1997 Chevy Lumina

CHEVY NEEDS HELP

MEMBER
1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA

Smells problem
1997 Chevy Lumina 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic

Hello,
I just bought a !997 Chevy Lumina from the US post office on Ebay. They said it ran well and was in great condition. Wrong. The check engine light went on the same day. I took it too a mechanic and he hooked it up to a tester, Then he said it came up with 2 things wrong that the Lumina doesn't have as parts. Huh? I didn't understand him so I asked if it would do damage to the car and he said no, it seemed like it was minor. I changed the fluids and made sure the car was up to level on the fluids. The check engine light continued to go on and off each day for the past week. Then it started to smell like raw gas every time I started the car or ran it for a short time. Yesterday I tried to start it and a couple of times it would not start right away. Today the volt light turned on and it started on fire in the alternator or air conditioning part. I'm not sure what the circular thing is. It is almost round with vents or open slots on it.
It was a tiny fire and we put it out with a little water. The car is now sitting in the driveway and I am desperate to fix this cheaply and quickly. I am sorry I trusted the Post office and the mechanic. What does this sound like and what should I do?
Please help, thanks.

1 Reply

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

HI there,

Thank you for the donation,

I think that you are describing the alternator, this will be damaged and will need to come off for repairers, as for the codes for phantom faults, I would like to know what the codes were, as the codes for faults are just about universal foe all cars only the systems are some times different and this will affect the repair procedure, can you get the codes re read and post (no pun intended) them here.

Mark (mhpautos)