AC Causing Engine suicide
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AC Causing Engine suicide 97 Honda Civic EX: D16Y8 Engine, Manual Trans
Ive been tackling this problem for a few months now. Engine runs GREAT when AC is off, only when I turn on the AC does the engine completely just panic. By panic and suicide, the engine idle drops to almost stalling and stalling the engine. It also will squeal progressively more and louder if on for more than about 15 seconds. While driving with AC on, it feels as if the engine VTEC is kicking on and off but at all RPM's, not just 5500+. No, it is not the actual VTEC but it's like the engine loses power for a second and then gains it back bucking the car up and down.
Recent Maintenance:
Oil Change - Late March 2020
Coolant Flush - Mid February 2020
AC R-134a Top-Off - A few days ago to see if that was an issue
What I've tested so far:
Numerous Fuel System Cleaners
Cleaned the IAC Valve with Card and Intake cleaner
Tested TPS sensor by unplugging it with the engine on but no change
Checked all 3 AC relays, all good
My next guesses:
Air in the Cooling system
Too much/little R-134a
New AC belt or condition one on there
Fuel Filter
AC Compressor Pulley is bad
Last resort, AC Compressor is bad
^^ Heres a link to a recording my roommate and I did.
Ive been tackling this problem for a few months now. Engine runs GREAT when AC is off, only when I turn on the AC does the engine completely just panic. By panic and suicide, the engine idle drops to almost stalling and stalling the engine. It also will squeal progressively more and louder if on for more than about 15 seconds. While driving with AC on, it feels as if the engine VTEC is kicking on and off but at all RPM's, not just 5500+. No, it is not the actual VTEC but it's like the engine loses power for a second and then gains it back bucking the car up and down.
Recent Maintenance:
Oil Change - Late March 2020
Coolant Flush - Mid February 2020
AC R-134a Top-Off - A few days ago to see if that was an issue
What I've tested so far:
Numerous Fuel System Cleaners
Cleaned the IAC Valve with Card and Intake cleaner
Tested TPS sensor by unplugging it with the engine on but no change
Checked all 3 AC relays, all good
My next guesses:
Air in the Cooling system
Too much/little R-134a
New AC belt or condition one on there
Fuel Filter
AC Compressor Pulley is bad
Last resort, AC Compressor is bad
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Re: AC Causing Engine suicide
Remove ac belt and spin ac tensioner pulley..it should spin freely, if not replace. The compressor bearing may be failing/failed, in use only when compressor clutch is engage.
Last edited by Wankenstein; May 12, 2020 at 12:42 AM.
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 15,177
Likes: 1,605
From: TN
Rep Power: 367 Re: AC Causing Engine suicide
if it happens when AC is on, the main reasons are either:
1) Engine does not have enough power to keep running when the AC load comes in
2) the AC load is too high when it comes up.
Go from there.
Example:
Air in cooling system will actually reduce the load on the system - not likely to be a cause.
1) Engine does not have enough power to keep running when the AC load comes in
2) the AC load is too high when it comes up.
Go from there.
Example:
Air in cooling system will actually reduce the load on the system - not likely to be a cause.
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