Help!!! Is my compressor gone? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

stanleyeye · 07-23-2007, 06:32 PM

Today, I was driving on the freeway and turned on the AC. I could heard the hiss, but I didn't pay attention to that. I turned if off after it ran for a while. When I turned it on again, the problem was still there. But suddenly, I felt a little jumping, and the A/C light began blinking, and there was some oil smell...

Then I tried several times. every time, when I turned on the AC, I could feel the load of engine increasing, ( the rpm higher), but only several seconds later, I could feel a jump, like something ( I guess it's the compressor) stop working (rpm jump a little then return to lower rpm which is around AC off), air becoming warm, and I could smell a little strange oil smell.

Does any one know what's wrong with my car? Is my compressor gone, or is the MC relay bad, if yes, how to test it?

Thanks a lot

Stan

Venom_5 · 07-23-2007, 06:41 PM

i dont think its the compressor because my compressor is shot and mine doesnt do that

your rpm's should go up when you turn ur a/c on <hence why a/c lowers mpg and hp> - but idk about all this jumpyness

stanleyeye · 07-23-2007, 06:51 PM

Just now, I tested it again. When my wife turned it on, I kept watching the compressor, which started to run, then immediately stopped. Hopefully, the compressor is good.
Is it possibly bad magnetic clutch sensor, but gen4, I have never seen people complaining the sensor?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venom_5

i dont think its the compressor because my compressor is shot and mine doesnt do that

your rpm's should go up when you turn ur a/c on <hence why a/c lowers mpg and hp> - but idk about all this jumpyness

Venom_5 · 07-23-2007, 06:58 PM

idk how the gen4 is setup, but i know our clutch itself dies with old age

but that wouldnt do any funky jumping, it would just make the air change cold to hot randomly

stanleyeye · 07-23-2007, 07:07 PM

If the compressor is broken, what would the symptom be? No response at all, when the AC on?
Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venom_5

idk how the gen4 is setup, but i know our clutch itself dies with old age

but that wouldnt do any funky jumping, it would just make the air change cold to hot randomly

Venom_5 · 07-23-2007, 07:09 PM

pretty much .... and a grinding/whirring noise ... kinda makes the same noise as the engine but its louder

***toyomoho*** · 07-23-2007, 07:13 PM

Might be smelling compressor oil, check to see if the system has a leak.

stanleyeye · 07-23-2007, 08:45 PM

just now, replaced the drive belt, but it doesn't work...

Maim Menu · 07-23-2007, 08:51 PM

Mine is acting funny too recently. I started it sometimes this winter like for window defrosting and randomly just so it runs sometimes for a quick moment and did exactly what you had. Start and stop. I thought well maybe because it's cold outside it doesn't want to run too much.

But now this summer my A/C is cold and everything, but the car is very sluggish and rpms don't always go up when I put it on. It whines pretty loudly too.

stanleyeye · 07-23-2007, 09:10 PM

Did you try to do anything to fix it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maim Menu

Mine is acting funny too recently. I started it sometimes this winter like for window defrosting and randomly just so it runs sometimes for a quick moment and did exactly what you had. Start and stop. I thought well maybe because it's cold outside it doesn't want to run too much.

But now this summer my A/C is cold and everything, but the car is very sluggish and rpms don't always go up when I put it on. It whines pretty loudly too.

Maim Menu · 07-23-2007, 09:21 PM

Well.....no. At least not yet since it's still cold and technically functionning and my A/C light never blinks.

With the blinking and oil smell of yours I'd take the car for a ride around the block and try to reproduce the problem, then pull up in the driveway and check for leaks.

If not a junkyard A/C compressor shouldn't cost much

Luckynumber5 · 07-24-2007, 01:34 AM

You need to have the system checked out, the compressor is oiled by gas in the ac lines and if it's low its the same as the compressor being low on oil. Have the system looked at by a good shop and check back in here for more advice.

stanleyeye · 07-24-2007, 04:31 PM

Yes, I will, but I don't know where should go...
Dealership: I really doubt they will check it step by step by following the manual instructions. Probably, they will just tell me to replace compressor, or even condensor...
Neighbor Autoshop: I checked the symptom online, and looks like the AC light blinking only on Toyota vehicles, I am a little worry if they are really familiar with this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luckynumber5

You need to have the system checked out, the compressor is oiled by gas in the ac lines and if it's low its the same as the compressor being low on oil. Have the system looked at by a good shop and check back in here for more advice.

Luckynumber5 · 07-24-2007, 07:29 PM

Ask around about the shops in your area, someone is bound to know of a reputable one.