Car diagnostic and repair thread

[Maximus]

One of my parents car is making a weird noise when the condenser fan comes on only if the AC is turned on. Video below, what do you think? Also, if the car is in park, how often should those fans come on. Noise starts at 8 seconds


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PTQJ...ature=youtu.be

[mtnbiker]

One of my parents car is making a weird noise when the condenser fan comes on only if the AC is turned on. Video below, what do you think? Also, if the car is in park, how often should those fans come on. Noise starts at 8 seconds


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PTQJ...ature=youtu.be

Open the hood and listen for it. Hard to diagnose from inside the car. Could be the condenser itself, fan motor, or fan blade itself. I had a similar situation a couple months ago - there was a weird grinding sound when the condenser fan came on, but once I popped the hood and looked at it while it happened, it was just the fan. Much cheaper fix than the condenser.

[Maximus]

Open the hood and listen for it. Hard to diagnose from inside the car. Could be the condenser itself, fan motor, or fan blade itself. I had a similar situation a couple months ago - there was a weird grinding sound when the condenser fan came on, but once I popped the hood and looked at it while it happened, it was just the fan. Much cheaper fix than the condenser.

I hear it much better inside the car it seems. Ill try it.

[Moliere]

Your car sounds haunted. I'd bless it and then see if the sound persists.

[old_gregg]

sounds like a turbofan spooling up

[Maximus]

sounds like a turbofan spooling up

Well when listening under the hood I noticed a few things.

1. It probably has a coolant leak

2. The radiator fan is pretty loud (ill post video)

3. I didn't notice a specific noise when the air condenser fan turned on that I noticed when inside the car. Maybe because #2 was so loud.

[Maximus]

video:
[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1fJTEjb0pc"]VIDEO0007 - YouTube[/nomedia]

[mtnbiker]

Sounds like time to visit your favorite shop. I couldn't tell any periodic noise in the engine bay other than the cooling fan. I couldn't tell when the AC condenser fan went on. Do you get any cold air out of it? Is the AC system fully charged? Did you get any funny sounds from the condenser itself? I take it the interior fan works?

[Y84it]

If anyone needs help fixing a car contact me I work for a Software Tech company that provides information on any car truck sports car etc. Including step by step testing procedures.

[U-Ute]

I think your flux capacitor needs recalibrating.

[Donuthole]

While my wife was traveling from Vegas to St. George today, the check engine light came on in our 05 Kia Sedona. She called me and I assured her that if the car was driving fine, i.e. not overheating, engine grinding, transmission slipping, etc. then she would be fine driving to St. George to have it checked out. I also told her to check the gas cap when she got to St. George, as that is commonly the culprit for check engine lights.

She made it to St. George, and when she opened the gas cap to re-tighten it, gasoline shot from the tank out "about 3 feet". A (very) cursory google search by me didn't turn up any definitive answers. Is this something to be concerned about? I will add that it is extremely hot in LV today (109) and there was probably 1000' in elevation change heading to St. George? Would those two factors alone cause this, or is there something screwy with the van?

Any thoughts?

[PaloAltoCougar]

While my wife was traveling from Vegas to St. George today, the check engine light came on in our 05 Kia Sedona. She called me and I assured her that if the car was driving fine, i.e. not overheating, engine grinding, transmission slipping, etc. then she would be fine driving to St. George to have it checked out. I also told her to check the gas cap when she got to St. George, as that is commonly the culprit for check engine lights.

She made it to St. George, and when she opened the gas cap to re-tighten it, gasoline shot from the tank out "about 3 feet". A (very) cursory google search by me didn't turn up any definitive answers. Is this something to be concerned about? I will add that it is extremely hot in LV today (109) and there was probably 1000' in elevation change heading to St. George? Would those two factors alone cause this, or is there something screwy with the van?

Any thoughts?

My first thought was that your car may need an exorcist (projectile vomiting and all, coupled with FM's similar experiences in the same geographic area), but I'm not a mechanic so wait for someone with better automotive knowledge. Good luck.

[Uncle Ted]

While my wife was traveling from Vegas to St. George today, the check engine light came on in our 05 Kia Sedona. She called me and I assured her that if the car was driving fine, i.e. not overheating, engine grinding, transmission slipping, etc. then she would be fine driving to St. George to have it checked out. I also told her to check the gas cap when she got to St. George, as that is commonly the culprit for check engine lights.

She made it to St. George, and when she opened the gas cap to re-tighten it, gasoline shot from the tank out "about 3 feet". A (very) cursory google search by me didn't turn up any definitive answers. Is this something to be concerned about? I will add that it is extremely hot in LV today (109) and there was probably 1000' in elevation change heading to St. George? Would those two factors alone cause this, or is there something screwy with the van?

Any thoughts?

I seem to recall that most cars have a vent line with a check valve that should prevent that. Maybe the check value or line is blocked?

In any case, places like Auto Zone will read the diagnostic code from the car's computer for free when your engine check light comes on. I would suggest if there is an Auto Zone near by that she drive it over and see what the computer says the problem is.

[FMCoug]

I seem to recall that most cars have a vent line with a check valve that should prevent that. Maybe the check value or line is blocked?

In any case, places like Auto Zone will read the diagnostic code from the car's computer for free when your engine check light comes on. I would suggest if there is an Auto Zone near by that she drive it over and see what the computer says the problem is.

I concur except that in St. George, go to O'Reilly, not the asshats at AutoZone. I arrived there yesterday about 5 minutes after they closed. I explained my situation and they "had to leave ... sorry man. There is a 24/7 AutoZone in SLC I'm sure". Dicks.

O'Reilly was open a half hour longer. I called and the guy offered to wait for me. Night and Day.

I've always preferred O'Reilly over AutoZone but this confirms all. I won't be shopping there at all from now on.

[FMCoug]

My first thought was that your car may need an exorcist (projectile vomiting and all, coupled with FM's similar experiences in the same geographic area), but I'm not a mechanic so wait for someone with better automotive knowledge. Good luck.

This is more than likely the case. My kids pointed out that it was Sunday and after having our Sunday brunch at the Mandalay Bay, before heading out, Mrs. FM and the girls went shopping and I gambled, rather than going to Church, etc. Then we had the car issue.

So I probably brought my evil spirits with me and left some behind along the road.