Brenda Brian

I have a 2008 Honda Fit that stutters when the AC is on, lately it has been shutting off when I'm at a stoplight. This only happens when the AC is on, no check engine light. What's the problem?

claymore

How many miles on your Fit? It could be you need a valve clearance adjustment and or coilpacks and spark plugs gone bad. All are very common problems that cause your symptoms.

Brenda Brian

It has 89k miles. we got it used from a toyota dealership in february, in april the car had already shut off on on us once at a stop light but we didn't realize that it only happens when the ac is on. The car is under warranty with a $50 deductible, we took it back to that toyota dealership and paid the stupid $50 and they couldn't figure out the problem. I called them again today to tell them that it happened again and this time the tech told me that the honda dealership would probably be a whole lot better and they take the warranty that i have. Would have been nice to know! Should I just take it to the honda dealership and pay another $50 deductible to figure out my problem? I'm worried they're going to tell me the same thing and i'll waste another $50

90Acura

For starters, the Toyota dealer probably shouldn't have tried to look at the problem in the first place if they are not experienced with the model, if they even did spend any useful diagnostic time other than staring at things, and shouldn't have charged you. That's a good reason people without lots of money don't go to businesses with higher operating costs. Understandably those businesses have to make money also, and these types of problems are a headache for them, versus the simple brake jobs. Reality is that a place doesn't want to spend time on something for nothing, when they're not sure if they can't fix it.

What you need to do is find a place that won't charge you unless they correct the problem. If they are really good at diagnosing and correcting problems, then they should be able to do that. If not, it's better to just determine if they really want to look at it or not. Without the deductible, you would find that some places would just be honest with you, and tell you that they do not mess with those types of problems, as they are more state inspection/general repair geared. Forget about the deductible, as a business will again understandably have to make a certain amount of money for their time and work, and will charge you accordingly no matter what. These types of unclear problems are a perfect case for why a warranty with deductible is useless. Unless they have no deductible, then just plan on paying the money. If you go to any more service businesses, then find a place that has the confidence to diagnose the problem, and then agree to paying them accordingly if and when they actually diagnose and correct the problem.

lazlong

The compressor or compressor clutch is bad. It won't rotate, which puts enough strain on the engine to make it die.

claymore

Possible but not probable. If it was bad and not dis-engaging then it would do the same thing with the A/C on or off and in this case that is not happening. And if the compressor was locked solid and not turning then there would be loud belt squeal.

lazlong

There are only two things it could be when the engine dies only when the A/C is on:

1) the compressor or compressor clutch is going bad
2) the A/C system is overloading the electrical system

Which one do you think happens 99% of the time?

claymore

There can be many causes for low idle with A/C on and some don't even involve A/C parts like needing a valve clearance job and or plugs and coil packs.

And since it's a 2008 and if they have never been done that is most probably the cause. Both common problems and if done correct stalling problems.

lazlong

I see what you're saying and it makes sense even though I've never personally ran into it.

@ Brenda: If you have little knowledge or experience with working on cars just pay the $50 and take it to Honda. Or maybe try to find an independent mechanic who works on just 1 or 2 makes (Honda being one, of course. lol). They're usually pretty cheap (or free) on diagnostics. Tell them the symptoms and, very nicely, mention the items discussed here.