# 1990 Geo Prizm GSi sluggish acceleration

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1990-geo-prizm-gsi-sluggish-acceleration/17260>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** acceleration\
**Created:** [July 26, 2008, 10:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1990-geo-prizm-gsi-sluggish-acceleration/17260 "2008-07-26T22:46:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![harsuwind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d26b3c/32.png) [@harsuwind](https://community.cartalk.com/u/harsuwind)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 10:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1990-geo-prizm-gsi-sluggish-acceleration/17260/1 "2008-07-26T22:46:58Z")

</div>

Had a problem with rough idle but my mechanic fixed it. Overall, the car runs really well. The remaining issue is slow acceleration from a dead stop with the a/c on. The a/c was just recently repaired after years of not running right. I can’t remember if the car was always sluggish from a stop with the a/c on. Turn the a/c off and the car wants to burn rubber from a stop. Could it be that the rebuilt compressor is just to much for the engine to handle?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1990-geo-prizm-gsi-sluggish-acceleration/17260/2 "2008-07-26T22:53:27Z")

</div>

You’re not used to having the A/C operating again with that small engine. You have to realize that an A/C compressor can rob 5-10 HP from an engine when it’s operating. So that’s 5-10 HP that’s not being used to propel the vehicle down the road.

Tester

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jeffmw05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@Jeffmw05](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jeffmw05)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 3:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1990-geo-prizm-gsi-sluggish-acceleration/17260/3 "2008-07-27T03:53:46Z")

</div>

A/c will bog down an engine, any engine. It’s much more noticeable in older cars (especially 4 cyl). My 95 Prizm had the same issue. It’s just the price you pay when you run your a/c.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1990-geo-prizm-gsi-sluggish-acceleration/17260/4 "2008-07-27T19:10:03Z")

</div>

How bad does it get when you have just one passenger? scary.