1996 Ford Aspire Owner's Manual - Page 78

Sometimes you may notice slight engine surging if you have the air conditioner on. This is normal, as the system is designed to cycle the compressor on and off to maintain desired cooling. The reduced compressor operation should benefit fuel economy. On some vehicles with air conditioning, wide-open throttle acceleration will temporarily cut off the air conditioning. Since the air conditioner removes a lot of moisture from the air during operation, it is normal for water to drip on the pavement under the air conditioner drain after you have stopped the vehicle. Engine Idle Speed Control System Genuine Ford air conditioning (either factory-installed or dealer-installed) has an engine idle speed control system that compensates for engine speed loss that may occur when the air conditioning compressor is running. This idle speed control holds the engine idle essentially constant, regardless of whether the air conditioning system is on or off. If an aftermarket air conditioner is installed, an engine idle speed control system must be installed. Otherwise, the engine may not operate satisfactorily at idle speed and low engine speed, or the engine may stall. 76