AC causing car to stall

Tiny
SEAN WILLIAMS
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 HONDA FIT
  • 0.5L
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 66,680 MILES
I have been having problems with my car recently regarding the air conditioning. First it was that I would turn it on and nothing would come out. Pep Boys told me to get the condenser fan assembly replaced and because the AC switch was pushed in and would not push out, to replace that. I took it to my normal mechanic after ordering the parts myself. Since then, I get this moving water sound from behind the dash and I hear it when I start the car, make a turn or stop and when the AC is on and the car is idle, the car sputters and shakes and stalls with the battery and oil light coming on. I tried looking up the problem but all says different things. An auto parts store clerk tested the car and told me the alternator. A friend of mine that I trust said it needs a tune up with the spark plugs replaced and an air bubble is in the coolant and should replace the coolant. I have already spent near $1,000.00 to get this problem fixed and it is not. I do not want to spend anymore until I know what the problem is. What is the real problem with my car?
Thursday, May 4th, 2017 AT 4:31 PM

18 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Need of a tune up will not make your battery light come on. So is the battery light coming on while the car is normally running?You can do a basic voltage reading with a multi meter at the battery when the car is running and the battery light is coming on. Should be the high 13 volt range up too starting in to the 14 volt range. As far as hearing the water sloshing around in your dash?You could have a clogged up a.C. Drain and you could have a large amount of water trapped inside your a.C. Box. Does your a.C. Work now?
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Saturday, May 6th, 2017 AT 12:52 PM
Tiny
SEAN WILLIAMS
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
The AC works, but running it causes the car to sputter and eventually stall, and when that happens, the battery light and oil pressure light come on. Im able to start the car up again, but it's just annoying that this only happens when the AC is on
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Saturday, May 6th, 2017 AT 1:10 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
It's normal for the oil light and battery light to come on when it's not running. Are both your fans running with the a.C. On?
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Saturday, May 6th, 2017 AT 6:31 PM
Tiny
SEAN WILLIAMS
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Before I had the condenser fan assembly replaced one wasn't
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Saturday, May 6th, 2017 AT 7:05 PM
Tiny
SEAN WILLIAMS
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
What happened was one day the air stopped working where only hot air was coming out and the car's temperature started going up, I took it in and had a fan and thermostat replaced. It was working until I took it for maintenance and then there were moments the air wasn't having anything come out. I hit the dashboard and it started working. Pep Boys tells me the condenser fan assembly and ac switch had to be replaced. I ordered the parts and had a mechanic install them. The air works but the car shakes sputters and stalls
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Sunday, May 7th, 2017 AT 11:47 AM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,005 POSTS
'Nuther Guy

Observe the inner portion of the A/C pulley while it's on/ turning (clutch portion, actually the compressor shaft)

Is it slippin'/ dragging on the pulley?

If so, maybe the compressor is locking up?

I'm sorta ruling out the A/C pulley and it's clutch mechanism, as you say it only does it when the A/C is on. (A/C clutch engaged)

Your Turn,

The Medic
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Sunday, May 7th, 2017 AT 1:54 PM
Tiny
SEAN WILLIAMS
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  • 11 POSTS
What should I be looking for when you mention the inner portion of the AC pulley. Not sure what it is
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Thursday, May 11th, 2017 AT 8:12 PM
Tiny
CJ MEDEVAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,005 POSTS
Sending a video

Disregard the hissing and stuff!

Just wanna show you the inner part. (the compressor shaft)

When the A/C is on, the inner part magnetizes and locks onto the spinning pulley (now they are sorta one) If the compressor is messed up or locked up, the once free spinning pulley gets dragged down when the clutch grabs the the pulley.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULGnUO9fo6U

My country boy terms make any sense?

The Medic
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Thursday, May 11th, 2017 AT 8:40 PM
Tiny
SEAN WILLIAMS
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Here's a video of the car when the air is running
Images (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
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Friday, May 12th, 2017 AT 5:13 PM
Tiny
SEAN WILLIAMS
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Ok sorry I couldn't upload the video they were pictures.
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Friday, May 12th, 2017 AT 5:17 PM
Tiny
SEAN WILLIAMS
  • MEMBER
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If I took pictures of the right thing, it was spinning
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Friday, May 12th, 2017 AT 5:44 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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I can't figure out your supposed to be taking a picture of?I don't see the a.C. Clutch in the picture. Id it's stalling with the a.C. Compressor on the a.C. Clutch is failing compressor is failing or the a.C. System pressure is getting way too high
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Friday, May 12th, 2017 AT 5:49 PM
Tiny
SEAN WILLIAMS
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
I don't know because even watching that video I was linked I still don't know what I'm looking for
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Friday, May 12th, 2017 AT 6:05 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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Have you checked the a.C. Pressures with the a.C. On when its stalling?
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Friday, May 12th, 2017 AT 6:30 PM
Tiny
SEAN WILLIAMS
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
No I don't know how to check that
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Friday, May 12th, 2017 AT 6:36 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
You need a.C. Gauges to hook up to your a.C. System maybe auto zone rents them
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Friday, May 12th, 2017 AT 6:37 PM
Tiny
SEAN WILLIAMS
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Well I don't have the means to rent them. I'm already trying to save up to have a mechanic fix this problem
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Friday, May 12th, 2017 AT 7:07 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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Ok please let us know what they find then pass it along to the other users.
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Friday, May 12th, 2017 AT 7:08 PM

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