YACT: Weird car problem with an even weirder fix

[JEDI]

2002 Prizm, automatic, 50k miles

a few weeks ago my check engine light came on when i turned on the A/C. (turned on the A/C this season w/o problems till this.)

Now i get lousy gas milage (20% less), plus when i'm on cruise control, the car is jerking as if you're speeding up immediately, then letting go of the gas completely.)

so like anyone else, my 1st instinct is to open the hood and look for something loose/leaking. i open the air filter box, looks fine, and close it. Nothing else out of place. Start car. No more check engine light. Gas milage is normal again, and no more jerking motion when i have cruise control on.

A week later, i turn on the A/C and the check engine light turns on again. And again i get the same problems. And again, i open up the air filter box and close it. And again, the engine light go off and everything is fine.

I do this everytime i turn on the A/C. I get fed up and went to autozone. They say Error Code 1656. I look it up and it had something to do with the solenoid/oil control valve for my engine's variable valve timing (V V T).

I'm thinking it's a loose wire because when i open the air filter box, alot of stuff moves.

I check the Haynes manual, and it says the V VT stuff is on the passenger side of the engine compartment. the air filter box is on the driver side.

The fix that i found by accident: jiggled wires and made sure nothing is caught. pulled/push the acceleration and cruise control wires.

I've now driven with the A/C on for 1000+ miles since then and no prolems.

Now i'm really confused as I don't see a connection between the V VT, A/C, and air filter components. HOW DO THESE AFFECT EACH OTHER? And which one caused my problem???

THX

 

I am sorry but I cannot help you, because it is an intermittent problem and because it has to do with wiring and engine codes, the vehicle must be in front of me f to properly diagnose your problem, but remember that pulling on one wire (even though it may be on the other side of the engine compartment) may effect the entire electrical system.