I have had my s/c tc for about 1 mon. Its a 2008 with 23k miles. While driving at highway speeds (mostly 45+) i notice while cruising with a/c on that my engines seems to have the feeling that a load is constantly being engaged and disengaged. I have the same feeling while sitting at idle w/o a/c. I have taken it to 2 seperate scion dealer service depts and they say they do not feel it. Its theres. Is anybody else experiencing this.

I have changed out the plugs to be sure is wasnt a gapping issue or bad plug. not sure what else it could be.

 

Do you have the TRD tune? A/C will carry a load on the engine. Hard to say since I cant drive the car myself.

 

I honestly do not know if I have the TRD tune or not. Is there a way to check. On the A/C, I do realize the a/c carries a load but this feeling I'm experiencing is not like the one you get when first turn on the a/c. Its more subtle and I only seem to notice it while using the a/c. I have been told before that this feeling is the a/c cycling but it seems too often and too noticeable. When cruising at a constant speed you would expect to have a steady drone sound of the engine turning smoothly but I have some sort of hickup or bump. Wish I could discribe it better.

 

Buy the car used I take it. Dealer should be able to tell you.

 

I wish the dealer did tell me. I bought this used from a private lot. They are not revealing much. Scion isnt either. I do not even know where to begin to diag this thing.

 

The reason they're not revealing much is that usually those private lots are reselling abandon impounds, seizures/repos and the bottom of the barrel rental cars post rental life which they get from auction. So its not that they aren't revealing its that they just plain old don't know. I'd get a carfax report on it and have a dealer pull up all of the past service records on it ... assuming the past owner had it dealer serviced while under warranty.

Is the car an automatic?

I get a noticeable drag with the ac on and you can definitely tell when it cycles but my sc still pulls hard and runs fine.

 

i guess the a/c compressors in these are just ____ty. feeling the a/c cycle seems to be a reoccurring comment im hearing. ive been told now by several people that this feeling is normal for 4 cyl cars. funny thing is none of the last 12 4 bangers had this issue.

my car is manual and the carfax was very detailed with all factory service records at the required intervals and was clean. but the car was purchased at an auction in NJ.

i just wish i new for sure what this was.

 

Sounds just like what you said ... ac cycling. The ac in the tC is not a strong point. If I was in your neck of the woods I'd swing by and let you compare my MT/SC/tC to yours.

 

this is normal mine does the same thing. the ac has a hard engaugenet at first cycle.

 

so no reason to worry? is there a fix for this at all other than yanking the a/c? is there a more efficient a/c compressor than can be swapped in that doesnt have the harsh engagement or quick cycle?

where are you at bluemeanie? maybe we can meet up on the weekend somewhere

 

^ I'm in St.Louis, Missouri. If you're ever in StL let me know.

 

Yeah my tc its kinda weird when i have my A/C on too so i dont think its to big of a deal.... my only does this a idle..