[Shotimes] RE: Bad Power Steering Pump? (was Idler tensioner)

[Ron DeReus]

Yes I did - I swore it was the idler pulley back there making noise and was
stunned to find it was fine, so then I grabbed the pump and tried it - it's
damp under there like the pump or a line may be leaking a little, but the
reservoir is full, and the pump spins easy, no play in it.  Water pump,
alternator, A/C, and front idler are all fine, too.

Ron

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim and Debbie Leyden [mailto:jndleyden@mindspring.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 09, 2003 7:46 PM
To: Ron DeReus
Subject: Re: Bad Power Steering Pump? (was Idler tensioner)


When my pump went out it gave me very little warning.  One day it ran just
fine, the next day it growled a little and on the third day it dumped out
the shaft.  Have you removed the belt and spun the pulley to see how it
feels?  The only two things that are in that area are the PS pump and the
Idler.  The only other suggestion I have is to use a long screwdriver to
place at various parts of the motor and rest the other end against your ear
(mechanics stethoscope) and try to locate the aarea where the noise is
coming from.  On the day before my PS pump went out I did this and the noise
appeared to be localized near the rear head on the passengers side.  I was
unable to reach the pump to put the screwdriver directly on it, but if I
had, I'm SURE I would have narrowed it down more.  I understand your
reluctance to just replace the pump.  It is a real bitch to get to and
requires removing the rear motor and jacking up the engine to get enough
room to get it out.  Not to mention the cost of the part.

Jim
'93 MTX


----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron DeReus" <dereus@fbx.com>
To: "Jim and Debbie Leyden" <jndleyden@mindspring.com>; "SHOtimes"
<SHOtimes@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 09, 2003 8:27 PM
Subject: Bad Power Steering Pump? (was Idler tensioner)


> Another question - the bearing feels fine on the power steering pump-
> wouldn't it be nasty if it was getting ready to puke the shaft? and I've
> never gotten any codes regarding the power steering pump... (he he he)
> TIA
>
> Ron DeReus
> 95MTX
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net
> [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Jim and Debbie Leyden
> Sent: Wednesday, January 08, 2003 5:54 AM
> To: Ron DeReus; SHOtimes
> Subject: Re: [Shotimes] Idler tensioner pulley bearing revisted, yet
> again
>
>
> Ron,
> CHANGE THE PS PUMP FAST.  My PS pump died while my wife was driving it
home
> from work leaving her with no power steering.  Not much of a problem while
> moving, but a real pain to turn while trying to park or turn a corner at
low
> speed.
> The design of the SHO ps pump is one that uses a single sealed bearing at
> the front of the pump.  When the bearing fails it will spit out the shaft
> and 99 out of 100 times it will leave you stranded.  When it spits out the
> shaft, the pulley will rub against the Air conditioning liquid line and
rub
> a hole in it in short order.  Then you have to replace the pump, liquid
line
> and get the A/C charged all at the same time.  Not a cheap breakdown by
any
> means.
>
> Jim
> '93 MTX
> New PS Pump
> FWIW Doug Lewis told me that mine was ONLY time he has ever seen one spit
> out a pulley and still be quasi derivable.  ( I was able to drive it in to
> be fixed instead of towed,