Car jerks when the A/C is on?

DEREK SHERLOCK

MEMBER
2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU
2.2L
4 CYL
AUTOMATIC
250,000 MILES

My vehicle will jerk when I'm driving with the A/C on, and it will also jerk when I am stopped at an intersection with the car in drive. If I put it in park or idle it does not do this.

Thursday, June 29th, 2023 AT 2:39 PM

3 Replies

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
47,513 POSTS

Do these jerks occur when the A/C is on only? If not, the engine sounds like it is misfiring, I would do a full tune up including serving the throttle body and replacing the coil module.

Here are two generic guides to help you fix the problem with instructions below for your car:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-tune-up-a-car-engine

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throttle-actuator-service

Spark Plug Type .................... GM P/N 12569190 (A/C DELCO P/N 41-981)

Gap 0.95 - 1.1 mm (0.037 - 0.043 in)

Torque 20 Nm (15 lb-ft)

Check out the images (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem so we can see what's going on.

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Friday, June 30th, 2023 AT 10:44 AM

DEREK SHERLOCK

MEMBER
2 POSTS

No, when the A/C is off it does not jerk at all. It runs nice and smoothly. Only when I turn the A/C on, it will do it while I'm driving. And if I am parked at an intersection with the car in drive it will kick and sometimes shut off.

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Friday, June 30th, 2023 AT 2:25 PM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
47,513 POSTS

Okay, then the A/C compressor is starting to lock up, please don't run the A/C system anymore.

here is a guide to help change it out with instructions in the images below to help with your car:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-air-conditioner-compressor

and

https://youtu.be/4EqdrBVb0sY

Check out the images (below). Please let us know how it goes.

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