My '03 eclipse spyder with a 2.4L has 25,000 miles on it and for some reason when I sit and idle (which is at about 600 rpms) the a/c compressor clutch stops and the engine temp starts rising, but when i give it gas to about 1,000 rpms, the temp drops back down and the compressor clutch kicks back on. Any ideas anyone? Is it idling too low?

 

What does it idle at when the A/C is off? You might need to set the idle again. Also does you fan kick on when the temp rises or does it only rise a little bit (i.e. not into the hot zone of the gauge)?

Stuck in the desert with no car
Wil

 

What temp rises? The in car temp or engine temp? I'll have to look at the books again but if the water pump is driven off the AC belt then that would explain the temp rise... The AC lockin up and slowing/stopping the belt... But it doesn't sound right... Perhaps the condensor fan isn't kicking on...

 

The engine temp rises, and the condenser fan does kick on. When it is in park, the a/c clutch stays on and the engine temp stays normal. When I am sitting in a drive through or at a stop light for about 4 or 5 minutes straight the clutch stops and the engine temp gets way in to the hot zone on the gauge.

 

That's a weird one... I'll have to do some research and thinking on that. I'll get back to you if I find something usefull.

 

I figured it out, the tip of my upper radiator hose that goes to the engine had ruptured, it was a small slit at first and then got bigger. i figured out the only reason that the engine cooled off when i reved it above 2000 rpms was because it was only then that is was able to build up enough pressure in order to push the coolant from the radiator to the engine through the hose. I replaced the upper radiator hose and fixed the problem, cool a/c, and low engine temp now.