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
48,363 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.

Images (Click to make bigger)

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

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.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

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

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
48,363 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.

Images (Click to make bigger)