lil problem i need help w/, car is shaking when AC is on Options

[Toad]

There's probalby some simple answer to this but i need some help. I'm wondering whats the matter w/ the car. Its idling fine, but when the ac's on the steering wheel shakes, and the engine idles roughly, and the shake is worse when in gear. I doubt its something major, but i'm justing wanting to know what i can do to get rid of it.

thanks for any help

This post has been edited by Toad: Jun 30, 2005 - 3:20 PM

[Cutrara]

I have this same problem.

[Rjb23]

Turn your AC off.

Your AC is just putting more stress on your engine causing it to idle lower, its fine.

[mark_426]

haha, my car shakes all the time... its kinda fun.

But thats only when it idles, correct? It won't hurt anything, just put the windows down and enjoy the drive

[kgr-gts]

The A/C is supposed to activate an idle-up circuit when the compressor is engaged. It should raise your idle *above* normal. The shop manual says 750rpm without the compressor going and 850rpm when it's on. (5SFE)

The idle-up hardware consists of a vacuum solenoid and a hose or two, mounted to an upper-rear corner of the engine. Yours might be broken or missing. If the A/C was installed at the dealer and not the factory, it's possible they left this part off. It's happened before. See if you have a 2-wire connector hanging loose near the back of the engine.

The only other thing I can think of is that your compressor is putting too much load on the engine even for the idle-up circuit to handle (i.e. compressor failing) but that's not likely.

[Toad]

The A/C is supposed to activate an idle-up circuit when the compressor is engaged.  It should raise your idle *above* normal.  The shop manual says 750rpm without the compressor going and 850rpm when it's on.  (5SFE)

The idle-up hardware consists of a vacuum solenoid and a hose or two, mounted to an upper-rear corner of the engine.  Yours might be broken or missing.  If the A/C was installed at the dealer and not the factory, it's possible they left this part off.  It's happened before.  See if you have a 2-wire connector hanging loose near the back of the engine.

The only other thing I can think of is that your compressor is putting too much load on the engine even for the idle-up circuit to handle (i.e. compressor failing) but that's not likely.
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Yah, i would have thought it would raise the rpms asweel, it usually lowers them and bounces, heh. I'll check and see if thats wrong.

[TRD6GC]

Just a thought....but the A/C has its own pulley right? That's why you lose power when it is on i always thought. So maybe the pulley that the A/C gets its power from is like lose or bad (or maybe the A/C belt? although i think we have a serpentine belt so it's probably not the belt). IDK if this is how it works but i think is is highly possible. Because it would make sense in this situation. Cause when its on it shakes, and you say when your in gear it get worse, this could be because your making all the other pulleys and belt work harder, pulling on it harder, making it shake more......possible???????????

[Toad]

=/, didnt see any loose wires. any other ideas? heh.

[FallenHero]

your AC might be trying to go out. How does it cool when you are driving around? Also, your idle might be set too low. what do you idle at when you are at a red light?

Auto or manual?

[Rjb23]

Just a thought....but the A/C has its own pulley right? That's why you lose power when it is on i always thought. So maybe the pulley that the A/C gets its power from is like lose or bad (or maybe the A/C belt? although i think we have a serpentine belt so it's probably not the belt). IDK if this is how it works but i think is is highly possible. Because it would make sense in this situation. Cause when its on it shakes, and you say when your in gear it get worse, this could be because your making all the other pulleys and belt work harder, pulling on it harder, making it shake more......possible???????????
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We dont have a serpentine belt. We have 2 or 3 belts I forget, one goes to the power steering pump, one goes to the ac/alternator.

[Toad]

most of the time my car idles at a decent speed, usually around 750. but when the ac's on it usually lowers around 600. also it usually lowers to about 600-500 when i've been driving for a while, but it is still smooth even at that low of rpm's and only becomes rough when the ac's on.

This post has been edited by Toad: Jun 30, 2005 - 11:00 PM

[Cutrara]

most of the time my car idles at a decent speed, usually around 7500. but when the ac's on it usually lowers around 6000. also it usually lowers to about 6000-5000 when i've been driving for a while, but it is still smooth even at that low of rpm's and only becomes rough when the ac's on.
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That is DEFINATELY not your idle, lol. RPMs are x1000.

[kgr-gts]

There's probalby some simple answer to this but i need some help. I'm wondering whats the matter w/ the car. Its idling fine, but when the ac's on the steering wheel shakes, and the engine idles roughly, and the shake is worse when in gear. [right][snapback]307016[/snapback][/right]

For the idle-up circuit: Look for a black, 2-wire connector. On the 7AFE engine, the connector is on the rear-driver's side, near the top. My wiring manual says one wire is red/yellow, but that might not be accurate. There should be 2 hoses coming from the solenoid. You can test the solenoid by connecting +12V to the TOP pin of the solenoid's connector, and the bottom pin to GND. You should hear a click.

I'd recommend getting the belts and compressor checked. If it's worse when you're driving around (I assume that's what "in gear" means) then it likely isn't the idle-up circuit that's the problem.

[Toad]

most of the time my car idles at a decent speed, usually around 7500. but when the ac's on it usually lowers around 6000. also it usually lowers to about 6000-5000 when i've been driving for a while, but it is still smooth even at that low of rpm's and only becomes rough when the ac's on.
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That is DEFINATELY not your idle, lol. RPMs are x1000.
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yah, those numbers minus a 0 =P, hehe wasn't thinkin.

[Toad]

There's probalby some simple answer to this but i need some help. I'm wondering whats the matter w/ the car. Its idling fine, but when the ac's on the steering wheel shakes, and the engine idles roughly, and the shake is worse when in gear. [right][snapback]307016[/snapback][/right]

For the idle-up circuit: Look for a black, 2-wire connector. On the 7AFE engine, the connector is on the rear-driver's side, near the top. My wiring manual says one wire is red/yellow, but that might not be accurate. There should be 2 hoses coming from the solenoid. You can test the solenoid by connecting +12V to the TOP pin of the solenoid's connector, and the bottom pin to GND. You should hear a click.

I'd recommend getting the belts and compressor checked. If it's worse when you're driving around (I assume that's what "in gear" means) then it likely isn't the idle-up circuit that's the problem.
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ehh, wiring sections. i hate em, lol. in my manual thats the only thing i havn't read =P. i'll look into it and see what happens.

This post has been edited by Toad: Jun 30, 2005 - 11:04 PM

[94CelicaRedHatch]

my car idles higher than normal when my AC is on, never thought much of it

[kgr-gts]

my car idles higher than normal when my AC is on, never thought much of it
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well at least *yours* is working properly.