Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting V6 Surging with A/C on

The Mazda engineers must have a different strategy/program??? Not sure? My 98 Mystique LS sometimes will surge but not that bad. Could be the combination of parts associated with controlling idle/ac on, is just enough tolerance difference. I'm sure to try and find the info would be near impossible unless we knew the sources. Could get a Mitchells manuals and try to compare, but it's probably an apples & oranges thing?
Paul
I've always had this hang-up, just knowing how it works wasn't enough, I always like to know the details & why.

Steve - yes, the TH fix should help.

Well, the dealer is going to replace the accumulator to try and fix the problem.

While my fingers are crossed, I have the feeling that this is going to take a while. At least it's on warranty.

Well, it's fixed.

It took four days in the shop (over the weekend), but they replaced a leaking accumulator. Actually it was replaced twice since the new one leaked also.

I drove it yesterday and it was like a totally different car. There is a slight burp in revs when AC or defrost is on, but nothing really noticable. Definitely the feeling of uncontrolled acceleration that I used to have as RPMs jumped up 300 has gone.

The nice thing was it was still on warranty

Great to hear. Glad I've got the 100k warranty too!

ok i think i might have this problem. ill just be driving and for a split second the car with hesistate with a loss of power and then be back to normal. it usually happens between 2-3000 rpm and i think when the ac or defroster is on. It sounds like this compressor surge, is there anyway to fix it?

I may have this problem as well. Definitely more noticeable in warmer weather. This has been brought up multiple times the last week or so and while it sounds like I may have the accumulator problem as well you can definitely help the issue by making sure you air filter is clean. Mine is not half as bad since I clened mine. Just a little more to back this theory up. Last week we had an interesting day here in Denver. In the morning and early afternoon it was sunny and warm and my surging was really bad. About 3 in the afternoon it dropped about 30 degrees in an hour and started snowing. The surging was barely noticeable. So would most agree that it also comes down to a breathing problem as well?

Mine was so bad before I cleaned the filter that even with the A/C off driving in stop-and-go traffic was a chore b/c low RPM's in 1st and 2nd caused major surge.

So, while the accumulator sounds like the primary culprit, those who are experiencing this may want to check the filter as well.

In fact, I just checked the fist page in the Problems section and there are at least 3 threads dealing with this very issue.

Finally, hopefully my 'Stique is fixed.

After almost two months I got my car back for (hopefully) the last time. The history goes something like...

* took car in for AC surging on warranty.
* dealer re-pressurized system.
* system leaks like a sieve, returned every week for two months because of loss of refrigerant.
* everything is replaced over that time - compressor, evap, accumulator, piping, orings...
* dealer replaces pressure switch.

And now I have driven it for a week with no surging and no pressure loss.

Yahoo

Well, I hate to bring up this old topic again, but I seem to be having the same problem (98 Contour SE). I took my car into the dealer (before reading this discussion) and they came to the conclusion that a new a/c accumulator is needed. At a cost of a little over $500 cdn (part, diagnostic, recharge) I just wanted a second opinion. Will this fix the problem?

Right now my a/c is disconnected and I'm not experiencing any surging.

Also, this part is not covered by my warranty (basic extended), should I go elsewhere to get this fixed, or is this something the dealer should be doing?

Thanks - Saleem