My car looses power everytime I start my ac or defroster on. It starts making some squealing noise from under the hood.
I have a 1993 300zx Twin Turbo with 99K miles. My car runs fine as long as I do not turn my ac on. Once I put the ac or defroster on, the car looses power to almost stalling the vehicle along with some squealing noise from under the hood. Thank you for any help that you can provide.
My car has 99800 miles.
My car has a manual transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello, thank you for writing in. Your issue is stemming from the air conditioning condenser that is used when you engage the A/C or the defrost. The squealing noise that you are hearing is likely coming from the pulley that powers the condenser. This pulley is powered by the vehicle’s drive belt, and would absolutely explain why the vehicle is stalling or running rough when its engaged. The drive belt is powered by the engine and it is not powerful enough to compensate for the malfunction. You will need to replace the pulley, and possibly the condenser depending on what an inspection shows.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
There are several causes for your car to lose power significantly while accelerating. The most typical causes of a car not accelerating while driving include a faulty sensor, contaminated fuel or air filters, or a faulty timing belt.
You will feel a loss in power while accelerating and at times intermittent jerks. To solve this issue find the fuel filter located in the engine bay or near the fuel tank in your car`s trunk. If the fuel filter is clogged replace it if you have the skills to do so or get it changed at your local mechanic shop.
Heat causes electrical resistance in a circuit or component to increase. If you have a bad component that may have a bad internal connection, the increase in temperature could cause a voltage drop in the component. Also, heat can cause a crank position sensor to act up if it is starting to fail.
The most common reasons a Nissan 300ZX won`t start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter.
Trouble accelerating can come from a few different engine issues. These include, but are not limited to, dirty fuel injectors, low fuel pressure, and restricted airflow. A problem with the mass airflow sensor, throttle position sensor, or engine speed sensor can also cause a car to have difficulty picking up speed.
Why does my car not accelerate when I push the gas? A car not accelerating properly can be caused by a number of things. It could be due to the throttle body, gas tank, spark plugs, or the ECU. It could also be because you have a dirty air filter or a clogged fuel filter.
Power Loss
If your clutch slips, you will also lose power. Your engine will be revving high but your wheels won`t be moving forward. A slipping clutch is a sign that the clutch needs to be replaced. Again, the clutch is responsible for the power transfer between the engine and the transmission and back to the engine.
A bad carburetor may result in an engine with sluggish acceleration, and a noticeable reduction in power and fuel efficiency.
Low oil levels cause valves to burn up, seals to dry out, and internal parts to heat up and eventually deform or break. Until something breaks, the engine will continue to lose power and burn more fuel while running poorly.
Nissan`s 1990s GT coupe, the Z32 300ZX, is a polarising machine. Lauded for its sporty looks, advanced technology and high-performance from the optional twin-turbo VG30 V6 engine, the 300ZX has also been accused of being bloated, overly complicated, prone to breakdowns, and difficult to work on.
Problem Description. If the engine cranks but does not start, or starts and stalls, the fuses should be inspected, especially the power door locks fuse. The power door lock fuse provides power to a module that sends the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) the “OK to start” signal.
Faulty spark plugs result in an engine misfire due to incomplete burning fuel. An interrupted combustion process can significantly affect the engine performance. Unattended engine misfire may result in intermittent strange engine sounds, power loss, and engine knock.
If a spark plug or multiple spark plugs are faulty, they will have trouble creating the spark that causes the ignition process in your vehicle. This results in your vehicle having trouble starting, hesitating or having issues with accelerating properly.
What causes partial loss of power? Partial power outages are fairly common occurrences in most areas. They can be caused by a tripped circuit breaker, a broken connector, or a loose wire at a service lead. They can also be a sign that your electrical panel is failing.
The formula to calculate the line loss is P = I × V. If a current `I` flows through a given element in your circuit, losing voltage `V` in the process, then the power `P` dissipated by that circuit element is the product of that current and voltage.
An engine control unit (ECU), also called an engine control module (ECM), is a device which controls multiple systems of an internal combustion engine in a single unit. Systems commonly controlled by an ECU include the fuel injection and ignition systems.
It could be a dead alternator, a bad coolant sensor or lack of fuel, just to name a few. Is your car stalling while accelerating? If so, then it could be a major vacuum leak, clogged fuel filter or a bad fuel pump. If your vehicle is stalling when driving, seek professional help to track down and fix the issue.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
My car looses power everytime I start my ac or defroster on. It starts making some squealing noise from under the hood.
