A/C compressor kick on V8?

Samm25

Samm25

New member
I’ve been dealing with this since I purchased my ‘05 V8 in October of last year, but don’t know if it’s completely natural or not.
When I turn the A/C on and the compressor comes on, I do know it’s supposed to idle the car higher which is normal. But does anyone feel a little kick from the car when the compressor turns on? It kicks forward as if it wants to go even when I’m pressing on the brake. I even notice it turning on and off while cruising because you can feel the vehicle kick forward or backward when it turns on and off. It’s not violent, but definitely noticeable. Anyone else notice this?
 
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It's normal. My 04 V8 does the same thing. It's a good excuse to move to stainless steel brake lines because that completely fixes it and you get much better braking feel.
 
Yep, mine does this also. Its normal. But I try to not run a/c because for some reason this is the only vehicle I have owned that makes my V8 feel like it lost a cylinder when I run the a/c haha, don't know why the power loss with a/c is so noticeable on this 4runner but it is.
 
Thanks for the replies! I agree with the power loss, I rarely run my AC also but when it gets to about 105 here in Texas, it’s hard not to haha
 
dropspace said:
It's normal. My 04 V8 does the same thing. It's a good excuse to move to stainless steel brake lines because that completely fixes it and you get much better braking feel.
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So you're saying the root cause of the issue is related to the brake line material? Seems like an odd correlation to an acceleration 'jerk' when running A/C as the OP describes.
 
amalik said:
So you're saying the root cause of the issue is related to the brake line material? Seems like an odd correlation to an acceleration 'jerk' when running A/C as the OP describes.
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No. He's saying SS brake lines help keep the truck from rolling forward when the idle rises at a stop.

My truck also will slightly lurch forward at a light if my foot is on the brake lightly and the system kicks on.
 
Levinz11 said:
No. He's saying SS brake lines help keep the truck from rolling forward when the idle rises at a stop.

My truck also will slightly lurch forward at a light if my foot is on the brake lightly and the system kicks on.
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Yes, thats what I mean. Sorry to be vague. When the AC kicks on my idle still changes, but with the SS brake lines the truck no longer tries to lurch forward. The SS lines have quite a bit more grab at lower pedal forces than the stock lines.
 
dropspace said:
Yes, thats what I mean. Sorry to be vague. When the AC kicks on my idle still changes, but with the SS brake lines the truck no longer tries to lurch forward. The SS lines have quite a bit more grab at lower pedal forces than the stock lines.
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Good to know! I’ll have to look into it. Again, I usually don’t run the AC too much, but when this summer comes around I imagine I’ll want to be a little cooler and not be burning up in my ride haha. Thanks for the info!
 
I had the same issue, even with SS lines.

My solution was to run it under the back of a Dodge Ram 2500 and buy a GX470, which oddly doesn't have the issue.

Your results may vary.
 
Mine does it during cold starts, with the A/C on, and even with just the defogger on. With the latter 2, it'll go back and forth from surging to a large power loss (feels like traction control kicking in) randomly. It seems really weird to me but it's always done it.
 
Timberland said:
Mine does it during cold starts, with the A/C on, and even with just the defogger on. With the latter 2, it'll go back and forth from surging to a large power loss (feels like traction control kicking in) randomly. It seems really weird to me but it's always done it.
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Yeah, I’ve noticed it with the defroster on, too. Since it uses the same compressor to defrost/defog the Windows it’ll kick on even when the AC isn’t on itself.

Glad that I’m not the only one experiencing this, though. At least I know it’s normal. Thanks to everyone for your input!
 
The lurching forward is present with the V6 as well.

Scared the shit out of me when I first bought the truck. I also made a post about it and everyone reported back that its normal :noidea:
 
Where can someone find stainless brake lines? are they specially made to size/length for the 4runner or kind of a universal part?
 
I have never notice this issue before, so today I did some experimenting, so when I left work it was warn enough to turn on the AC, I barely felt what you're describing at the end of the parking lot as I was at the stop sign when I turned on the AC with my truck at cold operating temperature, turned the AC off and by the time I got to the first traffic light it was at normal operating temperature so I turned the AC on again and watch the RPMs jump up a bit but felt nothing as been described, keep doing this all the way home and nothing.

So in my case I think, I feel it very, very slightly when the engine is cold because the RPMs are up higher until it gets to normal temperature and jump up even more with the AC on, but after it's warmed up the normal RPMs drops a couple hundred RPMs then when cold and I don't feel anything when turning on the AC, and yes the AC compressor is kicking on, RPMs rise up and with very cold air
 
AuSeeker said:
I have never notice this issue before, so today I did some experimenting, so when I left work it was warn enough to turn on the AC, I barely felt what you're describing at the end of the parking lot as I was at the stop sign when I turned on the AC with my truck at cold operating temperature, turned the AC off and by the time I got to the first traffic light it was at normal operating temperature so I turned the AC on again and watch the RPMs jump up a bit but felt nothing as been described, keep doing this all the way home and nothing.



So in my case I think, I feel it very, very slightly when the engine is cold because the RPMs are up higher until it gets to normal temperature and jump up even more with the AC on, but after it's warmed up the normal RPMs drops a couple hundred RPMs then when cold and I don't feel anything when turning on the AC, and yes the AC compressor is kicking on, RPMs rise up and with very cold air
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Do you have a V6 or V8? My dad owns an ‘05 exactly like mine but it’s a V6 and I know that it simulates the same exact feeling, however, on the V6 because of the smaller engine you can’t feel it as much as on the V8
 
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