Car Shuts Off When AC Is Turned On: Why And What To Do?

If you observe that your vehicle turns off the air conditioner is turned on. If yes, this article is for you. There’s a lot of reasons why your vehicle would shut off if your air conditioner is on and it is important to learn each and every one of them so that you will know what to do.

So why does your car shut off if your air conditioner is turned on and what can you do about it? This is a common problem, and there are so many car drivers that have already experienced this. So if the engine will shut off if the air conditioner is turned on, it means that the load on your engine is very high, and the power produced by your engine is very low.

In every vehicle, your air conditioner consumes a lot of energy. It will require high energy and so, the engine will compensate for the lack of power. That is why your vehicle will turn off if your air conditioner is turned on.

In this article, we’ll talk about the reasons why your vehicle is turning off if your AC is on and what you have to do about it. So without further ado, let us start discussing.

Table of Contents

Why Does My Car Shut Off When I Turn My Ac On?

A lot of car drivers notice that their vehicle is turning off if their AC is on. This is a common problem, and there are so many car drivers that have already experienced this. So if the engine will shut off if the AC is turned on, it means that the load on your engine is very high, and the power produced by your engine is very low.

This is because your AC consumes a lot of energy. It requires high energy and so, the engine will compensate for the lack of power. So here are the possible reasons why your car will shut off if you turn the AC on.

1. A Broken Idle Air Control Valve

This is the most common reason if your engine will die after turning your AC on. The idle air control valve will heighten and then lower the engine RPM so as not to shut off the engine if the load is put in the car. So if the carbon is built upon the idle control valve, it cannot perform well.

So the result is that the engine RPM will be fluctuating up and then down and then finally shut off. So you have to clean the idle air control valve or the IAC. Use a soft and clean cloth and then dip it in a solvent.

2. A Bad Electronic Controlled Throttle Body

The electronically controlled throttle body is a common reason your engine is dying is you will turn the engine on. Modern vehicles do not contain an idle air control valve. Instead, they have an electronically controlled throttle body, and it can also be called drive by wire.

This will take the signal from the ECM. so that the same situation will happen with electronic throttle control, ETC. If the carbon builds up, it will cause restrictions in the passageway for more air to enter. You can do a regular tune-up and clean the electronic throttle of your vehicle.

3. A Seized Compressor

This is a costly reason. The compressor will squeeze the refrigerant under high pressure, and it will use power for about five to ten horsepower. It is not enough energy to drop down the RPM.

so there are times when the compressor will be seized because of a jammed bearing. It will take a lot of effort to rotate the belt, and it will cause surges, and then the vehicle will shut off. There’s no other option but to do

4. A Stuck Compressor Pulley

The compressor is sometimes in good condition, but sometimes the pulley bearing is stuck. With this, the pulley bearing will drag against the belt, and it will become very stiff so that it cannot rotate the compressor. This will cause a lot of strain on the engine.

5. Worn Belt

The drive belt will rotate the compressor. If the compressor is turned on, there will be a decrease in the RPM. If you have a worn belt with a compressor turned on, this will cause a fluctuation in the RMP.

The increase and the decrease in the RPM will be known as the car surges and the hesitations. As a result, the vehicle will be turned off.

6. Overfilled With AC Refrigerant

The refrigerant in your AC system must not be high or low in amount. It should be in the correct quantity.

The AC system that has an overfilled refrigerant will cause some overpressure on your engine. As a result, it will compel the vehicle to stumble if the AC is turned on.

7. An Electrical Problem

It can also be the work of an electrical problem. This is one of the most common reasons your vehicle turns off if your AC is turned on. If your vehicle will surge, it is due to electrical problems.

You have to ensure that you do not have any loose fuse in your fuse box. You also have to check if there is a corroded relay.

Can A Bad AC Compressor Cause A Car To Stall?

The air conditioning system requires power from the engine. So there is no question that the air conditioner would put some pressure on the engine. If this will not be controlled, this can cause some overload or malfunction.

One example is the regulation of the idling rotational speed through the IAC or the idle air control valve. This is also referred to as the idle air sensor control motor because of its function. The valve will also determine the amount of air that will bypass the throttle plate in a vehicle that is fuel-injected IC., and it will change the idling speed.

So a fault in the IAC such as a build-up will produce a poor idling or stalling of the engine. If this is not working correctly, the engine might not cope with the loads produced by the different systems.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Bad AC Compressor?

These are the symptoms if you have a terrible AC compressor.

1. Lack of Hot Air that is Released Outside

The compressor will take hot air from the inside of the home and then release it outside if it is working correctly. So you can tell if your compressor has a problem when you hold your hand near the fan on the AC unit and if the air is not hot but lukewarm or cool.

This is a sign that your compressor might be having problems. This can also mean that the unit is not correctly compressing your gas. This can be a sign of a leak in the refrigerant.

2. Loud or Strange Noises From the Unit

If your compressor is in good condition, it will start properly, and the unit will also start smoothly. You will hear the compressor and the fan of the compressor appropriately.

So if the unit will make a vibrating sound or make a rumbling noise or even a sound popping or banging, this can mean that it has potential problems. This can mean that the CA compressor has electrical problems.

3. Failure of the Compressor to Turn On

If your AC is not cooling the area anymore, you have to check the condensing unit of your home. Then, you have to replace it or have it repaired.

How To Fix That Your Car Shuts Off When AC Is Turned On?

Your AC is taking a lot of energy from your engine. It will require power. Have your mechanic check the components of your vehicle.

As mentioned, there are a lot of reasons why you have this problem. You have to identify the problem first. You can do the checking on your own. But if you want, you can also consult an expert.

Summary

In summary, AC takes up a lot of energy from your engine. Many car drivers have been complaining about why their engine is turning off when their AC is turned on.

There are many possible reasons for this. With that, you have to know first the reason before you can fix it.

Also Read:

Resources

Image credits – Canva