# Car sputters when a/c is first turned on

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-sputters-when-a-c-is-first-turned-on/5508>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [October 5, 2007, 2:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-sputters-when-a-c-is-first-turned-on/5508 "2007-10-05T14:30:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![gidget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gidget](https://community.cartalk.com/u/gidget)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 2:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-sputters-when-a-c-is-first-turned-on/5508/1 "2007-10-05T14:30:27Z")

</div>

I have a 2000 Chevrolet Prizm with 107,599 miles. This happens after the car sits overnight or for a long period of time. WHen I start the car, if I turn on the a/c before I put the car in gear and hit the gas, when I do hit the gas, the car acts like it wants to die. If i wait a minute, it does not do that. What is going on?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![researcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/edb3f5/32.png) [@researcher](https://community.cartalk.com/u/researcher)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2007, 6:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-sputters-when-a-c-is-first-turned-on/5508/2 "2007-10-05T18:05:35Z")

</div>

Possibly your Idle Air Control valve is getting sticky. Have the throttle body cleaned with emphasis placed on the IAC valve and passage.