Power Steering Problem

saltydog_NM · September 4th, 2010, 11:30 PM

Tonight after a 10 minute drive my power steering went out and the amp light inside the car flashed on. Thankfully I was close to my apartment and was able to muscle the car into my driveway.

I popped the hood to check out what the matter was and coolant fluid was overflowing from the coolant drain and it looked as if it was very full for a car that actually leaks coolant regularly.

I have not done any recent work on my car or even topped off any fluid lately, so I am not sure what caused this to happen.

After a bit I turned the key to see if she would start and the car starts perfect, but the power steering is still out along with the amp light still on.

Any ideas on what happened or what I should look for?

fogged306 · September 4th, 2010, 11:39 PM

Look and see if there's still a belt on the car.

DigitalDC89 · September 4th, 2010, 11:56 PM

loose belt, or the tensioner went on you.

saltydog_NM · September 5th, 2010, 12:02 AM

The belt is still there, yet it looks as if the the power steering pump tensioner that the pulley actually sits in is broken straight off. Which is why the power steering is not working, but I still dont understand why the coolant overflowed.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Is it possible to replace the tensioner without buying a brand new power steering pump?

fogged306 · September 5th, 2010, 12:04 AM

The waterpump runs on the same belt. If the pulley for the power steering broke, then the waterpump stopped spinning and the car got hot.

saltydog_NM · September 5th, 2010, 12:07 AM

That makes perfect sense to me, I should have realized that before. Thanks for the help guys!
I just hope I can replace that tensioner without replacing the entire pump.

DigitalDC89 · September 5th, 2010, 12:10 AM

the tensioner and p/s pulley are separate things.

saltydog_NM · September 5th, 2010, 12:18 AM

I'm sorry, I misunderstood what the tensioner was. The pulley that is attached to the power steering pump broke off somehow, is it possible to replace the pulley alone?

DigitalDC89 · September 5th, 2010, 12:24 AM

i guess that depends. did the pulley itself come off of the shaft, or did the shift break inside the pump?

saltydog_NM · September 5th, 2010, 12:30 AM

The pulley itself is in two pieces right now, rust looks as if it got the best of it. The front of the pulley is still on but the back half broke and is dangling on the shaft.

DigitalDC89 · September 5th, 2010, 12:34 AM

well you could buy a new or used pulley online somewhere, or just order a whole new pump. up to you really.

saltydog_NM · September 5th, 2010, 12:34 AM

Cool, ill look into it, thanks for the help!

DigitalDC89 · September 5th, 2010, 12:36 AM

no problem

September 4th, 2010, 11:30 PM	#1
saltydog_NM Newbie 1989 Mustang GT 5.0L Join Date: May 2008 Location: IL Posts: 24 iTrader: 0 reviews	Power Steering Problem Tonight after a 10 minute drive my power steering went out and the amp light inside the car flashed on. Thankfully I was close to my apartment and was able to muscle the car into my driveway. I popped the hood to check out what the matter was and coolant fluid was overflowing from the coolant drain and it looked as if it was very full for a car that actually leaks coolant regularly. I have not done any recent work on my car or even topped off any fluid lately, so I am not sure what caused this to happen. After a bit I turned the key to see if she would start and the car starts perfect, but the power steering is still out along with the amp light still on. Any ideas on what happened or what I should look for?

September 4th, 2010, 11:56 PM	#3
DigitalDC89 Regular '88 Mustang GT Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 463 iTrader: 0 reviews	loose belt, or the tensioner went on you. __________________ '02 Mustang GTm Convertible - N/A Cammed Daily '88 Mustang GTm - 1/4 Mile Build - 750rwhp Project '97 Saturn SL2m - Ex-Nitrous Build - Back-Up Daily

September 5th, 2010, 12:10 AM	#7
DigitalDC89 Regular '88 Mustang GT Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 463 iTrader: 0 reviews	the tensioner and p/s pulley are separate things. __________________ '02 Mustang GTm Convertible - N/A Cammed Daily '88 Mustang GTm - 1/4 Mile Build - 750rwhp Project '97 Saturn SL2m - Ex-Nitrous Build - Back-Up Daily

September 5th, 2010, 12:24 AM	#9
DigitalDC89 Regular '88 Mustang GT Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 463 iTrader: 0 reviews	i guess that depends. did the pulley itself come off of the shaft, or did the shift break inside the pump? __________________ '02 Mustang GTm Convertible - N/A Cammed Daily '88 Mustang GTm - 1/4 Mile Build - 750rwhp Project '97 Saturn SL2m - Ex-Nitrous Build - Back-Up Daily

September 5th, 2010, 12:34 AM	#11
DigitalDC89 Regular '88 Mustang GT Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 463 iTrader: 0 reviews	well you could buy a new or used pulley online somewhere, or just order a whole new pump. up to you really. __________________ '02 Mustang GTm Convertible - N/A Cammed Daily '88 Mustang GTm - 1/4 Mile Build - 750rwhp Project '97 Saturn SL2m - Ex-Nitrous Build - Back-Up Daily

September 4th, 2010, 11:39 PM	#2
fogged306 MM Fanatic 89 GT Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NY Posts: 4,875 iTrader: 2 reviews	Look and see if there's still a belt on the car.

September 5th, 2010, 12:02 AM	#4
saltydog_NM Newbie 1989 Mustang GT 5.0L Join Date: May 2008 Location: IL Posts: 24 iTrader: 0 reviews	The belt is still there, yet it looks as if the the power steering pump tensioner that the pulley actually sits in is broken straight off. Which is why the power steering is not working, but I still dont understand why the coolant overflowed. Any suggestions are appreciated. Is it possible to replace the tensioner without buying a brand new power steering pump?

September 5th, 2010, 12:04 AM	#5
fogged306 MM Fanatic 89 GT Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NY Posts: 4,875 iTrader: 2 reviews	The waterpump runs on the same belt. If the pulley for the power steering broke, then the waterpump stopped spinning and the car got hot.

September 5th, 2010, 12:07 AM	#6
saltydog_NM Newbie 1989 Mustang GT 5.0L Join Date: May 2008 Location: IL Posts: 24 iTrader: 0 reviews	That makes perfect sense to me, I should have realized that before. Thanks for the help guys! I just hope I can replace that tensioner without replacing the entire pump.

September 5th, 2010, 12:18 AM	#8
saltydog_NM Newbie 1989 Mustang GT 5.0L Join Date: May 2008 Location: IL Posts: 24 iTrader: 0 reviews	I'm sorry, I misunderstood what the tensioner was. The pulley that is attached to the power steering pump broke off somehow, is it possible to replace the pulley alone?

September 5th, 2010, 12:30 AM	#10
saltydog_NM Newbie 1989 Mustang GT 5.0L Join Date: May 2008 Location: IL Posts: 24 iTrader: 0 reviews	The pulley itself is in two pieces right now, rust looks as if it got the best of it. The front of the pulley is still on but the back half broke and is dangling on the shaft.

September 5th, 2010, 12:36 AM	#13
DigitalDC89 Regular '88 Mustang GT Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 463 iTrader: 0 reviews	no problem __________________ '02 Mustang GTm Convertible - N/A Cammed Daily '88 Mustang GTm - 1/4 Mile Build - 750rwhp Project '97 Saturn SL2m - Ex-Nitrous Build - Back-Up Daily

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