Vibration with A/C on.

Hi guys,

it's been a long time.

My '97 GP has started showing this vibration only when the A/C is engaged; I had previously replaced the passenger side engine mount with one from autozone, however I'm not sure if it was a solid type mount or not, the clerk couldn't tell back then, I think it's been a year since then. Torque strut mounts (dog bones) are OK.

Is it possible that a failed mount is causing the problem or do you think the compressor might be going?

A/C system has proper charge.

Thanks in advance,

Oscar.

Sounds like the clutch on the compressor is failing. In the end, its easier to just replace the entire compressor, however, you would lose your AC charge.

Thanks Stealthee,

I was thinking the same and I took it to the shop just to have the A/C system inspected. They found nothing wrong about it, and told me it would be a good idea to drain and replace the R134 just as a cautionary measure since the gas tends to get old, as he said.

That was the first time I ever hear that and don't know if it is actually possible but I just let them do it; I was nearby while they worked on it; they put some oil in and gas until properly charged.

Left the place and everything was OK until I went over a speed bump and started feeling the old rumbling as before. It becomes more noticeable at the moment the front of the car goes down and "leaves" the bump. Cycled the A/C on and off at different moments and sometimes I can feel the rumbling, some others don't.

What do you think? It still makes me think the mount might have gone bad; I've read numerous times about autozone's hydraulic mounts and how defective they can be.

Oscar.

So today I finally got a clunk when switching between gears so I'll be replacing another mount. I wonder if it's actually causing the vibration when the A/C is on; I'm thinking the vibration more than being caused at the compressor should be more at the mount and with the higher power required when the A/C is running makes it "feel" like it's coming from the A/C.

Don't you think it would be possible? Anyway I'll be replacing the mount; is the mount on one side more prone to damage rather than the other?

Oscar.

If the mount does not fix it, take a good look at all the A/C lines and make sure they are secured where they need to be and not contacting anything they should not.