Ever since I bought my car (last year)...when I run the a/c, it pulls SO MUCH out of the car. When pulling off, it bogs down and has no power while accelerating. It never really bothered me until now. I usually keep the windows down but with the heat index being around 110 degrees every day, i'd really love to use the a/c.

I know the ac pulls hp, of course, but this MUCH? Is this common with our cars or is it just some more bad luck?

Thanks,
Adam

 

I can feel a noticeable difference in the car slowing down when I turn on the AC, but it still has plenty of power

 

There is a seat-of-the-pants power loss when running the A/C. But your problem sounds excessive. Maybe the compressor is going bad?

 

If your compressor is going bad and causing excess drag on the engine you will probably hear squeeling at the top of shift points. If it's so bad you can feel it as bad as your saying, you'd think you'd hear it all the time with the AC on.
With my AC on the car's got a lot of power to it still, i barely notice a difference actually.

 

Appreciate the replies...

I haven't heard any kind of squeeling at all...at any rpm. I'm clueless...

 

When my car was stock, I couldn't tell if the compressor was running or not.

Now that it's modded like it is, and the low end torque has moved up a little higher in RPMs, when just cruising at low speeds, I can feel it kick in now.

To my knowledge there's nothing wrong with my compressor though.

 

you guys are aware that the a/c compressor shuts off at WOT, right? otherwise, if the power loss is that severe at normal driving levels, i would have the a/c system checked out.

 

I dont really notice any difference when i have the AC on in my H/C car. Then again the cam has really got some low end grunt.

 

Well, I rode around today a little bit with the a/c at full blast and honestly it wasn't that bad. Maybe it was just me...i always tend to pick up on small things like that.

Thanks for the input everyone...

Adam

 

finally got a/c working in my car today. a little less torque than usual but considering i haven't had a/c for over a year in arizona, i think its a fine trade off. i just shift at liek 2700 now instead of 2100

 

If the AC system is not healthy it will draw excessive more from the motor. You can have the system checked by a tech to find out. Other then that if your Idle air system is not working correctly the load applied to the motor might not be correctly compinsated for by boosting RPM.

 

Wow! Are you trained in torture survival techniques?

I notice when I put the A/C on when cruising around town, it tends to have a bit of jitter to it. Sort of a very slight pulsing in the engine. Almost indetectable, but I can tell. My A/C is 16 years old though and still blows ice cold, so I'm not complaining.

 

lol at above. it was just about as bad. last summer it was because i was broke all the time. now i ahve a good job, drove to work one day, noticed salt stains on my shirt from all the sweat pouring from me, got pissed, bought a used compressor, got it recharged and now i have a true appreciation for a/c and let everyone that has their windows down pass me because thye too have no a/c