Just sitting in traffic with the A/C on and I am amazed at how you can actually hear, through the exhaust, the engine being dragged down by the A/C compressor....

 

at least your A/C works
hahahah
dennis

 

Really?? I can tell when mine is on by the 'clunk' sound of the compressor clutch engaging. The engine tone doesn't change.

MikeyB

 

I noticed it too after removing the muffler and adding an AFE. It sounds similar to how it does when the grid heaters are cycling.

I was hearing the clunk pretty consistently too until I started using it more.

At idle I can tell when the compressor clutch engages and disengages by looking at the EGT gauge.

 

i use my A/C as a engine brake

 

That has always been my "poor man's granny gear" when descending steep icey hills. I've had several paasengers yell at me for turning on the AC in the winter.

 

when mine is at idle the exhaust tone changes when the compressor kicks on.

 

Mine does the same thing and also makes an engine vibration that feels like a rough idle.

 

That's pretty funny...

 

Mine too... I guess it's normal then..

 

I've noticed that on mine also. I would expect a little ricey 4 banger to strain under the load of the A/C. I kinda expected these motors to not even notice the compressor was on.

 

Must be, mines the same way

 

Cant tell its on with mine, just a single thump after engine start and thats it.

cp

 

Ditto here. Not even a thump,then ice cold. My '99 was the same,undetectable except for the cold air.

 

at night i see my dash lights dim when the AC klunks on, puts a strain on the batteries also