Lost my power steering belt on the way to work this morning. This one doesn't loop around the water pump also, does it? I know it goes around the oil pump too. I just can't tell if it's also the water pump. I also think it goes around the alternator which blows my chances of limping home. I have to try and tackle that this afternoon. These look like a pain in the butt to get to. Any tips before I dig into this?

 

Do you have expirience replacing belts on your car? Cause they are in a very very hidden place, and it is impossible to do wihtout a lift. Carjacks or stands are not safe either cause your not just looking under the car your unscrewing an moving things around. I suggest bringing it to a mechanic if possible. Charge the battery and try to drive it to the closes mechanice if under about 2 miles. Try not to use anything on the way either i.e. windows, wipers, radio, blinkers (if possible) and when you come to a light watch the volt meter if it is jumping put your foot on the brake and lightly push the accelorator, not so much that it well jerk yoru car, or damage anything, but enough to keep your volts steady. Goodluck

 

Yeah, the belt that operates the power steering pump also operates the water pump. I'd highly recommend against driving your car as you risk overheating heat which could cause damage to your engine and gaskets, not to mention the hazzard that you'll be on the road with no power steering. Also, I don't believe that the belt drives the oil pump. Another thing, the alternator is driven off of a different belt, so you don't have to worry about discharging the battery.

If you have a AAA membership then you'll be able to have the car towed for free within a certain distance. If you don't have AAA and can't afford to get it towed, drive it to the nearest mechanic.

The car will probably start to overheat within 5 minutes of starting it. If your car doesn't overheat, then it's not the belt but probably the power steering pump itself. If it does start to overheat, shut the car off immediately.

-C-

 

Well, I have plenty of belt experience, just not on this car. Man, it looks like a pain in butt. They are really crammed against the wheelwell. Looks like my hardest one yet. And I'll be using jackstands. It's all I have. Other than wheel stands. I hate taking my cars to mechanics. Especially for a belt.

Do I need any special tools for this car that you know of?

 

I dunno man, i'd advise against jackstands, your gonna be unscrewing and applying torque to something very very heavy being held up by a few stands, get some ramps if you can, less dangerous. A mechanic will only charge you $40 bucks beats the risk of somethign bad happening

 

cujmh69

I just changed the three belts and the alternator on my 86se, easy to do, all you need are 10mm, 14/15mm etc...wrenches and sockets. About 1 hour is all you need. I removed the splash shield under the engine. Then the right front wheel/tire to get at the wheel-well splash shield. This makes it easier for first timers to see what your doing and to get at the p/s belt tensioner.

Loosen the belt tensioners (p/s and ac), then with a 10mm socket and extension, working from the top turn the adjusting bolt until the belts can be removed. Install your new belts then adjust and tighten the tensioner to the correct settings. That's pretty much it. You may want to replace the alternator belt too, but that is more work since you have to loosen the alternator.

No problem using jack stands, just don't use them on a hill, my dumb neighbor did and he was lucky he wasn't under his car. Use your parking brakes and block the rear wheels, work with safety in mind.

I'm sure you can do this repair.

Good luck, Al