Really? A/C Compressor Stumble Is Normal?

[CREWZIN]

What warranty did you get when you bought the cruiser? If it's 7/70 then it should be covered. Those parts don't come under any power train warranty, just the original 3/36 or 7/70.

[eng911]

I didn't buy an extra warranty. So I assume it came with a 60,000km warranty. I guess I'll have to call the dealer or go see them.

[Cathy06PT]

Originally Posted by NewPTCruiserInPA

Hi! I am new to the forum. I'm hoping someone can help me out with our first problem! We purchased a 2006 PT Cruiser at the end of March with 19,182 miles on it, and with the warm weather this past week we turned on the A/C for the first time. We went to Philly and back with no problems, but then a couple days later we noticed the car starting to shudder/stumble, like it wanted to stall, when the A/C was on and you were idling at a stop sign or light. It did this several times, but didn't actual stall. I had my husband drive home from work with it off and he had no problems. Later we went to the store with it on, and it was the same thing. So we kept it off for the whole weekend and had no problems.

I called the dealer to have it looked at and it went in yesterday. They said the diagnostic code led them to a bad compressor, and it had to be replaced. They said they put it up on the rack and topped it off and they could see it leaking. I asked if we would have seen it leaking (we didn't) and he said Freon evaporates, so not necessarily. The car was blowing cold, so I assumed it had Freon. He said they test drove it and it is fine.

The funny thing is, he said you DO feel it when the compressor kicks on and off, and that it's completely normal, but it shouldn't get to the point where it would stall.

Is this true? We didn't pick it up yet to know if it is still like it was yet, but when we first drove it with the A/C on, it didn't do any stumbling. Is this something that is normal for a PT Cruiser, or are we probably looking at some other problem and NOT a compressor problem? I checked online and saw other people complaining of the stumble when idling, and there were several theories for it: A/C, crankshaft/camshaft sensors, wires, etc. Would you think it was the compressor if they actually found a bad compressor? I am worried we are going to continue to have problems...

Im having the same issue w/ mine right now, I still have to get it checked out.

[vtmdsm27]

Originally Posted by Mean Green

I've had three PTs (still got one) and I never had that problem.

Mean - which plug wires have you used in your three PTs? Which plugs? I have one non-turbo '07 2.4L, and one turbo '08 2.4T.

[reefscvg]

OMG...This has just started for me and replaced the plugs and checked the error codes now that I have replaced the plugs and gapped them properly the stumble is more violent. I inspected the old plugs and there was no fouling from oil and the burn to the plugs was normal. WHAT IS GOING ON? I live n south florida and there is an increase when the A/C is kicked on but I can figure out a correlation...the dealers are jerks down here and I need resolution.

[07PTSilver]

It's been since mid-october when this thread ended. What did you all having this problem fnally come up with? What was the end solution? Just curious, because I'm having the same darn problem too.

[Kegger99]

Hi everyone...

Just an update to this issue.

First off, I have a 2005 PT Cruiser Limited with the 2.4L "non-turbo" engine with 71k miles. Its stock all the way...no mods and nothing special. My wife also has a 2005 PT Cruiser Limited w/2.4L "non-turbo".....exactly the same but with 85k miles. The ONLY thing different between our PT's is the color. We purchased them 3 weeks apart in the summer of 2005.

So on to the issue...
Late last fall I began experiencing the stumbling issue that you've all described...but since it was going into the winter, there was no pressure to get it repaired at that time. Then, not 2 weeks after MY PT began exhibiting the stumbling issue, my wife's PT started! Oh the JOY!

I came across your forum during the 2008 holidays and bookmarked it, knowing that at some point I would need to address the situation. I was also hoping that SOMEONE would find a resolution to the issue....and state it for everyone here.

Fast forward to today...spring time...and the outside heat is building to the point that this issue became important again (lol). Dreading the worst, I took my PT in to the local repair shop (we are out of factory warranty). They found the TSB that others have previously mentioned and they recommended a coil - spark plug - wire replacement. I agreed to the work since my PT had not had a tune up since its 36k checkup. Needless to say, this didn't resolve the issue (and after reading your posts here, I didn't expect it to).

I AGAIN mentioned the "fan control module" to the repair tech...only to find out that my model doesn't have one (probably the turbo models do). But that lead them to the FINAL resolution....replacement of the radiator fan.

My wallet is now $350 lighter...but I got a tune up, radiator fan, and the labor to do all of this paid for. The repair shop's owner felt bad after his recommendation didn't resolve the issue....so they offered to eat the labor charge for the radiator fan install...and we went 50 / 50 on the cost of the radiator fan part.

So considering I got the radiator fan, Mopar coil, plug wires, spark plugs, and the labor all for $350, I'm breathing a sigh of relief!

I realize the tune up didn't fix the issue, but want to pass on to others with this issue for them to focus their repair techs to the radiator fan and / or the fan control module (for those which it is applicable).

I'm back to being a happy PT owner.

Thanks to everyone here that posted their info on this problem. It DID help me (and hopefully others) to a resolution.

Best wishes to everyone for a prosperous 2009!

[AmberVon]

OH!

So the radiator fan was the issue?

I have a 2005 PT, Touring Edition. Started having the same problem last year. It was looked at twice by my mechanic and he couldn't find the problem and is STUMPED!

I have to take the car in for a seperate problem tomorrow anyway so maybe I'll bring up the radiator fan to him?

[quicksilverdon]

Everything I've read boils down to a few causes:
Ignition - plugs & wires
Engine fan not coming on
Idle Air Controller (IAC)

[Kegger99]

Yup (AmberVon) came down to the fan. My mechanic was stumped also and skeptical when I suggested the fan. But its replacement did the trick (thanks to the knowledge submitted by the forum users).

In the interim between my last post (May 09) and today, I took a leap of faith and purchased the fan assembly for my wife's PT to resolve the issue on her car. At the time, life was keeping me busy and had to give the repair (labor) to a family member to perform. He was skeptical also, but was totally surprised of the ease in changing out the fan assembly....and very surprised that simply replacing it resolved the issue!

I'm happy to report that my wife's PT is also back and working! And as we married people all know, if the wife is happy, the world is happy (lol).

I located the part locally for $115...and the family member's labor was free. So in total, I guess our family (2 PT's) came out ahead.

Off topic...
Last month (October) my wife's PT had an issue with the right-front wheel bearing. Her PT is now up to 95k, so I'm not sure if that is typical. Never had to change one out on a previous vehicle...but its repaired now and she & her PT are back and running.

Best to all.