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Belt/tensioner squeak - Now installing new PS pump

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Old 03-18-2008, 11:19 AM
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I would have to say from not seeing any kind of worn belt material around those pulleys in the pics, that car would be fine on a 200 mile trip. Now if you saw belt material spread all over around/on the pulleys, it could be a different story.

I'm really not too sure what may be squeaking if its a brand new belt, other than perhaps its just a cheap belt. I know I've stopped older belts from squeaking with a bar of soap and little bit of water, just rubbing it on the belt as it spins (be careful). Not sure if that will help or not? Belt dressing doesn't seem to work too well, and has always amplified any problems I've attempted to resolve with it.

If you really want to get it taken care of, perhaps I would recommend taking it back to the shop you purchased it and let them fix the problem they started?
Old 03-18-2008, 11:49 AM
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Great, thank you both for the replies. It'* probably been driven 1000-1500 miles with some form of a squeak at initial startup.

Unfortunately...I'm not sure if I could get them to replace the power steering pump. They replaced it for free along with the belt (but that wasn't free). I've already had them change the belt because of their mistake and I'm not sure if I could get them to change the pump too. To be honest, their work is really questionable and if the pump needs to be replaced I'd rather just try to do it myself or pay someone else to do it.

My power steering pump pulley definitely has a slight wobble to it, but it'* still free enough to easily turn by hand, though not as free spinning as the other pulleys. I suppose there is a definite problem there, although I find it odd it'* not leaking any fluid or operating strangely. I suppose though, that wobble indicates it does need to be replaced?

My tensioner pulley is metal, but it'* possible a bearing could be going bad. How would I determine if there was a bad bearing? I took it off and looked at it, it looked okay visually and didn't rattle, but I wasn't completely sure what to look for.

Another detail I neglected to add: The squeaking occurs both at idle and under throttle. Though obviously louder and faster under throttle.
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Old 03-18-2008, 12:35 PM
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Just to throw in my $.02:

The PS pump does seem suspicious. If there is enough of a wobble, it could occasionally "catch" a little bit, or bind up.

If the old belt was too tight, it probably didn't do any of your accessory bearings any favors with the added tension and stress. Personally, I'd say that the shop who installed the tight belt could be responsible for the premature bearing wear on the PS pump.

Does anything change if you turn the steering wheel at idle? That would increase the load on the PS pump...
Old 03-18-2008, 12:43 PM
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No, it turns and feels normal. Sounds normal too. I've always had a bit of a power steering whine, but I hear that is normal for these cars.

There is no doubt in my mind that they are to blame for this. In the time I had their belt on (before I knew it was too small) I've had to replace the water pump and the belt tensioner, and now my power steering pump is on it'* way out (maybe). There'* no telling whether or not any of those things would have been necessary if they hadn't put that small belt on, but I'd be willing to bet it'* to blame.

They put the belt and PS pump on in September of 06.

Going by memory here, the PS pump pulley wobbled about 1/16 of an inch from side to side, maybe a little more but not anywhere near 1/8 inch. Not much, but definitely enough to feel and just enough to be visible.
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Old 03-18-2008, 12:50 PM
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Going by memory here, the PS pump pulley wobbled about 1/16 of an inch from side to side, maybe a little more but not 1/8 inch. Not much, but definitely enough to feel and just enough to be visible.
That'* pretty sad for a 1.5 year old PS pump. Either it was defective, or they killed it, in my opinion.

It still doesn't seem to me like that should be enough to cause the squeaking belt/tensioner, but since everything else seems to be checking out, I'd look into getting that pump replaced, if it were me. It'* going bad anyway, right?
Old 03-18-2008, 12:59 PM
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I was afraid of that...oh well. I saw a write up here about how to change the PS pump, if all I have to do is remove the wheel and plastic shield I should be good. Might have to buy a 13 mm socket though.

Since it doesn't seem to be wobbling much now, I'll probably wait a couple more weeks so I can have more funds on hand to give this a try and decide what I want to do. I'll see if I can negotiate with the people that did the work (a King Honda dealer - yeah, I know) and find out if they're willing to help me out somewhat. They ought to. It'* only been 1.5 years and 13k miles.

If not, I'll spend the $60 for a new pump and decide if I want to try to tackle it myself or not.

After that - we'll see if the squeak is gone.

Anyway, thank you all for your help. It was much appreciated.
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Old 03-18-2008, 03:36 PM
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Originally Posted by LeSabreUltra
My tensioner pulley is metal, but it'* possible a bearing could be going bad. How would I determine if there was a bad bearing? .
With the belt off the pulley, try to "wobble" the pulley on the shaft. For instance, if you just grabbed the top of the pulley, try pushing it towards the engine block and then pull towards towards the fender... just back and forth quickly. Mine was enough to see and feel, but not a lot. New one had zero slop.
Old 03-18-2008, 04:36 PM
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Thanks, I did that and checked the others one more time.

Tensioner pulley, water pump pulley, and all others except the PS pulley had zero lateral play and moved very freely. I don't know what I felt yesterday in the water pump, it wasn't there today.

Power steering pump pulley has closer to 1/8 inch or more of lateral play. It'* still very easy to turn the pulley, but it doesn't stay turning as long as the others. I haven't driven it since yesterday so the problem hasn't worsened, I just forgot how much it moved.

I guess that pretty much puts the PS pump as the only logical cause. I guess applying pressure on the tensioner pulley merely interrupted whatever vibrations were causing the squeaking, rather than the cause of it.
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Old 03-18-2008, 11:39 PM
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A little update...

Thanks to the excellent write up done by this man here

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...+steering+pump

I was able to pull off my power steering pump completely on my own. It was so easy. Well, except for that return line that had the nut attached...that SOB was stuck on there and it took over an hour and a half to get it off. Finally though, it broke loose and everything else came apart like a charm. Seriously though, after tackling that I feel I can fix just about anything this car throws at me...big confidence booster being able to do that on my own.

Turns out that somehow I had the weeks confused...I need to take those people to the airport next Thursday, not this one. Oh well. It'* fortunate, it gave me time to pull off my pump today and will also give me time to install it properly before next week.

Anyway pump'* off, got some questions and observations to throw at you all.

Observations first: Pump was covered with fluid, probably from when it had been leaking in the past. Definitely a sign of a failure, I suppose. Odd thing was, once I got the pump off the engine I could no longer feel the lateral play in the pulley, or at least not nearly to the same degree. I guess it'* because I couldn't get the leverage that I could with it being mounted.

Questions now:

Even so, the pulley shouldn't be able to move laterally AT ALL whether it'* mounted on the engine or not, right? Hate to replace a pump that'* not leaking but if it'* binding and causing my squeak then it'* gone.

Secondly, is a remanufactured PS pump okay or should I spend extra and get a brand new one?

Thirdly, I need to remove the pulley from my pump. I don't have the tool that the guy who wrote the thread up there has. Would AutoZone be able to let me borrow something I could use to remove it? I could do it in the parking lot and then bring my pump in to get my core charge back immediately.

Thanks so much, this site is awesome.
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Old 03-19-2008, 04:11 PM
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Any thoughts?

From what I've been reading I should probably avoid Duralast.
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