How to Solve the Problem of Car Compressor Starting and Stopping Intermittently?

[Harley]

Here are the solutions for the issue of car compressor starting and stopping intermittently: 1. Check if the car air conditioning's energy-saving mode is activated. 2. High exhaust pressure and low suction pressure. Moisture in the system may cause pipe blockage leading to icing. Use high-pressure nitrogen to flush the pipes for repair. 3. Check the remaining amount of refrigerant. The amount of refrigerant determines the system pressure, and abnormal pressure can cause frequent starting and stopping of the compressor. 4. Appropriately increase the limit value of the high-pressure relay and decrease the limit value of the low-pressure relay. If the limit values for high and low pressure are set too high, the relay will automatically disconnect and stop working when the voltage slightly exceeds the limit.

[Regina]

Last time I drove my old Accord, I had the same issue where the AC compressor kept cycling on and off like a fan. Don’t panic yet—there are usually three common causes: First, the AC radiator might be too dirty. After parking, squat down and check the mesh condenser in front of the radiator at the front of the car. If it’s clogged with willow catkins or dead bugs, dousing it with cold water can provide immediate relief—I just cleaned mine last month. Second, the refrigerant pressure might be off—either there’s a leak causing low pressure or it’s overfilled, triggering high-pressure protection. I remember once a roadside shop messed up the refrigerant refill and caused this exact issue—it only settled down after I went to the dealership for a vacuum purge and proper refill. Third, the temperature sensor might be faulty, especially if the one at the vent is malfunctioning, making the system think it’s cold enough and shutting off randomly. If you’re troubleshooting yourself, start by cleaning the condenser and ventilating the car with windows down for half an hour to cool it down thoroughly. If that doesn’t work, just head straight to the repair shop.