[angelgalindez]

I bought a clean 97 Catera with only 39,000 miles about 5 weeks ago. The day I got it, it overheated on me (the a/c was on) and the radio went out whenever the car was on, but not when it was off... The dealer had the problem fixed for me, got it back to me the next day and said it was a wire to the radiator fan.

A few weeks go by and I take my car to the shop to get a few problems diagnosed (A/C, Temp controls, Cruise control). I was getting no cold air, and the air would flow only out of the front vents. It wouldn't switch between floor, windshield, and vents. Also the heat wouldn't come on...

The shop charges me for 4 hours labor and says the ac control head was unplugged. Refrigerant charge was low, and there was a leak at the compressor housing. He also said I should replace my alternator because the output was low @12.8 Volts and that the starter motor would not engage... He estimated me at $2,622.75.

I guess plugging in the "ac control head" was enough to get air flowing to the vents, floor, and windshield... and the heat works now too. I have ac for a little while since he recharged the system before finding a leak in the compressor housing.

I paid my $320 for 4 hours of labor and headed home to find a good deal on parts online and attempt the work myself since I just got a set of 97 Catera Shop Manuals. (this was yesterday 5/12/09)...

Today I get out to run some errands (I had the ac on) it was about 92 degrees today. After about 20 minutes of driving in about 92 degree heat my radio goes out and I hear a slight hiss coming from the fuse box area so I figure somehow I blew a fuse out of nowhere... Then I notice my temp gauge steady climbing so I headed home asap. I got home just as the temp light came on and it had just made it into the red zone. I park and noticed the orange anti-freeze pouring out the bottom. I couldn't get my hood open so I didn't see exactly where it was coming from but it was closer to the passenger side of the engine.

I finally get the hood open, the overflowing has stopped and I cant really tell where it game from... but while looking around I notice something unplugged. I get my shop manuals and find that its another water pump (electric) the one under the coolant tank. I didn't connect it back yet, engine too hot...

Now I'm starting to think that the dealer unplugged that ac control head and that water pump to prevent my car from overheating... Because before the mechanic plugged the ac control head back in I was driving around fine for about 4 weeks, no overheating, and radio was good.

Does anyone have any good advice on where I should start with this car? I really like the car and with only 39,000 miles I paid $5000. I thought I got a good deal. The car is really clean and drives great when not overheating... Sorry I made this so long. Any feedback is appreciated, thanks.