2nd Gen Protege General/Maintenance Discussion for 1995-1998 Models Only (BH Chassis)

AC killing all 92hp

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 6, 2003 | 11:13 AM
  #1  
naira's Avatar
Thread Starter
Protege Newbie
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6
naira is on a distinguished road
Unhappy AC killing all 92hp

Hey fella/fellettes,

Jus wanted to see if I was the only one who had problems with the ac. Whenever I push that little green button to put mine on, the car starts shaking real hard and the tachometer bobs up and down at about 700-300rpms, sometimes causing me to stall when I normally wouldn't.

Naira
Old Jul 6, 2003 | 02:11 PM
  #2  
asylum24's Avatar
Protege Enthusiast
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 151
From: Rogers, AR
asylum24 is on a distinguished road
I ahd the same problem.... just go to an ac place and tell them what its doing... and then tell them to check the fluids first... in my case I had too much and the AC would freeze up.... only cost me like $10
Old Jul 7, 2003 | 06:35 PM
  #3  
Bruce95fmla
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
when hitting the a/c button my tach would often dip, especially if I had the lights on/ac going/radio playing/fog lights/amps and so forth.
You could try what the previous person said about the a/c refrigerant being low. That may be it, But I am not sure, my system was full and it still did it.
Bruce
Old Jul 7, 2003 | 07:20 PM
  #4  
midnightblue97's Avatar
Salt addict
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,201
From: Niagara Falls Ont.
midnightblue97 is on a distinguished road
I have never had the car stall when putting the AC on, though I rarely use it, but the idle does fluctuate. I'd say its because of the extra load suddenly put on the engine and the idle control valve might be slow to compensate for it. I can't really guess why it would stall though.
Old Jul 7, 2003 | 07:53 PM
  #5  
turbonium959's Avatar
Oil Change Enthusiast
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,587
From: Norwood, MA
turbonium959 is on a distinguished road
Originally posted by midnightblue97
I have never had the car stall when putting the AC on, though I rarely use it, but the idle does fluctuate. I'd say its because of the extra load suddenly put on the engine and the idle control valve might be slow to compensate for it. I can't really guess why it would stall though.
I would agree with here as well. I always use A/C, and eventhough I have no tachometer, I can hear my RPMs drop and the car shake for a second or two. Other then that, no problem, and definately no stalls.
Old Jul 7, 2003 | 09:43 PM
  #6  
lotsacars's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 29
lotsacars is on a distinguished road
The AC compressor definately places a greater load on the engine and the smaller the engine the greater the effective loss of power. When leaving from a dead stop this would require a slighty heavier application of the throttle. If you were to take off as normal the car could bog or even stall. Is this the situation you're talking about? If so, what you're experiencing is completely normal.
Old Jul 7, 2003 | 10:04 PM
  #7  
pcguy2k1's Avatar
Protege Enthusiast
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 79
From: Des Plaines, IL, USA or Milwaukee, WI during the week
pcguy2k1 is on a distinguished road
I used to have that problem, not sure what fixed it, as I did most of the changes in the winter, but my rpms used to dip bad when it was on, then I change the fuel filter and pcv valve, spark plugs, distrubiutor cap and rotor, fluids, and that's about as far as I can remember. Now the RPMs jump slightly when I turn the AC on(bump up about 50-100 RPMs for a sec and level out a idle speed). The thing is I'm not sure which thing improved what, all I know it's running a whole lot smoother now.
Old Jul 7, 2003 | 10:38 PM
  #8  
kcbhiw's Avatar
Hoosier daddy?
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 563
From: Atlanta, GA
kcbhiw is on a distinguished road
Your A/C compressor may be beginning to seize. The compressor shouldn't induce such a load to stall the engine, even at idle. Have you noticed any belt squealing recently with the A/C on?

Take it somewhere to have someone check it out.
Old Aug 4, 2003 | 08:35 PM
  #9  
Samus's Avatar
Protege Enthusiast
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 106
From: Chicago, IL
Samus is on a distinguished road
first, assume a ac compressor sucks 25hp. second, mazda has a history of overfilling their ac systems with sometimes 100psi. ideally you want 60psi. drain some by sticking your key into the low end (drain) coolant socket (only so this with r134) and check the psi with a guage. you can pickup r134 system guages/filling hoses for ~$10. you compressor needs at least 40psi to kick on.

the reason for this is too much pressure will cause the compressor to run too hard/too often when it doesn't have too.
Old Aug 4, 2003 | 08:45 PM
  #10  
midnightblue97's Avatar
Salt addict
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,201
From: Niagara Falls Ont.
midnightblue97 is on a distinguished road
Originally posted by Samus
first, assume a ac compressor sucks 25hp. second, mazda has a history of overfilling their ac systems with sometimes 100psi. ideally you want 60psi. drain some by sticking your key into the low end (drain) coolant socket (only so this with r134) and check the psi with a guage. you can pickup r134 system guages/filling hoses for ~$10. you compressor needs at least 40psi to kick on.

the reason for this is too much pressure will cause the compressor to run too hard/too often when it doesn't have too.
Yeah don't forget to hit yourhand with a hammer after you're done lowering the pressure just to see if it shatters. If not then you've probably just got severe frost bite. Its still illegal to vent R-134 to the atmosphere, at least in Ontario.
Old Aug 5, 2003 | 02:57 PM
  #11  
THEGOLDPRO's Avatar
YEAH WOW CHILDISH!
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,727
From: under your bed
THEGOLDPRO is on a distinguished road
well first, do you have a auto, or manual tranny, i have a manual, and i know when i have my AC on its allitle harder to get the car moving smoothly, and almost stalling out. not randim stalling, just stalling because the lack of power. when i start out in first, i usually turn off the AC to make it easier on me. if this isnt whats happening to you, then just forget what i have said.
Old Aug 12, 2003 | 09:46 AM
  #12  
RacerX's Avatar
Protege Enthusiast
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 173
From: TX
RacerX is on a distinguished road
Originally posted by THEGOLDPRO
well first, do you have a auto, or manual tranny, i have a manual, and i know when i have my AC on its allitle harder to get the car moving smoothly, and almost stalling out. not randim stalling, just stalling because the lack of power. when i start out in first, i usually turn off the AC to make it easier on me. if this isnt whats happening to you, then just forget what i have said.
Yea mine doest the same thing and I have a manual. Most of the time if you leave the ac on and try to take a good take off you can forget. The car movies like you are trying to start out in second when you are in first. So most of the time I end up doing the same thing that (thegoldpro) does.
Old Aug 12, 2003 | 02:40 PM
  #13  
midnightblue97's Avatar
Salt addict
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,201
From: Niagara Falls Ont.
midnightblue97 is on a distinguished road
You guys need a bigger engine.
Old Aug 12, 2003 | 07:40 PM
  #14  
RacerX's Avatar
Protege Enthusiast
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 173
From: TX
RacerX is on a distinguished road
Originally posted by midnightblue97
You guys need a bigger engine.
Now if I remember correctly...don't the 97 lx have the same engine as the 95-96???? I mean unless you did the engine swap I would think that you have the same size engine that I do.. But hey maybe I"m wrong!!!!
Old Aug 13, 2003 | 06:24 PM
  #15  
midnightblue97's Avatar
Salt addict
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,201
From: Niagara Falls Ont.
midnightblue97 is on a distinguished road
Originally posted by RacerX


Now if I remember correctly...don't the 97 lx have the same engine as the 95-96???? I mean unless you did the engine swap I would think that you have the same size engine that I do.. But hey maybe I"m wrong!!!!
Yeah, I got the 1.8
Canadian model LX



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:43 AM.