Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting air conditioning

has anyone had any problems with there car when there air conditioning is turned on... i rarely use my air but when i do my car seems to stumble alot just wanted to know if anyone else has this problem

Make sure it doesn't do it when the Defroster is on too. My car is going in the shop on Tuesday for the A/C Compressor. (My pulley isn't engaging, and the pulley won't turn with the A/C or defroster or cold air on, so the belt is squealing).

does it stumble while idling, or does it stumble reguardless of engine RPM.

If the problem occurs at idle spark plugs and spark plug wires may be the casue.

It's a common, though nonetheless irritating habit of these cars to stumble for an instant when the a/c compressor kicks on. You'll notice it happen every 20 or 30 seconds while you're driving with the a/c on. As the saying goes, "they all do that."

If, however, you're feeling anything more than one, quick little drop in power every 20 or 30 seconds, that's not normal.

I had similar problems-when idling the car would surge, it ran rough, and belt squealed--so badly people near me would look to make sure it wasn't theirs! Had belt and timing belt replaced-dealer said it was the ac compressor clutch($300+). Also had the running hot problem-up on L and even in the red. As long as the air was running or
I was driving with no stopping it stayed normal. Had it checked, no problem found. I just traded it(a 95se) for a 2000se.