I'm fed up and I took action - pic

[bigrobrn]

I had enough and took action. My investment gassaver. My 1996 Geo Metro 5 speed 4 door sedan. It needed a new motor along with a radical tune-up.

It's looking like I'll average 40mpg in the city which is where I do 95% of my driving. I'm trying to burn a few tanks of premium through it along with some Techron fuel concentrate to clean things up a bit, then I'll change the fuel filter and see if regular unleaded will not cause the detonation I was experiencing.

It drives wonderful. No a/c or p/s, but what the heck.

[Jay2TheRescue]

NO a/c??? I don't use mine that often, but when I want a/c it better be there and working. I won't even look at a vehicle unless it has a/c

-Jay

[BEEF]

is that the 3cyl or the 4?

they may not have used the 3 in the sedans. I have had two metros they are awesome cars.

[Ford Man]

My '88 Escort doesn't have a/c either, you'll be looking at a lot of hot summer days ahead, but like me you'll survive. Could be worse and not have heat in the winter. That Geo is a good looking car though.

[bigrobrn]

Its the 1.3L 4cylinder.
As far as the a/c goes, I could get it fixed, and probably will. Yes it will be a hot summer.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by bigrobrn

Its the 1.3L 4cylinder.
As far as the a/c goes, I could get it fixed, and probably will. Yes it will be a hot summer.

Years ago I had a 1981 AMC Spirit with no a/c and vinyl seats - "The Grey Ghost" It was purchased new by my grandmother and only used for her 10 minute commute to work. She lived in Connecticut so the summers were not as bad as they are here in VA. Also her logic was that she'd be home before it really started cooling anyway. Man I sweat it driving that car. I used to beg my mom to let me take her old station wagon on really hot days. Eventually my sister took the AMC and I was left with the station wagon, as nobody else in the family would drive it. At least I had ice cold air conditioning, and a full size wagon was affordable to drive for a 16 year old when gas was $0.85/gallon.

-Jay

[bigD]

i heard of a ice vest, not sure where to buy or price, but basically it allows u to b in hot temps and feel cool. would b good to use on hot summer days so u can keep ur windows closed :P

[JanGeo]

Check your timing and don't use lighter than recommended engine oil. Also make sure you get some cold air into the engine as hot air will increase knock in the summer time at least. Guess I should have had my 1 liter pulled out of my Metro at the junkyard - probably crushed by now used to get over 50 all the time.

[mini-e]

Originally Posted by bigD

i heard of a ice vest, not sure where to buy or price, but basically it allows u to b in hot temps and feel cool. would b good to use on hot summer days so u can keep ur windows closed :P

I was thinking of getting my no A/C civic tinted as good film blocks UV and heat..

http://www.glassessential.com/Window...w-Tinting.html

[VetteOwner]

yes tint and those window shades help ALOT(cardboard accordion folded things , best are the very shiney foam ones)

i know the pain of hot days + no ac+ vynal seats, my chevette has em. i usualyl just drape a beach towel over the seat before i leave...

my s-10 came without AC too its got cloth seats and 5% tint on the back window. also i park it so the backs to the sun.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by mini-e

I was thinking of getting my no A/C civic tinted as good film blocks UV and heat..

http://www.glassessential.com/Window...w-Tinting.html

I can't remember if it was Brookstone, or Sharper Image that sold the "Personal a/c Units" It was a battery operated collar that got cold, and cooled you off because it cooled the blood in your carotid artery. I couldn't find it, but I did find this on Brookstone's website: Heated & Cooled seat covers.

http://www.brookstone.com/store/prod...er&prodtemp=t1

[white90crxhf]

ive driven the last 4 summers without ac in southern virginia. It wasnt a problem, you get used to the heat.

[bigrobrn]

Originally Posted by JanGeo

Check your timing and don't use lighter than recommended engine oil. Also make sure you get some cold air into the engine as hot air will increase knock in the summer time at least. Guess I should have had my 1 liter pulled out of my Metro at the junkyard - probably crushed by now used to get over 50 all the time.

I'm not sure how to check my timing, but the engine is new and professionally installed with a new timing belt. It has a 1 yr warranty and is running perfect. The OM states to use 5w-30 and that's what I just put in it during my 1st break-in oil change. I may switch to 10w-30 since the summer is here.

Any secrets to getting some more cold air into the engine?

[JoeBob]

Stay with the 5w30. You'll use less gas with the lighter oil. Also less heat. My '91 does just fine with Wal-Mart synthetic 5w-30...with 172k miles I get about 2k miles per quart.

[mrmad]

My HF didn't come with AC, but a member here removed the AC from his CRX and I bought all the parts. It was a bit of work, but I got it in there and it is working. I mainly use it to cool the car off for a few minutes after it's been sitting in the sun and then shut it off, but that makes a huge difference in 105 degree heat.

[atomicradish]

My Galant didn't have working air when I got it, but luckily it is fixed now. Some people here can go without a/c, and that's fine. I just got tired of going to meet friends for dinner dripping wet from sweating so much and my shirts always being wrinkled in the back.

The Geo looks great. Be warned though, the sedans do not get as great of fuel economy as the earlier model hatchbacks. They have a bigger motor in them. FE is still pretty good though.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by bigrobrn

I'm not sure how to check my timing, but the engine is new and professionally installed with a new timing belt. It has a 1 yr warranty and is running perfect. The OM states to use 5w-30 and that's what I just put in it during my 1st break-in oil change. I may switch to 10w-30 since the summer is here.

Any secrets to getting some more cold air into the engine?

If your owners manual says 5W30, don't put 10W30 in it. You may damage your bearings. If anything you may want to try a 0W30. 10W30 is old skool, for engines with tolerances that were not built to the tighter tolerances that engines are built to today. My recommendation is that if the manual says 5W30, use that. Don't switch.

