Car diagnostic and repair thread

[Uncle Ted]

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 case you are having thoughts about fixing this yourself I'll let my friend, Mr. Toaster, explain how all this this all works and how do a diagnostic...

[YOUTUBE]IzfR84T6pBY[/YOUTUBE]

I am guessing that vent value is full of dirt, especially if your wife has been doing a bit of off-roading in this car, and needs to be replaced.

[FMCoug]

Okay this isn't funny anymore.

So I replaced the MAF sensor on the Yukon last night. Drove it to work today in SLC to make sure all was well. No codes, no limp mode, happy as a clam.

About an hour after I got here, someone comes by looking for me and tells me my antifreeze is all over the parking lot. I go out there and it looks like it must be ALL of it.

Don't see a broken hose or anything ... almost seems like it came out of the surge tank ... but there is a ton.

I'm thinking I can get a ride to go get some coolant, refill it, and drive it back down to UC to a shop ...

[Maximus]

Okay this isn't funny anymore.

So I replaced the MAF sensor on the Yukon last night. Drove it to work today in SLC to make sure all was well. No codes, no limp mode, happy as a clam.

About an hour after I got here, someone comes by looking for me and tells me my antifreeze is all over the parking lot. I go out there and it looks like it must be ALL of it.

Don't see a broken hose or anything ... almost seems like it came out of the surge tank ... but there is a ton.

I'm thinking I can get a ride to go get some coolant, refill it, and drive it back down to UC to a shop ...

why cant you just take it to somewhere around you?

[FMCoug]

why cant you just take it to somewhere around you?

Because I live down there and don't know a shop up here (I'm in downtown SLC). Not to mention transportation issues. Actually as I got thinking about it, I'm going to take it home and replace the radiator cap and thermostat (both easy) before I take it to a shop. It really looks like it is all from the overflow, not a leak. It's blazing hot today so that could make sense if there is a pressure problem or a bad thermostat.

[Clark Addison]

I drove my car for the first time in about 10 days today, after it had been sitting outside in pretty hot weather (probably not relevant but thought I'd mention it just in case). I've never had any problems with the A/C. I start it, turn on the A/C, and it works well for about 5 miles. Then I am stopped at a light, and it pretty suddenly stops blowing cold air. Went from being almost too cold to blowing 95 degree air in the matter of 2 minutes. I drove an uncomfortable 40 minutes after that, and the air never got cooler.

When I got home, I checked the fuse, which looked fine, and thus exhausted my ideas.

Any thoughts on a possible easy fix before I take it in? I assume that it isn't a coolant leak, because of the sudden change, but what do I know.

[Sullyute]

I would guess that it is your condenser .

[Commando]

or your A/C pulley could be busted

[Lost Student]

I drove my car for the first time in about 10 days today, after it had been sitting outside in pretty hot weather (probably not relevant but thought I'd mention it just in case). I've never had any problems with the A/C. I start it, turn on the A/C, and it works well for about 5 miles. Then I am stopped at a light, and it pretty suddenly stops blowing cold air. Went from being almost too cold to blowing 95 degree air in the matter of 2 minutes. I drove an uncomfortable 40 minutes after that, and the air never got cooler.

When I got home, I checked the fuse, which looked fine, and thus exhausted my ideas.

Any thoughts on a possible easy fix before I take it in? I assume that it isn't a coolant leak, because of the sudden change, but what do I know.

Do you have any unresolved sins in your life? It may not be your A/C that is making you feel uncomfortable. Just a thought.

[Clark Addison]

I would guess that it is your condenser .

Would the condenser go out all at once like that?

This car is a 2010, FWIW, so not all that old.

[Sullyute]

Would the condenser go out all at once like that?

This car is a 2010, FWIW, so not all that old.

There are only so many parts to an A/C unit: the refrigerant, the condenser, the belt, the fan, and the hoses. The fan seems to work, just blows hot air. You didn't seem to see any missing or shreaded belt. Generally you can feel a small load on the engine when you first turn on the A/C. This is the condenser. If you turn on the A/C and don't notice a slight initial loan or dip in RPM's then I would guess that it was the condessor. If you do feel the slight loan on the engine and it is still not cold then you might have a leak and all the refrigerant is gone. Those are just my guesses.

[Moliere]

Would the condenser go out all at once like that?

This car is a 2010, FWIW, so not all that old.

Make and model?

[Clark Addison]

Make and model?

I think you want that to judge me, not to diagnose my car issues!

Acura TSX

Flame away!!

[Joe Public]

Johnson rod

[old_gregg]

if you drive for a while with the ac off, and then turn it on, does it blow cold?

[Clark Addison]

if you drive for a while with the ac off, and then turn it on, does it blow cold?

Tried turning it off, but only for a couple of minutes. When I turned it back on, it was no better. I'll experiment more tomorrow.