My PS problem isn't temp related but at speeds under 15 mph I have splotchy PS, at speeds of over 70 mph the wheel is unbelievably loose. Question is: the *-belt was recently replaced (less than a month ago) could a shoddy belt job be the reason for all these problems?

Sounds more like a jacked up steering rack to me. But the speed thing sounds more like pump. I'm on the fence.

It does make a straining/hissing groan whenever power steering is going or gone, could it be a bad valve or bearing in the pump? Its not very loud though.

When I was driving my parents 90 Lumina with bad PS pump it would whine like a supercharger when turning. It had very loose steering over 60mph, so loose it was scary to drive that fast. My bet is the pump is bad.

On my 95 Bonneville the PS oil cooler rusted out and had a slow leak. Eventually the leak got worse and I had symptoms similar to what you described. The part was replaced and fluid was added. Everything was fine afterward. Make sure the fliuid level is okay.

Leif W.

Turns out all my problems started with the pump. I didn't think it was as bad as Pontiac says it is. Turns out the 2 weeks I was driving it I really shouldn't have been, and I'm lucky I didn't get a total steering failure.

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...=312633#312633