DETROIT -(Dow Jones)- Liquidity among automotive-parts suppliers will remain adequate over the next 18 months, but balance sheets for non-investment grade companies won’t improve because cash flow will be weak and easy credit has dried up, according to a report released Monday by Fitch Ratings.Most auto suppliers tapped the leverage loan market over the past two years, improving liquidity and pushing out debt maturities. That helped companies as they dealt with pricing pressure, lower Big Three production, high costs for raw materials and restructuring.But most of those pressures aren’t abating, and credit isn’t available in the amounts and on the terms it was a few months ago, Fitch said.”Operating cash generation from non-investment grade suppliers is expected to remain weak over the near term, with limited capacity for any improvement to balance sheets that have incurred significant incremental leverage over the past several years,” Fitch said in its report. “As a result, refinancing risks may have been simply deferred to later years, rather than resolved.”Fitch analyst Mark Oline said in an interview that some auto suppliers’ balance sheets have “incurred significant damage” over the past couple of years, and free cash flow generation will be limited in the next 18 months.While not a problem in the short term, the companies “won’t have the capacity to repair balance sheets before they face refinancing risks,” he said.Some margin improvement is expected from restructuring, a trend most evident at American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. (AXL) and Lear Corp. (LEA). Visteon Corp. (VC), meanwhile, “has struggled to demonstrate progress,” Fitch said in the report.”In the event that margin improvement does not take place over the near term, capital availability may be limited,” the report said.Still, Fitch doesn’t see imminent tripping of loan covenants. But if covenants are violated, any resolution, “if available, will come at a steep financial cost.”There is also competition for available capital as several large auto suppliers are looking to arrange exit financing. Delphi Corp. (DPHIQ), Dana Corp. (DCNAQ), Federal-Mogul Corp. (FDMLQ) and Dura Automotive Systems Inc. all are looking to emerge from Chapter 11.The pressures of the auto industry forced several suppliers into Chapter 11 in the past couple of years.-By Terry Kosdrosky, Dow Jones Newswires; 248-204-5532; terry.kosdrosky@ dowjones.com News source: Money.CNN