[Shotimes] PS install and other wierd problems

[Kevin & Cheryl Airth]

Joe:
 I don't think your steering "went out". You lost a idler or tension pulley
and the P/S pump just stopped turning.
One big hint: STOP, pull over and LOOK under the hood when something like
this happens!! Why does everyone just keep driving? Maybe the big clank you
heard was the pulley falling completely off? If you had stopped soon enough
you might have been able to keep from losing all the stuff that is now gone.
 Do you have a shop manual or repair CD? These will have a picture to help
you figure out what's missing. You should also have a white sticker on the
radiator cover under the hood that shows how the belts are routed. See if
that helps any?
 The FAQ also has information that might help.
.
.
Be careful about a leaking P/S pump. It's VERY hard to tell in that area
what is leaking and from where. I was almost ready to change my pump when I
decided to first check the cam seals. After a good clean up and replacing
both cam seals. No more oil leaks!
.
.


> Recently I was driving and lost power steering, it scared the crap out
> of me at the time but I managed to finish my drive to work.  I also
> noticed a loud clank or two before I arrived.  I had been previously
> told that my PS pump was leaking so I figured it had gone out.  I
> ordered a new one which came in today.  I tore down everything to get at
> it and noticed I have a part missing!  Well the belt that connects the
> water pump to the PS pump and such is loose.  It just lays there and
> nothing turns..so I cant drive cause my car will overheat via.. no fluid
> moving.  I noticed the piece that sits between the Water pump and PS
> pump wheel is GONE.  I found the tensioner(I think) piece just sitting
> in there bolted in with nothing on the other end.  I undid the 3 bolts
> to remove it and it looks like I am missing 1 wheel to make my belt
> tight.  Belt tensioner I think?  I'm really not sure what the part is
> called but its definitely not there and I need to know what to buy so I
> can fix it !
>
>
> I took some pictures with my digital camera but its very hard to see
> down in there.
>
> Any ideas?  So far ive taken out the battery, battery tray, the
> passenger side piece of the intake manifold, the passenger front wheel,
> the fender well plastic.. all to get in there but im having trouble
> replacing the actual PS pump itself.  I mainly need to know what part im
> missing and a good way to get in there and reach those bolts on the old
> PS pump so I can install my new one.
>
> ~joe
> 93 MTX