I had a wheel bearing take a dump on me the other day so I decided to replace both. While doing the job I turned the wheel this way and that (engine off) to make the bolts easier to get to. A few times I just pushed it over from the under side. This caused a little power steering fluid to puke out of the resevoir while I was turning it, no big deal I figure, I've done it before on other cars and they puked a little fluid too.

Hubs finished, time for a test drive. When I started the engine it was squealing like a stuck pig! Shut it down, took a look at everything and didn't see anything out of the ordinary. The PS fluid was a tad low but still good. I guessed maybe the pump was just passing some air. I started it up again, still squealing, but this time I noticed the BATT light was on. I looked under the hood (still running) and the belt WAS NOT MOVING!. I shut it down FAST. Total run time was maybe 45 seconds.

I figure it has to be the pump. Even if the steering box or the hydro boost was not passing fluid, the pressure should just by-pass in the pump. It would strain like when the steering is at full lock. Am I thinking right? I can't for the life of me figure out why anything I did would hurt the pump. FWIW, The steering box is new about 15K ago and hasn't given me any issues.

I'm lost! I really need to get the truck up and running.

Appreciate any suggestions!

 

I guess you could verify by removing the belt? Thats about the only suggestion I can offer.

 

I would do a quick check of the balancer, make sure the rubber did not wear out and that it is still in "one" piece, then check the tensioner and make sure it springs back instantly with no STICKY fealing AT ALL. If thoes both check out good, then take the belt off and see what pullys are frozen.

Also, possible some of that PS fluid spilled on the belt/ pulleys cousing a slick situation?
just throwing out the easy ideas first.

 

Either that or a bad remanufactured pump. Like anything remaned its more prone to failure opposed to new. Unless its brand new.

 

Pull the belt and check for a seized pulley. Also check to make sure there isn't burnt rubber on any of them. My dad's 97 PSD had the alt seize up and smoke belt. It didn't break, but left chunks of rubber burnt to a few pulleys that we had to pick loose. The belt looked cool too. You could toss it on the floor and it held the exact routing from getting so hot. Toss the belt and get a new one if its missing rubber.

 

What he said. Something is siezed up.

 

Thanks guys! It was the lower alternator!

Pulled the belt this morning and the lower alternator is locked up tight. Belt looks OK but I'm going to get a new one anyway. I'll keep this one for a spare.

I don't know why I was focused on the PS pump. After a long, cold day of wrenching on the truck I guess I had tunnel vision. The timing of the failure was just a coincidence.


Thanks for the help!

 

As luck would have it there is a local shop that rebuilds them 7 miles from me (I'm not at home). $130 and he has some ready to go on the shelf!

Now to get it out......

Thanks again guys!