just my other Nissan experiences

[azstumbler]

I have a 2006 Xterra and it runs for 20 minutes and then shut itself off. I was told it is supposed to do that to keep the AC lubricated.

miamiJoe wrote:

I bought a new 2007 Nissan Xterra a couple months back and the AC won't turn off unless I shut the entire truck down.  The dealer and Nissan told me the unit was designed that way.  I'm not kidding.
I bought the truck in Naples, FL. On the drive home to Miami I realized the AC wouldn't turn off. I shut the truck down at red light and that did the trick, but when I used the defrost, which automatically turns the AC on, the AC wouldn't turn off again. It didn't matter what mode was selected after that, whether the AC button was in the "on" or "off" position, the AC stayed on until I stopped the truck, shut the entire thing down and restarted.
Like most Floridians, I use my defrost a lot when it rains and humidity fills the cabin. But running the defrost will infringe on my gas mileage and unnecessarily wear the engine and the AC unit.
I took it back to the dealer and they said it could not  be fixed, that it was designed that way.  I called Nissan's corporate offices and they said the same thing.
Is this possible?

[Indy]

Your Nissan's AC should not run if the AC button is not "ON". The blower always runs a little when the power knob is on the "OFF" position. I hate this feature but both my 2000 Exterra and 2000 Maxima do this. Make sure you look at the AC unit and confirm the compressor is actually on. I suspect it is not but if it is then go to a "certified" Nissan mechanic outside of the dealership and ask them about it.

[Norman Prevatte]

With the defroster on the A/C will run if the temperature is cold in just about every vehicle I've had over the last 30 years. To disengage it you had to turn up the temperature.
I have an 05 Xterra and the A/C can be turned off. If the defrost is on the A/C will stay on until the temperature is turned up.

Norman Prevatte
Stafford, VA