ac on, engine overheats...i think

ok i no the compresser pulls juice from the crankshaft, but should the engine temp go up a tad?? cuz if im on the highway for like 20 min with the ac on the temp on the stock gauge goes up i say 2-3 lines, and i get scared and turn it off. is this normal??? i wanna get a bigger raditator just to be sure, maybe a lighterpulley from 3sx to lighten the load on the crank. but is this normal, shouldnt the engine maintain the temp?

My VR4 does this, my '94 SL does not. A couple lines I wouldn't worry about. If it's a line or two below hot, then I would worry. Have you ever had your coolant flushed? How old is your water pump?

the water pumps only like 2 years onld and everything was flushed then

make sure your driver's side fan comes on whenever you turn on your a/c. If it does come on, then just watch the gauge for a little bit. Let it go up in temperature a couple of tick marks, as long as it doesn't go up to the top and stay up there, you'll be fine.

+1 for checking the fan.

ok i went road trippin this weekend and i thought itll be a good idea to cgeck out the ac problem on the highway, nw i no its the radiator. when i drive at night, the engine temp doesnt go up at all, but in the heat of the day, it wen up to the upper quarter of the gauge. it has to be the air cominging in, so therefor if i get a better radiator it should ccol the air further and it shouldnt matter how hot it is out side...agree???

No.

When you're in motion the air moves over the fins cooling the coolant as it passes through the radiator. The fans do that job when the car is stopped or in stop and go traffic. You still need to check the fans. If they aren't coming on then it won't matter what radiator you get.

they r

I would try a flush before anything else. I usually flush once a year. But really as long as its not pegged at the top of the gauge, you're not in danger.

yea maybe a flush is all i need... but buying the 3sx radiator isnt a bad isea right? it should help it out regardless