intermittent a/c light blinking, lost power steering
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 22
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From: VA
intermittent a/c light blinking, lost power steering
I searched the forum but couldn't any problem similar to mine. When my 1998 sc300 car parked and idle, the a/c runs fine. But the a/c light starts blinking after about 10 minutes driving. I turned it off and on again. The a/c is blowing cold air but not for long until it's blinking again. What i don't find happened in other posts is that while the ac light is blinking, i completely lost power steering. I turn the ac off and power steering is back. I can turn the steering wheel very easily.
I check the ac code and it was 21. I read that it's the solar sensor problem. How do I check if the sensor is bad? Also, the fact that it only happens when the car is at high rpm makes me think that i might have slipped belt or ac clutch problem. Is it possible that my compressor is giving up? are the ac and power steering problems related or just a coincidence?
Thanks in advance for all your help
I check the ac code and it was 21. I read that it's the solar sensor problem. How do I check if the sensor is bad? Also, the fact that it only happens when the car is at high rpm makes me think that i might have slipped belt or ac clutch problem. Is it possible that my compressor is giving up? are the ac and power steering problems related or just a coincidence?
Thanks in advance for all your help
Ac compressor and Power steering...Belt slipping?
Tensioner is toast?
Can you move the belt tensioner by hand...Not with a wrench or bar. But grabbing it and pulling it up. If so..its shot.
I bet your voltage gets low when this happens too.
Tensioner is toast?
Can you move the belt tensioner by hand...Not with a wrench or bar. But grabbing it and pulling it up. If so..its shot.
I bet your voltage gets low when this happens too.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: VA
Where is the belt tensioner? Do you have picture or diagram of what belt to check? I'm not familiar with the car at all. I just have it for about a week. Yes now you mention it, i notice when the ac light is blinking, the battery light on the odometer panel is on too. What gives? Thanks again
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: VA
I just checked the belt tensioner. It seems to be OK, no movement at all. The belt tension is OK too although it looks old. Why is belt slipping cause compressor lock up AND lost power steering AND low voltage? is it because all those components (compressor + alternator + power steering pump) connect by one drive belt? Now that I check the engine, I notice that it looks like the alternator just got replaced recently, it still looks new.
Is it easy and cheap to replace the belt myself? I just want to eliminate all other possible causes before replacing the $$$ compressor. Thanks
Is it easy and cheap to replace the belt myself? I just want to eliminate all other possible causes before replacing the $$$ compressor. Thanks
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Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: VA
Today i replaced the belt and checked the alternator. the a/c light is still blinking at ~ 1500rpm. Is there anything else i can check before getting the compressor replaced. Could it be a/c clutch? Can you recommend a good place to buy ax compressor/clutch on line ?
Thanks
Thanks
Last edited by lbq; Jun 6, 2008 at 07:38 PM.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: VA
I ran the ac diagnostic this morning and the code was 00. I rev'ed the engine until the light blinked and turned off the car. Ran diagnostic again , code was 00 again. Any idea why?
