When the temperature outside starts to rise, most of us turn on our air conditioners. Unfortunately, this can cause some serious problems with our cars.
A recent study showed that when airconditioning is turned on, the car’s computers can sometimes “sputter” and refuse to start. This is because the airconditioning system takes away the oxygen from the gasoline, causing it to “knock” or “ping” when it ignites.
The good news is that there are ways to avoid these problems. First, make sure your car is up to date on its maintenance – including getting an engine tune-up and fixing any leaks in your fuel system. Second, keep your car filled up with gasoline before you turn on the airconditioning – this will help prevent any knocking or pinging.
What Causes Car Sputters When the AC is On?
There are a few things that can cause your car to sputter when the air conditioner is on, and most of them have to do with the engine.
One common issue is air pollution. When the air conditioner is on, it’s pulling in polluted air from outside, which can damage the engine. If you’re ever having trouble starting your car in hot weather, try turning off the AC until it cools down.
Another issue is overheating. If your engine is overheating, it may start to sputter because the fuel is running low on octane. Sputtering can also be caused by a bad catalytic converter or by dirty air filters. To prevent this from happening, make sure your car has enough coolant and check your air filters often.
Finally, there’s something called “knocking.” This happens when the piston hits the cylinder head too hard, which creates a loud noise. If you experience knocking whenever you turn on the AC, it may be caused by a worn out piston ring or valve seal. In order to fix this problem, you’ll need to have it repaired by a mechanic.
Fixing a Car Sputter When the AC is On
When your car sputters and dies when the air conditioner is on, there are a few things you can check to see if it’s the AC unit or the car.
First, turn off the car and unplug the AC unit. If the car starts right up, it’s likely that the AC unit is the problem. If it doesn’t, chances are your car’s electrical system is failing and you’ll need to get it fixed.
Second, make sure that there isn’t anything obstructing the AC unit’s fan. Check for wires hanging down into the car or any large objects in front of the fan. If there are any obstructions, they’ll need to be removed before you can use the AC.
If neither of those things work, then it’s likely that your car’s air conditioning compressor is going bad. This type of compressor usually needs to be replaced by a professional and won’t be cost effective to fix yourself.
Troubleshooting a Car Sputter When the AC is On
A car sputters when the air conditioning is on. Here are some possible causes and solutions.
Causes:
-The AC compressor is not working. Check the AC compressor and belt for wear or damage. If the AC compressor is not working, replace it.
-The AC filter is not working. Change the AC filter if it is dirty or if it has been replaced recently.
-The AC relay is not working. Test the AC relay by turning off all the other electrical components in the car, then checking for power at the AC relay connector. If the relay is bad, replace it.
Conclusion
If your car sputters when the air conditioner is on, you may have a problem with your A/C compressor. Check to see if the compressor is getting power from the battery or from the electrical system. If it’s getting power from the battery, then you will need to replace the battery. If it’s getting power from the electrical system, then there might be a problem with the wiring or contacts in that area. In either case, you will need to take care of both issues before your car can operate properly again under air conditioning conditions.