[JanGeo]

If the engine was never timed it may be off or tuned to run strong but knock a lot - my 3 cylinder pulled great at low RPM but was in a state of constant slight knock at highway speeds on hot days. Usually there is a couple of knotches in the pulley or in my Geo's case on the flywheel that you viewed through a plug on top of the bell housing when you ran a timing light off plug#1. Easy way to adjust it is to make sure you can loosen the distributor bolts but before you do that mark the flange that is at the engine with a good scratch or paint mark so you know where the alignment was to start. Then loosen it up and either lightly tap it with a hammer or rotate it by hand a hair counterclockwise (? I think) to see if the idle drops a little which would indicate a slight retarding. Then drive it and see. By a hair I mean if you scratch it with a screwdriver then move it so the line on the distributor base just moves next to the scratch on the block.

Yeah keep with the 5w30 like a Castrol synthetic blend or full. I ran my for 90k miles with really long oil change intervals and didn't have any oil problems.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by JanGeo

If the engine was never timed it may be off or tuned to run strong but knock a lot - my 3 cylinder pulled great at low RPM but was in a state of constant slight knock at highway speeds on hot days. Usually there is a couple of knotches in the pulley or in my Geo's case on the flywheel that you viewed through a plug on top of the bell housing when you ran a timing light off plug#1. Easy way to adjust it is to make sure you can loosen the distributor bolts but before you do that mark the flange that is at the engine with a good scratch or paint mark so you know where the alignment was to start. Then loosen it up and either lightly tap it with a hammer or rotate it by hand a hair counterclockwise (? I think) to see if the idle drops a little which would indicate a slight retarding. Then drive it and see. By a hair I mean if you scratch it with a screwdriver then move it so the line on the distributor base just moves next to the scratch on the block.

Yeah keep with the 5w30 like a Castrol synthetic blend or full. I ran my for 90k miles with really long oil change intervals and didn't have any oil problems.

Yes, a quality synthetic with extended changes. Personally I run nothing but Mobil1 5W30 in the beast with 5,000 mile changes. 10 years old and over 150,000 miles it still runs great. Just passed emissions last week with absolutely no problems. When I had it in for the 150,000 mile service over the spring the dealer said it ran just as good as a new one.

[Mr Incredible]

Originally Posted by bigrobrn

Its the 1.3L 4cylinder.
As far as the a/c goes, I could get it fixed, and probably will. Yes it will be a hot summer.

I changed the compressor and accumulator on my Camaro, got it flushed and recharged at a local shop. Total cost was between $400-$500 with parts from Advance Auto.

The compressor wasn't any harder to change than most starters, and the other stuff was simple wrenching.

Might be worth a try if it gets too bad for you. I find that the 2-60 method has worked pretty good, but if my commute was mostly city it wouldn't do so well.

[Mr Incredible]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

If your owners manual says 5W30, don't put 10W30 in it. You may damage your bearings. If anything you may want to try a 0W30. 10W30 is old skool, for engines with tolerances that were not built to the tighter tolerances that engines are built to today. My recommendation is that if the manual says 5W30, use that. Don't switch.

The differences between 5w-30 and 10w-30 are minor, and some brands of each overlap the other weight at thr 40*c viscosity. I wouldn't see this as an issue. They are, after all, 30 weights at 100*c.

See This Page, at the bottom, "Oil Type Comparison".

[GasUser]

That thing looks like it is in really good shape for a 1996.

40mpg in the city is great mileage. Those Metro's were pretty good.

Anyway, I think you should get the A/C fixed. When you need A/C you need it. No sense in suffering. I did that too many times in the past. I am all for good gas mileage, but sometimes you just gotta turn on the A/C.

[bigrobrn]

I will probably end up getting it fixed. I'm going to have to save up though. Just bought a new motor!

Luckily, I work 24 hr shifts - get to work and leave work in EARLY morning hours.

[bigrobrn]

Originally Posted by atomicradish

My Galant didn't have working air when I got it, but luckily it is fixed now. Some people here can go without a/c, and that's fine. I just got tired of going to meet friends for dinner dripping wet from sweating so much and my shirts always being wrinkled in the back.

The Geo looks great. Be warned though, the sedans do not get as great of fuel economy as the earlier model hatchbacks. They have a bigger motor in them. FE is still pretty good though.

It may not be GREAT gas mileage, but 35-40 mpg is a HELL of a lot better than the 15-16 mpg that my F150 gets!

[DRW]

Regarding A/C or no A/C, it's a personal choice. If you decide to go without it this thread may provide some relief. It contains some good ideas, and a few unconventional ideas to help stay cool. Enjoy! http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/hang...without-c.html

[Mr. Pig]

Now all you need to do is lower it about 4 inches.

And then some moon caps, lower ground effects, cut down the roof line...

Sorry, I didn't mean to hijack your thread, work is just slow today. Congrats on the new ride.

Originally Posted by bigrobrn

[hybriDatsun350]

Is that thing a 4x4? lol

It looks much better lowered!

[Mark_alot]

i also took action i sold my 97 eclipse 18mpg for $3600 and now i drive a 97 civic coupe dx for $4000 that gets 37mpg thats just with some improvements. the saving outwight the luxury of having power windows the only thing i miss about my eclipse.

[Jim T.]

Originally Posted by white90crxhf

It wasnt a problem, you get used to the heat.

No you don't.
I spend a lot of time in my car not just commuting, and you most certainly do not get used to it. I sweat like a white man in Harlem. I've been in Florida since 91 and I'm still not used to it.

Jim T.

[ShadowWorks]

Well done, your arms with get stronger without power steering and you will save loads of gas without AC, go go Geo!