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. Your issue is stemming from the air conditioning condenser that is used when you engage the A/C or the defrost. The squealing noise that you are hearing is likely coming from the pulley that powers the condenser. This pulley is powered by the vehicle’s drive belt, and would absolutely explain why the vehicle is stalling or running rough when its engaged. The drive belt is powered by the engine and it is not powerful enough to compensate for the malfunction. You will need to replace the pulley, and possibly the condenser depending on what an inspection shows.
My car will not start Intermittently. I purchased a new battery 2 weeks ago and yesterday the car wouldn’t start. Got a jump and
ANSWER : The issue you are having is probably due to an intermittent fault in the starter motor itself or a deficiency in the starter electrical circuit, for example a large voltage drop due to a poor ground or a high resistance connection. These issues can be readily diagnosed and resolved on a mobile basis if you request a hard starting diagnostic. If you request that diagnostic, the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you promptly. Based on Toyota’s Factory Service Manual, the battery should not be disconnected if the vehicle engine is running. The battery acts as a large resistive voltage sink and consequently taking the battery out of the circuit, while the alternator is still running, can create a voltage spike on the car’s electrical system which is not good for voltage sensitive components such as the engine computer. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
My car looses power everytime I start my ac. It almost dies whenever I turn the ac knob in the on possition.
ANSWER : Hi there. It sounds like the AC compressor is locked up. When you turn on the AC or defroster the compressor is commanded on. With the compressor locked up the belt will squeal and the engine will struggle to maintain idle and may stall. Why the compressor is doing this, only a proper inspection can answer. I suggest having a qualified technician perform an inspection to avoid replacing unnecessary parts. Your Mechanic has several available technicians that can assist you with a loud squeal noise when the AC is turned on inspection.
The car has no power, the ignition relay keeps making a clicking noise, and the car won’t start
ANSWER : I suspect you have a dead (or very low) battery, a failed alternator, and an electrical circuitry problem as well. It may be hard to tell which came first if there is wiring damage already. The clicking you hear is likely the starter solenoid not getting enough power because of a dead battery.
If the car shut down while driving, that is usually an indicator that the alternator is not charging the system. Once you have jumped it off, it should continue to run on the alternator. The failure to run more than 10 mph and the smoke from the engine compartment suggest very low system voltage and additional wiring problems sapping all the electrical system’s power.
I would recommend having a professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, perform an inspection to determine why the battery will not hold a charge and assess any additional problems with the alternator.
Oky so everytime i try to start my car it makes this big loud clanking noise consistently on going when i try to start the car
ANSWER : I would need to hear the noise to be sure but when cranking the engine can only be one of two things. This could be the starter drive going bad or the flywheel has teeth worn or missing. Make sure the flywheel to torque converter bolts are tight when you remove the starter also. If you want to have this checked, a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose your car’s noise.
Car makes grinding noise – 1996 Chevrolet Corsica
ANSWER : Hey there, thanks for writing in. I would have a professional mechanic check out the constant velocity joints on your vehicle. One or more of them may be worn enough to cause the noises you describe. S/he can diagnose and replace any failed CV joints.
Squealing noise?!
ANSWER : Hey there. You have a binding accessory on the engine like the A/C compressor or pulley, power steering pump, or an idler pulley. You should first test the computer to see if the power steering pressure switch is activating by scanning the computer data to see if switch is working. If it is okay, then one of the components are binding and would need to be diagnosed by removing the belt and checking each component for binding. The car may also need a power steering pressure test. If you would like to have this looked at, a certified pro from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the squealing noise and pinpoint the problem.
Why is the car losing power and not accelerating? 1995 BMW 318is
ANSWER : Hello and thank you for contacting YourMechanic. Check the ground wire from the main engine to frame ground to the right side engine mount. If this wire is corroded or loose, this will cause the engine to loose power on acceleration. Also, check the throttle position sensor (TPS) for any damage or loose wire connections. If the wires are all in good condition on the engine and the TPS, then I recommend replacing the TPS. If you need further assistance troubleshooting your vehicle, then seek out a technician, such as one from YourMechanic, to diagnose the vehicle’s loss of power and proceed with any needed repairs.
