With the arrival of summer, everyone is cranking up the car AC to the max. A car A/C cools your car within minutes and provides relief from the heat outside. However, most people complain of a small inconvenience: feeling the car vibrate as they switch on the AC. The slight vibration is caused by a faulty compressor or engine parts.

Does your car vibrate when you switch on its A/C? It is an annoying issue that almost all car owners have to deal with at some point in their lives.

Thus, here we have listed down seven common reasons why your car vibrates when the A/C is on. Additionally, we have also mentioned ways to fix these problems.

7 Reasons Why Your Car vibrates When the A/C is on

The importance of car A/C is familiar to people who travel in a car frequently and or long distances. Additionally, it is worth mentioning here that cars without A/Cs can make travel rather tiresome. Just imagine having to sit through a hot summer afternoon without a properly functioning A/C!

Car A/Cs not only cool down the car but also reduce the humidity levels. Additionally, an A/C makes the rides convenient and pleasant, which makes commuting easier.

Air conditioning is one of the fundamental aspects of automobiles. It raises the refrigerant pressure and enables vaporization. Switching on the A/C ensures that you drive around in a comfortable vehicle.

However, we commonly hear people saying that ‘when I switch my A/C on, my car shakes.’ Here, you must know that some issues might make the car vibrate when the A/C is on.

We have seen that one of the most common questions asked by car owners is to do with the dreaded “compressor chatter noise” that comes with some degree of regularity in most cars. It can be very annoying for passengers, but more importantly, that noise translates into an uncomfortable ride experience.

Here are some of the major reasons why your car vibrates when the A/C is on:

1.    Faulty Compressor

As mentioned earlier, one of the biggest causes of this problem is an unbalanced compressor in the air conditioning unit. The air conditioning unit comprises a compressor that is connected to an engine with two different types of hoses. If your car is shaking when the A/C is switched on, J and ask them to check the compressor.

Moreover, to check for this problem, you will need to get out of your vehicle and inspect all sides of it carefully for any signs of loose screws or other parts that might be causing this problem. It consists of two hoses. If either of these hoses or any part within them breaks or cracks, a rattling noise will come from the compressor.

2.    Engine Misalignment

Another possible cause for this vibration is engine misalignment. You can check the alignment by examining your vehicle’s tires’ inner and outer parts to see if they are wearing down unevenly.

Also, run your hand against the tire treads to feel any imbalance in the wheels or axle when running at high speeds. For cars having rear-wheel or four-wheel drive, you will need to check with a mechanic whether the gears are misaligned or not.

3.    Faulty Axle Joints

The axle joints serve as pivots that allow one end of your car’s axle to connect with gear racks inside it.

As these joints are subjected to high pressures, one of the parts may have worn out by now. So it could be causing your A/C to vibrate.

4.    Damaged Spark Plugs

As your vehicle gets older, the spark plug also gets old and damaged. It can be one of the reasons for the vibration caused in the car whenever you switch on the AC. The connection might be missing in this case, which affects the power generation.

5.    Loose Hoses or Clamps

If you’ve noticed that your car’s hoses are loose, then this could be another reason why your A/C is shaking every time it’s turned on. Make sure that the clamps on the hoses remain tight at all times.

The same can also be said about your vehicle’s pump belt, which transfers power from one component to another. Check it periodically and tighten any loose clamps around it to reduce vibrations.

6.    Elevated Pressure

When the car A/C is switched on, it creates a significant engine strain. When the pressure reaches a higher level, you can feel your car vibrate. It’s more common when you are driving at a speed greater than 50 mph.

As the A/C compressor is one of the most complicated systems in any vehicle, it can be very expensive to replace or repair it when needed. It’s best to maintain it so that you avoid having to spend too much money maintaining it.

7.    Refrigerant Leak

A refrigerant leak might cause car A/C issues. The first thing you should do if your car is vibrating and blowing warm air is to check the refrigerant level. If it’s low, you need to determine where the refrigerant is leaking from and act accordingly.

Many times this will solve your problem, but it can also be an issue that needs to be addressed by a professional mechanic.

Also Read: Why Does Your AC Smell Musty?

How to Fix Issues to Ensure that Your Car Does Not Vibrate Anymore?

Well, you cannot ignore your car’s A/C as it has become a necessity now. In the scorching heat of summer, you need either a vehicle with an amazing A/C or a cool breeze around you to enjoy the ride. Here are some things you can do to ensure that your car does not vibrate:

• You can change your A/C compressor pulley with a good quality aftermarket part that will last longer than OEM.
• Replace your driveshaft if it’s an old car.
• Also, you can purchase a new driveshaft or replace your power steering belt or both belts, which might have broken down, making the whole car vibrate when powered on.

Some cars need to do major engine mounts, some require driveshaft replacement, and sometimes you may need your belts or pulley replaced. Again, your mechanic will be able to figure out the root cause of the problem after running small tests.

Also Read: Best Cars For Sale in 200K

Final Thoughts

The bottom line is that there are various reasons why your car vibrates when A/C is on. Considering that an A/C is an essential part of every car, you might face this issue at some point. Hence, it’s best to go through why this happens and what you can do to address them.

Don’t get too concerned if your car is shaking when the A/C is switched on. It’s a common problem. However, you cannot ignore it as it gets more irritating with time. It’s better to visit a mechanic and get your vehicle tested. Changing the compressor pulley or replacing the shaft can help you in most cases. Good luck!