A list of problems...

[bitter friction]

Okay, well ever since i got my car (about 2 months ago) it's had a rough idle (idles at around 800 but will jump up and down between 750 to 800). The plugs and wires were all changed from the previous owner. But i have an intermitent CEL and the code pulls up as the front O2 sensor. Today, i took it to a mechanic and he told me it could possibly be the 02 sensor that is causing the idle but leaned more towards the throttle body. He basically said to use throttle body cleaner and just spray that into the throttle body while the car is running and it will get all of the junk that's in there out of the car.
Does that sound correct?

more things...

2. My radiator overflow tank is empty...is that bad?
my radiator was replaced very recently and looks pretty much brand new...

3. The front left of my car clicks kinda' like how a grasshopper flaps it's wings and it's louder once you hit a bump, even a slight one. Now, i was thinking that it's rusted rotors but he thinks it's probably sway bar links. What do you guys think?

4. The last thing (i think/hope) is that when it's raining or just rained outside a belt will squeel until my car warms up (probably about 5 mins), he told me it's probably an accessory belt that's slipping from all of the moisture...I'm thinking that sounds very right especially since I know a few DSMs with that same problem and some people on here I think also have that same problem...Now, my question about this is how detrimental is this belt when it squeels to my car? Could it harm my car in a way or is it just something I'm getting to worried about?

Okay, I think that's it for now, I'll probably have alot more questions as long as I own my car...But I'll appreciate any input from all of you guys, so thanks in advance.

P.S. I did do alot of searching around here and around the internet, so I just didn't post all newbish like without doing any kinds of searches...

 

[TwoLiterLaser]

I have a '95 Avenger with the 420a and it does the funky idle too, 50 rpms worth of idle hunting is just fine.

I would take off the throttle body and thouroughly clean it, that will likely help the hunting idle and the front O2 sensor code.

Refill the radiator overflow. Monitor your coolant levels and make sure the car is not leaking it or burning it.

The clicking could be sway bar links, but it could also be the bolts for the driver side front fender have rusted, broke and the fender is banging(mine does this). Wiggle the fender to check it; take off your tire and inspect your sway bar links to check them.

Squealing belts are soon to be broken belts. Get new accessory belts and replace them all, make sure the power steering pump has all the bolts it is supposed to as my Avenger came to me with the power steering pump missing one bolt, resulting in a sqealy belt. The rule of thumb with belts is that they should be tight enough for you to NOT be able to turn them completely over if you twist them.

Good luck.

 

[bitter friction]

I have a '95 Avenger with the 420a and it does the funky idle too, 50 rpms worth of idle hunting is just fine.

I would take off the throttle body and thouroughly clean it, that will likely help the hunting idle and the front O2 sensor code.

Refill the radiator overflow. Monitor your coolant levels and make sure the car is not leaking it or burning it.

The clicking could be sway bar links, but it could also be the bolts for the driver side front fender have rusted, broke and the fender is banging(mine does this). Wiggle the fender to check it; take off your tire and inspect your sway bar links to check them.

Squealing belts are soon to be broken belts. Get new accessory belts and replace them all, make sure the power steering pump has all the bolts it is supposed to as my Avenger came to me with the power steering pump missing one bolt, resulting in a sqealy belt. The rule of thumb with belts is that they should be tight enough for you to NOT be able to turn them completely over if you twist them.

Good luck.

cool, thanks but another thing i should have added in my post is that i actually did try to refill the overflow and it just spilled back out through the bottom...the mechanic told me to just not worry about the overflow and that just the actual fluid needs to be in the radiator hose...but my engine does get really hot but hasn't overheated, probably because i don't have my headers covered...eek, i need a heat shield!

 

[TwoLiterLaser]

My headers are not covered with a heat shield and my 420a does not overheat. Is it getting hot, or actually overheating. The temp gauges on those cars is very touchy and will climb pretty high when you put the engine under load such as going up a hill or running it hard. The mechanic is right in that the car should be fine as long as the system is holding fluid, but you really do need that overflow bottle so the system can replenish itself as it looses coolant slowly over time.