CraigG

Ok, whenever I turn the A/C on my idle is completly messed up... It idles decently at 7500 RPMs without the A/C on, but once I turn it on it goes down to like 1500 and gets all choppy and strained... Is there an adjustment that can be made for this? Also, while driving the strain on the engine is pretty hardcore, more then I've ever experienced with any other car... Any suggestions?

speckamp

hm, 12a or 13b?

if 13b, then your BAC valve might be shot, it's in the service manual / haynes manual. if 12a, then you've got an adjustment for the idle compensation for a/c somewhere on the carb, pittdp i believe has a page w/ a pic of where it is, tho I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it's prolly in the service manual / haynes manual as well (i try not too look at the carb section ;p )

--matt

CraigG

I've got both the service manual and Haynes, and neither of them mention it... Its a 12a. It would be great if someone can post a picture of where the adjustment screw is and the procedure to fix it... Thanks...

Pittdp

http://pittdp.homestead.com/underhood.html
Here is some info on my site that might help out. Just email or respond to this thread if you need any more information.
I had to replace my idle compensator a few years ago because it was not able keep the ac going. I was also having problems with my AC when my engine was going bad because of the lack of compression. I hope this is not the case for your engine.

CraigG

Damn you Pittdp! Getting me all worried!!! I dont think thats it because the car cranks right up no problem every morning and wether its hot or cold, runs solid (notice I said solid, not fast). And I thought that the start up procedure on the car is where you get the signs that its losing compression on you... Thanks man you're a big help, pictures and everything... Now i just need to have you explain it to me further... I'm not near my car and its raining (for once) so I dont wanna go out and look at it right now, so I'm not in a position to figure it out... Its the black thing you are refering to correct? And I turn the entire thing or is there a screw involved?

Pittdp

It is the black thing with the flat head screw slot in the center. Only turn it 1/4 turn at a time to either bring the idle compensator up or down. So when you have the car warmed up you will make your adjustment then get in the car and reave the engine up and let it set back down with the AC on and you should start to see if the turns help or hurt the situation. Remember to repeat the process after every 1/4 turn of the flat head screw. I sometimes have to drive around to make sure it is working correctly. I believe that clockwise lowers the the idle comp or ( reduces the RPM's) while counter clockwise brings the RPM's up. It sounds like you want to go counter clockwise to bring the idle down. Tell me if I have them mixed up though.

Pittdp

I was just messing with ya about the compression thing, since I was having problems with my car starting as well as the AC keeping up when my engine went out on me.

CraigG

ok, i'll try counter clockwise. with the a/c on my car idles very choppy around 1500, its horrible trying to drive around a car with the idle that low. And it was hot last week too... At least I had a sunroof

CraigG

Pittdp you're wonderful... Cept now I've got another problem... After some tuning and whatnot I got the idles to pretty much match with the A/C on and off... but when I turn it on it goes back down real low in the RPMs but once I give the gas a little blip it goes right back to where I set it... Is this normal? Any way to fix it ya think? Thanks to everyones suggestions and help, I'd be lost without you guys... BEST DAMN SITE ON THE NET WITH THE BEST PEOPLE!!! A TOAST!!!