Currently driving a 98 Pontiac Sunfire with a 2200 with an automatic transmission thats just rolled over 150000 miles.

But the car is starting to have problems, and im entirely willing to fix them but I'm no mechanic.

The car has been running hotter than usual lately, and the air conditioning just basically quit working (blowers are operational, coldness is not), and the oil light comes on only when im idling or slowing down, but when i apply gas it goe away (and this only happens when the car is running hot - which it only does once in awhile, but it is getting to be a more active thing)

So I'm looking to get the oil light/air conditioning conundrum fixed, but my car has been running so sluggish lately and I noticed a slight decrease in MPG.

-I am replacing the OEM exhaust, I have a 2.25 magnaflow catalytic converter, 2.25 flowmaster muffler, and a magnaflow exhaust tip ready to be put on (dude at the shop said 80 bucks but the tubing wouldn't be mandrel bent---cant find mandrel bent tubing anywhere for a decent price)

-I plan on doing a complete tune-up, and by that I mean, every single little bolt that could be tighened all the way to changing the oil and spark plugs. Funny thing is, as I said I am no mechanic, so a "whats needs tuned up" list would come in so handy!

First that oil light is the sign of a major issue i would look into that right away. I'm no expert on the OHV so someone with more experience on this engine chime in but oil pump

As far as tune up items its a pretty nice list of stuff.. Oil and filter change is obvious, spark plugs and wires, fuel filter, air filter, I'd do a coolant flush while your at it, run seafoam thru it as well both thru a vacuum line and thru the fuel tank (do this before you swap plugs and do the oil change as this will can foul plugs and clean a lot of crap into your oil)... I'm sure I'm forgetting stuff but you get the idea.

I'd start with why the oil light is on, is the oil full?




- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new

Yes the oil is full, the oil pressure is fine...My friend thinks the sensor that senses oil pressure may be starting to kick it actually.

So I need to run Seafoam through the vacuum line, fuel tank (does this matter if it has gas in it?), and through my coolant resevoirs after I do a coolant flush? I have no clue how to do this, so I guess I should start looking.

Then change the oil, fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs/wires

Also- someone mentioned there is a way to manually check your Free-On, does anyone know how?

I have no idea how to check the freon level "manually" but I do know how to check if you have any freon illegally . lol. anyways, The best and cheapest way to check your freon is to go to wal-mart and buy a can of freon with fluorescent gauge dye and a one sided gauge. The one sided gauge is not the most accurate, but will give you an idea on how low you are. Most likely your going to be low so fill her up. If it does leak out again, then that's where the dye comes in. Use a black light and find your leak. I personally would also get a can with "stop leak" just in case it is a small leak, but most likely it's your compressor's main seal... since the v5 compressor loves to blow it... (I'm on my third one) anyways good luck.

Also... no such thing as gauge dye... My phone decided to put an extra word in there. just fluorescent dye. Also turn your car on and AC to full blast when checking or filling with freon. To fill, just shake the can side to side and let it fill up. Just keep checking the gauge and don't over fill. Also never turn the can upside down... just trust me. I have never done it... but know idiots that have.

Freelancer1988 wrote:Also... no such thing as gauge dye... My phone decided to put an extra word in there. just fluorescent dye. Also turn your car on and AC to full blast when checking or filling with freon. To fill, just shake the can side to side and let it fill up. Just keep checking the gauge and don't over fill. Also never turn the can upside down... just trust me. I have never done it... but know idiots that have.

Sounds about right.. The best way to check the freon level would be manifold gauges but not everybody has access to them (a good MAC set is over $400) Also I wouldn't ever use a walmart can to fill my A/C though. I just don't trust it. And what about having the can upside down? I have never heard anyone say that is bad, and when I fill systems from a keg we always flip em so the valve is down..


If you do get a can like that make sure it has oil added, if your system is low likely you'd need some in there otherwise your compressor might start hating life and say bye bye. Have you verified that your compressor is even running? If it is low on freon (some leak most likely) your low pressure saftey switch would (should) stop the compressor from engaging. Could also have an issue with the expansion valve/condensor/accumulator but its hard to tell without being there to inspect it.

And there is kindof a procedure to sea foaming through vaccum ports... I don't really want to type it all out, (you might search for it) but the general idea is half the can goes into the fuel tank to be run through the system, the rest is poured SLOWLY through a vaccum hose (brake booster line works well) pour it so that it "chokes" the engine but not so much that you kill it. This will clean valves ports etc.. There may be more points to cover in that procedure but i'm unsure. going from memory of a post like two years ago on bstuff

^^^^^Yes thats pretty much how you do it.. I read your post though and DO NOT put it in your coolant system it is not meant for that. But with your gas tank at a 1/4 tank pour half the can in there. Then run the rest thru a vacuum line like Jordan said the brake booster line works well the engine will want to die so keep your idle up to keep it from dieing and just be paitient with sucking up the rest of the seafoam.. Oh by the way doing this will produce a very good amount of smoke out of the tailpipe this is normal and do not be alarmed.

I have been told it could boost the freon pressure and maybe blow a seal if you turn the can upside down. I am still playing it safe just in case. It might be okay... but still...

Freelancer1988 wrote:I have been told it could boost the freon pressure and maybe blow a seal if you turn the can upside down. I am still playing it safe just in case. It might be okay... but still...

I've never heard of freon blowing a seal while putting it into the system. The simple fact is the freon is being sucked from the can on the low pressure side of the compressor, the pressure in the system is being built by the compressor, if a seal were to blow it would be because of no oil or otherwise, that might be it.. if the can has a tube down the center the oil would be in liquid form at all times and have to be upright to get sucked in.. Just an idea, and it never hurts to play it safe I guess.

That is another reason I hate using a can over a set of manifold gauges and a keg, you can't monitor high and low side pressure, and also cant diagnose other issues that may be occurring in the system.

I totally agree with you Jordan, I really do. I may of course be wrong. Manifold gauges are nice to have... or having nice neighbors with it

They are nice, I have yet to buy my own set.. its hard enough to buy just the basic tools need to be a mechanic anymore... I'm going to school for diesel mechanics, and they require a full set of tools to use in the shop... I have many of my own already ( stole from dad lol ) Snap on and Mac end wrenches are over 100 sometimes 200 for one set.. its crazy. And that is why I shop at harbor freight and sears lol

Back to the A/C... I looked back in my A/C book... The way you have the can flipped (usually) is the difference between injecting your system with freon gas or liquid freon. I have already forgotten which is which though.

Yeah. I have a pretty complete set of tools. Some tools were my fathers, but most were bought, but not at the same time. About six years of collecting, but nothing matches. lol.

Back on subject as well... Jermey... Uhhh... keep us updated