So as I was driving for a while using the A/C, I finally came to a stop where I was about to park. I finally parked and the car was still on with the AC and all of a sudden the car starts shaking and jerking like it was about to turn off. I turned the car off and thought maybe it was low on gas, but as soon as I shut the AC off it went away.

Yesterday I was driving for a good while also, had the AC on with no problems. About 30 mins later, I get to a red light and I stop. A little after that the car starts to jerk and shake again like it wanted to turn off. I turned off the AC and immediately it went away.

Has anyone had this problem before? If so, what causes this and what can I do to fix it?

 

I DONT know why this is happening BUT my friend's car used to do the same thing when his a/c was on. He had to turn of the A/C before coming to a stop at a light/sign. Just so you know its not isolated.

 

I have a hatch just like that, and usually when the a/c turns on in our cars(thinking of a d series) it vibrates moderatly, but as bad as your stating I would think your compressor is bad, so if your able to, get the compressor checked and see if that's the culprate....

 

got any debris on your fan, I had mud on mine, when it came on, the whole car started shaking from being off balance.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 00_EKHatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have a hatch just like that, and usually when the a/c turns on in our cars(thinking of a d series) it vibrates moderatly, but as bad as your stating I would think your compressor is bad, so if your able to, get the compressor checked and see if that's the culprate.... </TD></TR></TABLE>

Well if it is, at least it is almost the end of this hot weather!


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rev2 9K &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">got any debris on your fan, I had mud on mine, when it came on, the whole car started shaking from being off balance.</TD></TR></TABLE>

No, I checked it yesterday and nothing.

 

Worn motor mounts?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 97civicdx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Worn motor mounts?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nope, far from it. It only happens when I turn on the AC for a while and come to a stop.

 

I actually don't think it's an AC component like people are mentioning. Though it is still possible. In my opinion it sounds like your car is getting ready to stall because the AC is putting too much of a strain on it; which is needless to say...weird...

Only thing I can think of off the top of my head is that the AC pulley is meeting some resistance and like doubling or trippling the load and bogging the engine out. How's your RPM's when it's shaking?

 

IF THE CAR IS SHAKING THAT MEANS THE MOTOR IS UNDER HEAVY STRAIN....IF IT DOESN'T DO IT WHEN THE A/C IS OFF IM GONNA HAVE TO AGREE THAT THE A/C COMPRESSOR IS EITHER GOING BAD OR IS STRAINING THE MOTOR TOO MUCH....I JUST DID AWAY WITH MY A/C....SACRIFICE FOR TURBO

 

A/C for turbo I did the same, and I am from Pasadena MD also. Northeast Class of 96.
Op: My car did the same when I had A/C. I took it out because of the turbo and didnt use it that much anymore considering it isnt my daily driver. Good thing winter is almost here AKA: Turbo Weather!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civicboy34 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">IF THE CAR IS SHAKING THAT MEANS THE MOTOR IS UNDER HEAVY STRAIN....IF IT DOESN'T DO IT WHEN THE A/C IS OFF IM GONNA HAVE TO AGREE THAT THE A/C COMPRESSOR IS EITHER GOING BAD OR IS STRAINING THE MOTOR TOO MUCH....I JUST DID AWAY WITH MY A/C....SACRIFICE FOR TURBO</TD></TR></TABLE>

stop posting in every thread with the caps on!

 

I wouldn't jump the gun on the compressor just yet.

Check your idle... for instance, if you normally idle at 800rpm, w/out a/c on, when A/C kicks on, your IACV should bump the idle up to 900-1000rpm to handle the extra load of the compressor.

If your idle stays at 800rpm or drops, then you know its a problem with your IACV, or communication to the IACV.

 

with my old a/c system it was a bad dryer, as it was clogged and when the compressor would try to run at idle it would bog the engine down. debris in the lines would also do it too.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Syndacate &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I actually don't think it's an AC component like people are mentioning. Though it is still possible. In my opinion it sounds like your car is getting ready to stall because the AC is putting too much of a strain on it; which is needless to say...weird...

Only thing I can think of off the top of my head is that the AC pulley is meeting some resistance and like doubling or trippling the load and bogging the engine out. How's your RPM's when it's shaking?</TD></TR></TABLE>

The AC pulley eh?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civicboy34 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">IF THE CAR IS SHAKING THAT MEANS THE MOTOR IS UNDER HEAVY STRAIN....IF IT DOESN'T DO IT WHEN THE A/C IS OFF IM GONNA HAVE TO AGREE THAT THE A/C COMPRESSOR IS EITHER GOING BAD OR IS STRAINING THE MOTOR TOO MUCH....I JUST DID AWAY WITH MY A/C....SACRIFICE FOR TURBO</TD></TR></TABLE>

But wouldn't the AC not work correctly?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ObedD15 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">A/C for turbo I did the same, and I am from Pasadena MD also. Northeast Class of 96.
Op: My car did the same when I had A/C. I took it out because of the turbo and didnt use it that much anymore considering it isnt my daily driver. Good thing winter is almost here AKA: Turbo Weather! </TD></TR></TABLE>

This is my daily driver and it is automatic, no way am I going to get rid of the AC and go turbo on an automatic daily driver.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by boostd92 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I wouldn't jump the gun on the compressor just yet.

Check your idle... for instance, if you normally idle at 800rpm, w/out a/c on, when A/C kicks on, your IACV should bump the idle up to 900-1000rpm to handle the extra load of the compressor.

If your idle stays at 800rpm or drops, then you know its a problem with your IACV, or communication to the IACV.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You got an idea there, I'll check that out, thanks!

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by axtran &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">with my old a/c system it was a bad dryer, as it was clogged and when the compressor would try to run at idle it would bog the engine down. debris in the lines would also do it too.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The dryer? Which part is the dryer on the AC?

 

Ha, just check your RPM's when it's bogging.

May be a bit hard to read because of the way a civic's tach is configured for &lt;500 RPM's. If it's under the 500 RPM mark then your engine is definately bogging.

 

Yeah, I'll try.

 

To tell you the truth I kind of thought of the idle air controller myself, but that is usually a pretty reliable part--well does your car still idle up when you start it up cold in the morning?--say around 1200 RPM?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 00_EKHatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">To tell you the truth I kind of thought of the idle air controller myself, but that is usually a pretty reliable part--well does your car still idle up when you start it up cold in the morning?--say around 1200 RPM?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes it idles fine. Once in a while I notice slight shaking though.

 

I had the same exact problem....so I just left the AC off, then when I went to install teh turbo I found out that the actual fan itself was loose. Could have fixed it, but I just ripped the **** out for the turbo.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RicanHX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I had the same exact problem....so I just left the AC off, then when I went to install teh turbo I found out that the actual fan itself was loose. Could have fixed it, but I just ripped the **** out for the turbo.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The A/C fan was loose?

 

Like a few ppl said check your idle/rpms. I had the same problem and I just turned the idle screw a few turns on the throttle body and now my engine doesnt jump with teh AC on.

 

Yup. Apparently the bolt or whatever on the back of it had come completely off and it was just barely hanging on by itself, so when it was turned on it would shake and make all sorts of nasty noise.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 93civicsedan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Like a few ppl said check your idle/rpms. I had the same problem and I just turned the idle screw a few turns on the throttle body and now my engine doesnt jump with teh AC on.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have had the car for almost a year and I have never touched the idle screw for it to be out of whack.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RicanHX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yup. Apparently the bolt or whatever on the back of it had come completely off and it was just barely hanging on by itself, so when it was turned on it would shake and make all sorts of nasty noise. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I see, I need to look over it pretty good this weekend.