Effect of AC on the motor's performance

[Ottoman]

I don't know if this is "normal" behavior for our DSM's

but when i Turn the AC on the idle still holds strong no problem

but when i drive the car it feels soo heavy and gutless, rpm becomes heavy... like i've lost 50hp or something

if i'm under light acceleration and i kill the AC i feel myself go back in the seat almost like someone bumped me from behind and gave me a push...

basically the car becomes a real dog..

the AC still blows nice and cold.. but man it's killing the engine


is this normal?

 

[boostedgsx1997]

Same problem with mine. I could feel the AC blowing cold air and helping me loose what it felt like 200hp (not that I have even that much ). So I took the AC off. But think about this, it is a 4 cylinder car. My moms Jetta, when I turn the AC on, basiclly the car cannot even get enough speed to get on the freeway, I have to rev it to about 5K so I can keep up with traffic. I have been in a 97 GST Spyder that was an auto, and when he turned his AC on, I swear the car did not feel it. It was also bone stock but never the less it was weird.

 

[snox135]

My 95 GSX does the same thing. But I've never seen a Jetta do that. There must be something wrong with your mom's car. My A4 doesn't do it (1.8T same motor as the Jetta) and it's AWD.

 

[mattans]

My 95 GSX does the same thing. But I've never seen a Jetta do that. There must be something wrong with your mom's car. My A4 doesn't do it (1.8T same motor as the Jetta) and it's AWD.

unless the jetta is a 2.slow

 

[Ottoman]

so you're saying it's normal?

i've ridden in so many Toyota Echo's and Corolla's and even a daihatsu sirion with a 1.0 motor

they're not losing a ton of power (not that they have much to begin with)


my friends evo 7 doesn't either

 

[fourreGsixty3]

It is perfectly normal. The AC will rob you of power, and trust me its noticable...I ripped all the AC component's out of my 92 TSi for that reason, and to save 40lbs or so. My GF is lucky I keep it in the DD 99 GS( but its n/t so not like a loss of power will change it from being fast ). You say you've ridden in them, but have you driven them? Im sure you feel it more previlent with your DSM because you are very in synch with it since you drive it all the time, and you can pick-up on the slightest changes due to this.

 

[Syndicate13]

It takes power to turn the compressor which in turn translates to a loss of available power for the drivetrain. I too have noticed that is a very apparent occurrence in my DSM, more so than any other car I've driven.

 

[olmytsi]

My car did the same thing before i removed the a/c 2 years ago.

 

[FORMONTOYA]

Yes, with the A/C on you will lose some power. Depending on what car you're driving, the power loss can be significant.

I agree, the Eclipse does seem to be robbed of more power than a lot of other cars I've driven...so when you're driving hard, turn the A/C off (nice thing about having the switch so close to the shifter knob and a long index finger). Although living on the Texas coast, I can't see myself removing it.

 

[Syndicate13]

Yes, with the A/C on you will loose some power. Depending on what car you're driving, the power loss can be significant.

I agree, the Eclipse does seem to be robbed of more power than a lot of other cars I've driven...so when you're driving hard, turn the A/C off (nice thing about having the switch so close to the shifter knob and a long index finger). Although living on the Texas coast, I can't see myself removing it.

The ECU turns off the compressor during WOT anyway.

 

[FORMONTOYA]

The ECU turns off the compressor during WOT anyway.

Or if you clear 5K on the tach at part throttle. However, the "cut-off" is not instant in either mode. The "finger" cuts it off as soon as you hit the button.

 

[hi_psi_dsm07]

Is this "cut-off" only on the turbo dsms or is it on both? Cause I never noticed anything on my N/T. Maybe I'll check next time I take it for a spin.

 

[silver bullit]

Your car is a n/t the gain may not even be noticeable.

 

[hi_psi_dsm07]

That's not what I asked.