Mom called me today , and said "my car is overheating " I went to check it out . I thought "thermastat or radiator cap " . My Dad called my Uncle to talk to him about it and he said "sounds like its the serpentine belt to me sence its not hard to stear . I replaced the belt , it was worn , bad enough , but not real bad like I have seen them before . But I think what happened is where some of the groves in the belt were pretty bad worn and maybe they weren't spinning the waterpump pully like it should have . I changed the belt and drove it home a good 7 miles and never overheated and never smoked-from being overheated ! ........I have a question for you guys also . Her airconditioner compressor is not coming on , the ac blows , just does not blow cold air . Will having no freon , or very low freon make the compressor not work ? I wouldn't think that it could but I just want to make sure on this guys . Thanx as always !

 

The back side of the belt spins the water pump, so worn teeth wouldn't affect it.

Yes, the compressor will not spin if freon is low or empty.

EDIT: Wait, we're not talking about the thirdgen are we? Then disregard the belt comment.

 

Opps , Sorry . Forgot to mention it's on an 89 3.1 grandprix ....2.8/3.1 pretty close engine ...lol ...wasn't thinking ....

I was telling Dad the coolant was real dirty when I checked it , it had some sorta baby $hit brown on part of the cap and around the hole in the radiator .I told Dad I am was going to flush it this weekend b/c of that . If the belt , the side with the grooves is not facing that way to spin the waterpump , what caused it to smoke like that ? then not smoke after I changed the belt ? Strange huh ?
Thanx for the help Dan

oh Dan , would the same thing be the case on Mom's 89 grand prix 3.1 with low or no freon causing the compressor not to spin ? Thanx man !

 

yes there is a switch that controls the clutch for the A/C compressor. If it reads no pressure/low pressure it will not engauge the A/C compressor to save it from melting.

 

On the A/C sometimes the pressure switches go bad, but not often . To check it : Pull the two prong plug off of the switch which should be located on the A/C filter drier . Use a jumper wire to connect the two spades on the wire. Turn on A/C . The compressor should come on , check to see if you have cold air coming out of the vents . If you dont , no freon or filter drier plugged up. If the air is cold than pressure switch is bad.
If the compressor doesnt come on at all than compressor clutch is bad or a cut in the wire.

As Far as the coolant . If it has DEX-COOL ( the orange stuff ) than the baby crap looking stuff is normal. If it the green anti freeze it may have water pump lube additive in it.