Why Does the Car Air Conditioning Compressor Keep Starting and Stopping Repeatedly?
2 Answers
Frequent start-stop cycling of the car air conditioning compressor indicates a compressor protection malfunction. The specific reasons are as follows: 1. Overheating protection: Prolonged operation due to insufficient refrigerant (system low on Freon); prolonged operation due to system blockage (ice blockage or dirt blockage); excessively high ambient temperature; damaged compressor overheating protection device. The compressor can restart once its temperature decreases. You can pour water on the compressor for rapid cooling, then investigate the cause of the protection trigger. 2. Overcooling protection: Extremely low ambient temperature (below -15°C). 3. Overcurrent protection: Damaged starter capacitor; prolonged operation due to excessive refrigerant charge; low voltage; compressor internal failure.
Last time I drove, the air conditioning compressor kept turning on and off, making the car noisy and not cool enough. Possible reasons include incorrect refrigerant charge, causing the compressor to cycle on and off due to system pressure changes; or the radiator being too dirty and blocking heat exchange, triggering the compressor when temperatures rise and stopping it when they drop; or the temperature sensor aging and inaccurately detecting temperature changes. Frequent compressor operation like this can lead to damage and increased fuel consumption. I recommend finding a good repair shop to check the pressure system and sensors as soon as possible, to avoid higher costs from prolonged neglect.
