New guy with a few questions...

[ttinsleyjr]

Well Ive been checking out this site for a few days now and Ive learned some good info about my 98 intrigue (3.8) Ive just purchased. Some things are still a little "unclear"....for instance

1. I bought the car and had it checked out by a mechanic I know and he said the intake gasket was bad. The seller got that fixed so I believe im ok with that but I also have a bad squeak on the passenger front side. Im pretty sure its a bearing so ill fix that no prob, but do I need to replace BOTH front or will the 1 be sufficient?

2. When the car is cold it is difficult to start up right away and when I fill the car up, sometimes i smell gas in the car and the other day it was dripping in my driveway. It seemed like alot but when I started the car it wasnt even 1/8 missing. What could that possibly be????

3. I also have the infamous heater/ac problem (heats/cools on 1 side only), what is the best way at going about fixing it? Im pretty handy just need the "knowhow" to get it done....

ANY HELP that ANYONE has to offer would be greatly appreciated....

[remark123]

The wheel bearing issue is simple. Replace the bearing when it gets noisy, and imo, you only need to replace the one that is failed, wait 'til the other one goes before replacing, unless you have $ to spend. HVAC issue is also simple, replacement of the controller is fairly easy, and you can usually find one at a JY fairly cheap, cheap fix to get by with is to pull the fuse and let the recirc door reset, this will often work, but it is not allways effective, and it usually malfunctions again. Gas odor after refueling is not good! You need to examine the entire fuel system, and check for leaks. Often it is related to the nylon lines under the hood and at the tie ins to the metal lines on firewall. I'd definetly be leery of a car that smelled like gas after fill-up, but it might just have something to do with the evap emission, check the vacumn line on the evap purge line under the dress cover on the fuel rail. take off the dress cover, and look to see if the vacumn line is attached to the purge solenoid, I've seen them come off, resulting in gas smell before...

[ttinsleyjr]

Hey thanks for the timely response... I thought it might be the lines under the hood but the leak is in the back of the car. What could that possibly mean?

[remark123]

Check the fuel filter, on the passenger side inboard of the wheel house. If some one botched up the replacement in the past, it's possible that they either a) twisted the fuel line while trying to undo the two nuts without using a wrench to hold both the filter and the fitting at the same time( likely), or b) the lines need to be tightened. If they are loose, make sure that you use two wrenches to tighten, or you will end up with a) above. If the fuel line is kinked (high possibility), you will have to cut the line and replace the end by using a flare took and inserting a repair section of line into the joint. This entails cutting enough of the existing line so that you can flare the end of it, and then buying a length of line with the proper fittings on it to extend the shortened line so that it will reach the filter. Some people have been know to put in a length of rubber hose in place of the old line, this is not really a very good fix. The fuel pressure here is about 40-60 psi, and unless you are very good (or very lucky), the rubber hose or the hose clamps will leak!
Another possibility is that you have some type of leak in the tank or the fuel sending unit/assembly. If the tank, you can use regular bar soap (the kind you use when taking a shower) to isolate it, (I know it sounds ridiculous, but it does work as a temporary fix). Just rub the bar of soap across the hole or suspected hole, if the smell goes away, you've found your leak. If it is a small hole, sometimes you can put a sheetmetal screw into the hole wiith a good nylon washer on it to seal it. (Just use common sense and only drive the screw with a hand driver NEVER use an electric drill/driver). If it is a bigger hole than that, you will probably have to pull and get the tank repaired. Check your local Yellow pages, usually radiator shops can do it for you.
I personally think that if it is from the back end, I'd start looking at the fuel filter fittins, and or the evaap lines running to the front of the car. I'm assuming that you cannot find any actual gasoline puddling under the car... Keep us posted, and don't smoke around the car until you know what it is! I know, just common sense right? No need to be on fire!!

[remark123]

Check the fuel filter, on the passenger side inboard of the wheel house (Or is it the driver side? I can't remember). If some one botched up the replacement in the past, it's possible that they either a) twisted the fuel line while trying to undo the two nuts without using a wrench to hold both the filter and the fitting at the same time( likely), or b) the lines need to be tightened. If they are loose, make sure that you use two wrenches to tighten one on the filter nut, and one on the line nut, or you will end up with a) above. If the fuel line is kinked (high possibility), you will have to cut the line and replace the end by using a flare took and inserting a repair section of line into the joint. This entails cutting enough of the existing line so that you can flare the end of it, and then buying a length of line with the proper fittings on it to extend the shortened line so that it will reach the filter. Some people have been know to put in a length of rubber hose in place of the old line, this is not really a very good fix. The fuel pressure here is about 40-60 psi, and unless you are very good (or very lucky), the rubber hose or the hose clamps will leak!
Another possibility is that you have some type of leak in the tank or the fuel sending unit/assembly, or the pipes themselves. If the tank, you can use regular bar soap (the kind you use when taking a shower) to isolate it, (I know it sounds ridiculous, but it does work as a temporary fix). Just rub the bar of soap across the hole or suspected hole, if the smell goes away, you've found your leak. If it is a small hole, sometimes you can put a sheetmetal screw into the hole with a good nylon washer on it to seal it. (Just use common sense and only drive the screw with a hand driver NEVER use an electric drill/driver). If it is a bigger hole than that, you will probably have to pull and get the tank repaired. Check your local Yellow pages, usually radiator shops can do it for you.
I personally think that if it is from the back end, I'd start looking at the fuel filter fittings, and or the evap lines running to the front of the car. I'm assuming that you cannot find any actual gasoline puddling under the car... Keep us posted, and don't smoke around the car until you know what it is! I know, just common sense right? No need to be on fire!!

[remark123]

Doggone, how the heck did I do that? Tried to edit and it double posted it... Crap!

[panzer dragoon]

the gas cap is used as a vent -loosen up the cap some and see if that helps (your gas cap vent doesn't work?)

[ttinsleyjr]

Thanks guys for the respond... Well I just replaced the fuel filter. Whoever replaced it before me didnt do so great and it was rusted up. So Ill let you know how that goes. Also, I took the car in for a 2nd opinion on the bearing. The mechanic said it looks fine and it sounds like a brake and rotor problem. What im wondering is would it squeal faster if I speed up or squeal slower when I slow down if its brakes and rotors?

[Jimmy Olsen]

Re: AC problem with hot side, cold the other. The solution may depend on which side is cold and which side is hot.

[ttinsleyjr]

fuel line pressure is finally where it should be. I just replaced it and gave it a few hours to make sure everything was fine....
About this crazy temp control, the drivers side is cold when ac is on(passenger is room temp). When the heat is on passenger is hot but drivers side is room temp. How can I fix this?

[remark123]

Squeal is most likely from the brakes, based on your description. Might just need pads, but unless the squeal is accompanied by pulsating brake pedal, just might get by with pads). If the wheel bearing was making noise, it would make a relatively constant noise, varying when you swing the wheel from one side to the other.
ATC might be the actuator motor as well, some one else out here will chime in...