Air Conditioning

MICHAEL LABARBERA

MEMBER
2003 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
2.4L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
136,000 MILES

I had an aftermarket air conditioning system installed on my car. There is excess shaking when I turn on the air conditioner while at idle. At stop lights I can feel the vibration through the steering wheel. I noticed that the accumulator/dryer has not been bolted to the sidewall of the frame. There is an thin plate/bar that extends from the accumulator where a grommet is to be placed and a bolt is to be inserted to be tightened against the metal of the car (I call it the sidewall). That was not done. The end of the bar where the grommet is to be inserted does not line up with the bolt hole to tighten down the accumulator/drier. First, should the accumulator/dryer be bolted down to reduce vibration? Also, since the hole does not line up, should there be an adapter piece?

1 Reply

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

The drier should be attached firmly or any undue vibration will fracture a pipe. But saying that it sounds as if there has not been an A/C idle up solenoid fitted, all after market systems should have an idle up so at idle with the A/C on the revs are stepped up slightly to over come the load from the compressor and eliminate undue vibration in the first place, get an A/C tech to check out your system to see if the idle up is missing or just not working.