'04 A/C at highway speed

N

ndgogal

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I have been having a problem with my 04 since having to use the A/C regularly in hot So. Cal. It has been to the dealer 4 times for this and various other minor problems and I have been told so far that this is normal. I just wanted to know if anyone else out there has had a similar complaint and if this is indeed "normal".

Here it is: when driving at anything 60 mph or more with the A/C on (any setting) I can feel almost a sort of "downshift" and "upshift" when the A/C compressor clicks on and off. It actually feels like it gets a real surge of power when it clicks off and will make you fall back into your seat and the opposite happens when it clicks on (using more engine power). I have the V8 and figure it should have tons of power to run an A/C more smoothly than this. I have also had the "clunking" noise many of you have described and will look into the lube option with that. I've also had it literally lurch forward when at a stop with the A/C on when the compressor clicks off (engine gets power back). And my brake was fully depressed too. It was really unnerving.

I have already had 2 different Toyota mechanics verify that it is happening, but have gotten no real explanation as to why. As I am writing, it is at a dealership and I get the impression that the "lead" mechanic feels this is all within normal limits. Just wondering if anyone has any insight into this. Should I continue to pursue or just drop it and accept it?
Thanks!
 
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when driving at anything 60 mph or more with the A/C on (any setting) I can feel almost a sort of "downshift" and "upshift" when the A/C compressor clicks on and off. ... I have the V8 and figure it should have tons of power to run an A/C more smoothly than this. ... I've also had it literally lurch forward when at a stop with the A/C on when the compressor clicks off (engine gets power back).
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I have never noticed anything like this. I never even notice as the A/C compressor cycles on and off.

When I leave work there is a long freeway on-ramp with a steep incline and I have noticed that with the A/C on it will not accelerate up the hill as quickly as when the A/C is off but this is all that I have noticed.
 
I have an '04 v8 coming up on 4k miles. I have never noticed when the A/C is running. I live in Texas, so maybe its because it never shuts off... ;)
 
That's totally abnormal. I've got the V6 and I don't feel any "surges" when the AC goes on/off. Try a different dealership if the one you're taking it doesn't seem like they are helping. Even think about calling Toyota Customer service to get a resolution.
 
i doubt it's normal in a v8. the a/c in my '90 v6 has been broken for so long, i don't remember if it did the surging or not, and i don't have a/c in my '89 4cyl.

however, it may not be as big of a deal as you say, i notice the surging you speak of in my subaru (2.5 4cyl), and i notice it in my brothers nissan pickup (2.5 4cyl) and his new gti (1.8 turbo 4cyl). my brother notices it too in the same cars. however other people who have driven our cars never notice it, even if we point it out to them. my guess is that you are just extra picky (like me and my brother) and notice things like that. just a guess.

i really hate it when you're timing for a down shift to slow down for a corner and the a/c compresser clutch disengages and you end up going into the corner too fast.
 
This hasn't happened to me either. I have the V6 and my AC's on practically all the time (I'm in So. Cal too). Just curious, what temperature do you usually have it set at?
 
As a test today on my v8, I turned the A/C off/on manually. I never noticed any differences.

Maybe its not the compressor itself. Keep in mind most "mechanics" are completely incapable of troubleshooting. When the A/C kicks on and off, it typically causes some large transients in the power system. I would not be surprised to find out there is an electrical issue with the engine. e.g. A large enough spike could be causing the ECU to mis-read a sensor.
 
When I turn on the A/C, I can hear the compressor (or whatever it is in the engine) click on but I can't feel anything different.
 
I feel exactly what your talking about also. I can actually feel it surging a little when the compressor is cycling. Never thought it was a big enough issue to take it in though. I really get tired of going through the hassle of taking it in and them telling you its normal.
 
Thanks so much for your replies! I got the 4Runner back from the dealer, and no surprise here, everything checked out "normal". To answer someone's question, I typically keep it on LOW (temp) and recycled air (stays cooler- 115+ degrees outside). It doesn't seem to matter if the blower is on low, high, or anywhere in between.

So next I am going to have the regional technician guy who comes out once a month look at it. I already contacted Toyota's customer service after the 4th visit to get in the system, and that was their suggestion/next step (see the tech).

And when I had suggested, as one of you had to me, that maybe it could be some other system, ie electrical, the "mechanic" just said he didn't think so. I don't see why that's not in the realm of possibility. And I'm not really mechanically "inclined" in the least- just logical! And yes, picky, as someone pointed out :D . And I should be for a $30 grand suv!

Thanks again, and keep the input coming b/c I plan on using it if needed later, and I'll post again any results from the tech so that it could help anyone else experiencing this.
 
I notice the AC compressor kicking in and out less on this vehicle than on any other I've owned. Driving at highway speeds it's completely transparent.
 
a/c

I agree, totally transparent at park, idle or freeway for me. And it blows COLD. I keep it at a steady 65* on Lo setting.

The iForce V8 has enough torque to completely brush off the a/c belt drag when the compressor engages.
 
I thought it was normal for the A/C Compressor to shift on and off to server to save fuel mileage and power.

I read an article somewhere that running the A/C draws a lot of amperage and using about 1.5-2 hp give or take and that is the reason why you get lesser fuel mileage when running your A/C.

So if you hear a clicking noise when it kicks in and your vehicle twitches a little, I am sure it is normal. Now, if the vehicle shakes and feels like it idles violently, then take it to a different dealer.
 
From time to time I notice very slight bogging and surging in my '04 V8 SR5 when the AC is cycling on and off. If you're not paying close attention, you probably wouldn't notice it.
 
I haven't notice anything like this. I'm sure there is a minor bump when the compressor clutch engages / disengages but nothing major. It's possible I haven't done enough high speed driving yet.

I have observed the 4Rs tendancy to want to surge forward at a stop sign/light. I always assumed it was my foot slightly letting off on the break pedal. In addition, I do feel the ocassional odd bump in the break or gas pedal (or maybe it's not even in one of the pedals at all). I have no idea what that is but I think there have a been few posts about it.

I'll be on the look-out for the power/loss surging thing you've noticed. I drive with the climate control set from 67-70 degrees on Auto all the time.
 
Thanks for your input. My problem though is that I actually DO feel a loss/gain in power when it clicks on and off.
 
I never feel the compressor kick on and off. Guess because it stays on all the time here in hot ole central texas...
 
I feel the exact same thing, but mostly at stop lights, it picks up about 150 rpm's. I assume it is the solenoid that increases the engine idle speed when the compressor cycles on.
 
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