i just had the a/c recharged on my 01 gxe....also got a new alternator....problem now is when the a/c is on, it gets warm and cold. and when its warm, and the car is at idle, the rpms jump a bit....say it idles at about 700, it will dip down to about 500, then shoot up to about 900, then keep doing that over and over. i shut the a/c off and its fine. what could cause this?

also, my car is getting about 10mpg. i have no power loss, i already replaced my maf, i have no engine light. i also have been easy on the gas recently b/c i wanted to see if my mileage improved (i do tend to have a heavy foot)...but lately since ive been paying attention to my mileage ive been going nice and easy on the gas. any suggestions?

 

i just had that happen to me today, i think your compressor is dying. the clutch is sticking. it is on the front side of the belt tensioner. u should be able to see it rotate and stop.

 

this might be an oxygen sensor failure up towards the front of the engine. Components dying will not always throw a code and an SES light. The reason i think this is the cause because what will happen is the O2 sensor will not give a correct reading and the computer will put it in a default mode, which is SUPER rich, in fact, up to 2x the amount of fuel can be fed to the engine in this state. which, if you calculate that, it would easily show the fuel consumption issue. My father's minivan had the O2 sensor go and he had the same issues. the upshot was he suddenly got mad acceleration from it, but the fuel econ was like 13mpg.

 

check spark plugs?

 

Sounds like a sticky IACV to me. The increased load at idle due to the AC compressor should be compensated for by the IACV. If it is not doing it correctly then that would be my first guess.

 

hmm thanks guys....but im not too mechanically inclined....im not horrible tho either.....should i just bring it to a mechanic or is there something i can actually look at and tell you guys what i see?

 

can anyone provide me with some instruction on how to change the actuator on the A/C in a 2003 maxima please?

please help,

thank you

 

if it is the compressor clutch u can see it stop rotating and start again. the outside pulley is in free spin until you cut the ac on then it engages and the entire thing spins.

thats the only thing i can thinnk of that is directly linked to warm ac. but im a max rookie