My Car Needs Help!

[NorthernSHO]

Ok after spending many thousands of dollars on trying to fix my car up it continues to fall apart before my eyes. The body and interior are perfect but mechanically I keep on having problems. My airconditioner stoped working last week. It was blowing cold and then all the sudden stopped. Along with that when I first start up my car now there is a loud squealing that comes from the engine bay after about 30 seconds it goes away. My car also sometimes decides not to idle correctly and sometimes stalls when first starting it. I have also noticed my car is going through engine coolant at an alarming rate. It looks as though it is leaking from the bottom of the radiator. Any suggestions on what this all means and how much this is going to cost me would be of benefit.

Thanks,

Brett

 

[sdpatt]

Check the pulleys for the source of the squeal. Is your car an ATX or MTX? What year? Seen the CHECK ENGINE light lately?

Either one of the accessory belt pulleys is not turing easily (bad bearing, damaged accessory) or your belt(s) is incredibly loose. If it is an MTX, press on the A/C belt between the alternator and the idler pulley. You should not be able to deflect it more than about 1/4". You will need to loosen the 14mm nut on the tensioner pulley and turn the 5mm Allen screw clockwise to tension the belt.

Does the A/C compressor clutch engage? Does the compressor turn when it does? If the clutch isn't engaging, then either the cycling switch is malfunctioning or the refrigerant pressure is too low for the switch to allow the compressor to engage. There are things we can't check across the internet.

 

[NorthernSHO]

Hey Sdpatt thanks for the quick response. My car is a 94 ATX. The check engine light has not been on but my battery light has been coming on when driving around town. I just figured that was my altenator going again. I'm guessing that my A/C compressor is gone bad and that is what is causing the squealing when I first start up (bearing not turning well). The accesory belt on my car is only about a year old.

My A/C compressor does not engage at all anymore. I was driving along last week and it was blowing cold and then all the sudden it stopped. I was hoping it just needed a top up but I'm starting to fear the worst. I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to be able to afford this car. I love driving it so much but it seems that I can never keep up with the maintainence it needs. Thanks again for your help! Let me know if you have any more suggestions.

Brett

 

[Mike Kopstain]

Tighten that belt. Especially of you are getting the battery light. That belt is slipping over the pulleys. Your problem could be as simple as the belt slipping over the A/C pulley, which by now would have glazed it anyhow. Get a new belt, tighten it, and the squealing and bat light should be gone.

 

[naval-avi8or]

If what he said doesn't stop the batt light. Does the batt light only come on during high loads such as when the A/C compresor kicks on. If so it may just be weak. And you will definatly want to get it fixed so it doesn't **** your bat as well.

 

[NorthernSHO]

It only comes on when driving slowly around town. It does seem to come on more often when my headlights are on and my radio is going which leads me to believe my altenator is bad. I will check the belt though also to see if that is the cause of my problem...I hope it is!

naval-avi8or:
If what he said doesn't stop the batt light. Does the batt light only come on during high loads such as when the A/C compresor kicks on. If so it may just be weak. And you will definatly want to get it fixed so it doesn't **** your bat as well.