Hello

I have a 1993 EB 4L Fairmont Ghia

I have a problem with the loud noise of a bad pulley in the engine bay, when you lift up the hood you can hear that 1 of the pulleys is not good.

We went for a drive to Windsor yesturday and when parking the car and turning the steering wheel the belt started to slip ( loud belt slipping noise ) and the steering went hard ( loss of power ).

I think it might be the power steering pulley which is the issue and or the pump it self.

I have a 1993 4L Xr6 which i have for parts ( complete car ) so i can do a complete change over but i have never done a power steering pump or pulley..

Can any 1 please explain to me the process of changing over the pulley and pump.

Thankyou

is the noise coming from the pump or one of the idler pulleys on the front of the engine that do wear out?

Things to check:

(edit) Low fluid ! (doh to me)
Belt tension in installed position.
Pulley tensioner bearing wear
Pump pulley bearing wear (remove belt, free spin slowly to feel for collapsing bearing - do not do with engine on and belt rotating!)
Pump pulley inside of V groove wear. (belt sides should contact pulley inside and have a slight concave dip across the outside face of the drive belt when belt is in the installed position)
Idler Pulley- inside of V groove wear and belt contact face condition.
Drive belt wear
Power steering fluid levels & fluid condition - (cooked Dexron II & III power steering fluid has a weird smell)
Leaks in low pressure return hose (clamps and flexible hose condition)
Leaks behind convoluted rubber boots on steering rack
Power Assistance Switch (on steering rack) and wiring loom attachment to said switch. (the small chrome clip that holds the connector to the PAS switch can be blown off with enthusiastic pressure washing causing the PAS pump to work all the time at full pressure)
Failed high pressure hose - but you'd know about that in short order - there'd be oil from as***hole to breakfast time!
Failed power steering pump.

Use the principle of the most likely cause first, then work your way thru the list. For instance why change a pump if its not required?

I'm not a mechanic, this is some of the S**t I've seen cause problems. What have I missed anyone?

Thanks for the advice guys.

I had my neighbour over looking at the problem and what he saw was that at times 1 of the pulleys stopped turning and then would turn again, it was the top pulley in the middle. We replaced it and the engine is nice and quiet and runs a treat.

thanks again people

For future reference, when a bearing is making a bad noise replace it before it fails.

Pakrat

Ive only had the car for just over a week.