Long story short: I had to go put a battery in my mom's car this morning, and when we got it in and cranked it up, it ran fine. Turned on the AC and the car almost stalled to a stop.

I have checked the alternator, and it is charging the battery when cranked. I've done some quick Googling and have came across two possible issues: 1) an idle-up valve - possible bad valve or bad/cracked vacuum lines and 2) the A/C compressor going bad / seizing up.

Does anyone have any help/clues/ideas for this situation?

It idles fine (~700+ RPM) with t he AC off, but the minute you turn it on, the RPMs at idle drop to the point where the engine sounds like it is going to stall and the engine shakes badly.

Am I on the right track with either of those problems?

Thanks in advance.

ADDENDUM: She said as she was driving down the highway this morning, it sounded as if something fell off the car - like a nut or bolt. I can;t really be more explicit than that seeing as how I wasn't in the car. But that noise, the bad battery and the idling issue all cropped up today. Maybe coincidence, but then maybe it's not.

 

It may also help to add that there are no CELs on the dash and that it idles like it should any time excpet for when the a/c compressor is on (i.e. green light under A/C is lit).

 

I know that whenever power is interupted from the battery for any length of time, the computer needs to 're-learn' how to operate the engine. I've heard it takes many starts for the computer to get back to normal operation.

So my question to you is... Did the problem fix itself?

I just bought a 2003 Camry 4cyl two days ago. I disconnected and cleaned the battery terminals and after hooking it back up I had the same symptoms you're talking about until today and it "seems" it has gone away.

Jeff

 

This is normal.

 

Hey man, having the same problems with my '07 2.4L MT Camry. Had to just change out the battery and changed the plugs. Idles rough especially with the AC on. Did the problem just go away?
Oh, no lights on dash either.

 

Yes - the problem went away / cleared up on it's own.

 

Long story short: I had to go put a battery in my mom's car this morning, and when we got it in and cranked it up, it ran fine. Turned on the AC and the car almost stalled to a stop. maybe the coolum got into the engine? check ur ac pipes, well theres somewhat a issue for ur ac system