Questions and Answers

Chrysler Town & Country Cycling Q. Vince, let me start by telling you I'm no mechanic. I just bought a 1996 Chrysler Town & Country LXI with a 3.8 liter V-6 and 68,000 miles. After I ran the car for about a half hour I decided to check the transmission fluid since the car was hot, (it's cold here today in Pittsburgh, the heater was on).

With the engine running I checked the fluid and I kept hearing the sound of a motor cycling on and off every 30 seconds or so. Similar to the sound of the A/C cycling on and off. So I checked inside the car to make sure I didn't hit the A/C button by mistake, I didn't. Then I thought it was the electric radiator fan kicking on and off but the blades were not turning when the cycling noise was going. The car otherwise was running fine with no other noises.

The temperature gauge was normal and I didn't notice the noise until I lifted the hood. I'm not sure if this is a normal sound from the engine or if there is a problem around the corner. (Did I mention I'm no mechanic?)

As a by the way, though the temperature gauge was normal. The engine was hot and the fans weren't running. There was a slight smell of something possibly burning though the engine was recently steam cleaned by the person I bought it from. I thought it could be some cleaning residue burning off. What do you think?

A. If the mode selector was in the DEFROST position, then the noise you heard was the air conditioning compressor kicking on and off. In the DEFROST mode the air conditioning is used to help keep the windshield dry and frost free. That is normal.

It's possible that the smell is just the cleaner burning off. But it could also be oil on the engine causing the smell. Usually the only reason someone steam cleans and engine before selling it is because there is.was a bad oil leak and they don't want anyone to see it.