My 95 got messed up by the tech doing the Georgia emmissions test. At first it was a little coolant leak (never had leaked before), and now my car doesn't seem to want to start. I don't work on cars myself, so I hope some of you guys can point me in the right direction with some knowledge.

1) Where exactly is the waterpump and optispark? Would coolant leaking on the opti cause it to not start. I get all the gauges and lights but only a clicking sound when I turn the key now.

2) Would such a clicking sound (and slight dimming of the dashboard
lights) indicate that perhaps my non-use of the car since this problem arose that my battery might be going bad?

3) I opened up the coolant cap and it was dry as a bone. It says to check the coolant level in the overflow tank, so is this normal after not having driven the car for 5 days?

4) The coolant cap is located on top of a blackish plastic tank. I reached my fingers inside and pulled out what can be described as green sludge. So, should I have my cooling system flushed at the same time I have the repairs done, and will most flushing systems offered by a good mechanic address sludge at this point of my system or do I need to do something else to insure a clean system afterwards?

5) Finally, I might need to jump my car to drive it to a mechanic. Is there any special things I need to watch out for so that I don't do any further damage to the car?

I know that I have asked a lot but I am really down in the dumps about all of this. It's been 3 years since I bought this car on E-bay and I hadn't had one single problem since, now everything seems messed up.

Thanks so much for your assistance.

 

My 95 got messed up by the tech doing the Georgia emmissions test. At first it was a little coolant leak (never had leaked before), and now my car doesn't seem to want to start. I don't work on cars myself, so I hope some of you guys can point me in the right direction with some knowledge.

1) Where exactly is the waterpump and optispark? Would coolant leaking on the opti cause it to not start. I get all the gauges and lights but only a clicking sound when I turn the key now.

The opti and water pump are on the front of the engine. Coolant leaks can kill the Opti.

2) Would such a clicking sound (and slight dimming of the dashboard
lights) indicate that perhaps my non-use of the car since this problem arose that my battery might be going bad?

YES

3) I opened up the coolant cap and it was dry as a bone. It says to check the coolant level in the overflow tank, so is this normal after not having driven the car for 5 days?

NO

4) The coolant cap is located on top of a blackish plastic tank. I reached my fingers inside and pulled out what can be described as green sludge. So, should I have my cooling system flushed at the same time I have the repairs done, and will most flushing systems offered by a good mechanic address sludge at this point of my system or do I need to do something else to insure a clean system afterwards?

Your car came with the orange coolant (Dexcool). Looks like someone mixed in the green stuff without flushing, which will cause the sludge. It will require a thorough flushing.

5) Finally, I might need to jump my car to drive it to a mechanic. Is there any special things I need to watch out for so that I don't do any further damage to the car?

It can be jumped but a charger is better.


xxxxxx

 

thank you MK 82.

It's kind of ironic that my emmissions test has brought all of these issues to the table. I had planned on having the coolant system totally flushed when spring came just so that I would have a point of reference and some confidence knowing when the coolant had been added. Now, maybe I am going to have to do much more. Thanks again.