Aircon Has A Mind Of It's Own...

[yumcha33]

Thought I'd see if anyone has the same problem...

I have an R32 gtst and the digital climate control works perfect except for this.

It only happens at night, but my heater turns on by itself, without the digital AC dash coming on. Which is annoying when I don't want it and you can feel the loss in power.

Also when i turn my AC on while on the highway the car pulls to the left which it never use to. Could this be HICAS or just wheel alignment? I know my front coilovers are on the way out...

Thanks

[tiberis]

I know that first issue is a common one, had the same thing with my 180sx which had the digital C/C.

but basically from what i know, even if the display is off the system is still functioning. so typically at night when it's cooler, it will be trying to heat of it's own accord. if the heater box is done the same way as the 180sx with the CA18 engine is, then the hot water is always flowing through into the cabin which means you also always get some heat soak. alternatively, if it's connected as like the later model skylines, your valve which controls water flow may be broken/ jammed/ the control rod is bent or something which is not allowing it to close fully.

but in any situation, you shouldn't be losing power when the heater is on.... A/C yes, because the compressor takes power from the engine, but the heater just passively takes the hot water and pipes it a different direction... shouldn't affect performance to a noticeable level.

the pulling to the left with A/C is more interesting though.... never heard of that before. does the A/C still work fine though? is it a very strong pull to the left? or is it a very slight veering.

the HICAS on the R32s was hydraulic but unless some of the control system gets affected by the A/C compressor turning on, i'm not sure how this would happen...

[yumcha33]

The heating thing isn't such a big issue, I might just think I'm losing power... I think it is set up like a CA on RB's...

It isn't a huge pull but defently noticeable. I just figured maybe since everything is kinda hooked up ont he front, it kind of affects HICAS on the back. Because of fluid pressure or something? I dunno...

Yer and C works fine. I'm gonna put a HICAS lock bar in soon, see if that stops the pull.

[tiberis]

Yeah, CA and the R32 RB's were from the same era, so it wouldn't surprise me if they were similar in that aspect as well.

only thing i can suggest is going through the diagnostics for the C/C unit and you can set a bias to the cabin temp sensor. so you make it think that it's 20C when it's 16C and therefore doesn't try to heat as much... just means you lose your top end of heating...

Interesting... would love to know why just out of interest if nothing else...

well, the power steering fluid pressure *shouldn't* be affected by the A/C turning on seeing as they are 2 separate systems. have you checked so make sure the A/C compressor is still bolted to the block properly and all your belts are ok? also check your power steering fluid just to make sure (can't hurt to double check).

does the steering pull happen as soon as A/C is turned on or happens a little while after it's turned on (say like 30 sec or a min or so)?

[yumcha33]

Yer power steering fluid is fine, checked already...

It doesn't happen all the time. only when I'm on the highway. Or I guess when I'm above 80k's.

As soon as I turn the aircon on it pulls about 3 seconds after when the aircon comes on full blast. Is weird.

Yer I'll have a look at the belts and compressor...

Thanks!