a little help/questions about my '98 Century Custom.

First off I have a 1998 Buick Century Custom. Now for the questions/help.

1. My a/c blows cold, BUT only on the passenger side vents! :banghead:. The driver side vents blow like a regular fan, not cold. I took it to a a/c shop and they said I have to take it to a auto body shop to get under the dash. How hard would it be to do it myself? What should I be looking for?

2. The car makes a weird sound somewhat like crushed bearings when it is running. When i turn the a/c on, it stops. The sound seems to be coming from the water pump or a/c area. I took the belt off and spinned the wheels (a/c, water pump etc.) by hand and they spin smooth. I since replaced the belt and still the same sound. Any ideas?

3. My rear passenger side seat belt is in lock mode. Lock mode meaning not extending out so someone can put it on. Even pulling it out slow doesn't help. How do i go about fixing that? Can i access that from inside the trunk? OR should i get to it from back by the speakers?

All help and answers will be very much aprreciated. Thanks in advance!

Welcome to AF.

If the refrigerant charge is confirmed good then you may have a problem with a blend door or actuator which is located in the heater/evpaorator assembly of the HVAC system. You could do the work DIY but it will be very tedius.

The drive belt system noise could be a noisy tensioner or even the A/C clutch.

To work on the seat belt retractor you will need to remove the seat cushions (lower and upper) and then remove the rear package tray/speaker shelf. The bottom seat cushion has two pull rings and the top cushion is bolted on. Be careful lifting the rear package tray off. Easy to break plastic. Good luck!

Thanks for the reply.

Seat Belt. Check. Thanks for the instructions.

For the actuator/blend door on the a/c, is that all located under the dash? Is the hard part just taking off the dash or is there more to it? What price would i be looking at if i were to take it to a shop? This 100 degree+ weather out here in NorCal is killing me!:)

-Thanks!

Yes under the dash and centered in the middle area. Most of the dash like the bezel must be removed and all lower access/kick panels. Glovebox must be removed. Portions of center console, if installed. Blower motor should be removed. Basically it has to be torn apart to inspect the area in the lower/middle heater core/evaporator assembly which also contains the doors and temperature actuator(s).

It could be several hours of work at whatever the shop charges for hourly labor rate. I would take it to a few shops and get estimates. Good luck!