To make a long story short, I had Pep Boys install a serpentine belt for a road trip this fall. Initially the truck ran fine. About a 60 mile trip later, it appeared that the water pump was being pulled out and they were pieces of the serpentine belt in the engine compartment, but it was still mostly intact. We were on vacation, and I had the truck towed back to Pep Boys.

To their credit, Pep Boys ate the Towing charge. The explanation of the water pump failure 60 miles after their installation of a serpentine belt was the water pump was the original and quite old and chalk it up to coincidence.

I had them install a new water pump. I picked up the truck once sobered up from vacation. Still in their parking lot, I noticed a whine when pressing the brake pedal, even in park. The same whine when turning the steering wheel , again even in park. Driving about the parking lot, the whine remained present. Their explanation is that some air got into the ATF if the power steering unit, and that should work itself out after a few days.

Could a poor installation of a serpentine belt cause catastrophic failure of the water pump, or was it just an old, frail water pump destined to fail?

Is their explanation about the whining true. The truck at this point seems to be running fine in all regards after perhaps 40 miles driving. The brakes feel fine and the steering true.

Thanks in advance

 

They would have to get really rough installing a belt to damage a water pump but I guess anything is possible,You might do a search Here on flushing Your power steering fluid.

 

Maybe the belt they put on was a little too small causing stress on the pump. If the belt was shredding on one side the tensioner is probably bad letting the belt run more to one side.

 

I don't think you can really "flush" the power steering system. Just top the reservoir off and cycle the steering back and forth, lock to lock, to get the air bubbles out. Then make sure the reservoir is topped off. The reason it whines with the brakes too is because your truck has a hydro boost system, which uses the power steering pump to boost the brakes, rather that a vacuum booster. If it's still whining, check the reservoir. Low power steering fluid will cause it to whine.

How many miles on the truck? It may be worth checking/replacing the tensioner

 

You can, there is even a video about it... I did this on mine and the fluid that had come out was not the color it should have been by any means.

 

I know for a fact there are two different size belts for these trucks with single alternators, one is slightly smaller than the other. I really can't remember why that is but, I got the wrong one once from NAPA and it was way to tight. Maybe it had something to do with a winterized version of these trucks or something. There is an old thread about it here.

 

Slightly shy of 225k.

My lab top is in the shop, and my phone makes typing, let alone searching difficult. Will first try topping off if needed, followed by a flush. I have one alternator si if the dual alternator belt is longer, I need to look at the tensioner.

Thanks!

 

I stand corrected. I'll have to give that a try. I'm sure my truck could use it!

 

Got to the flush finally - no noise and it may be placebo effect but steering feels a bit crisper as does braking.... I'll take it.

Thanks for the help.