Just went out to start the car & as soon as it fired up there was a huge screeching noise & massive drain on the battery so i shut it off & popped the boonnet to take a look.

Couldnt see anything wrong at all so i started her up again but this time left it ticking over while i went to take a look, the screeching noise was loud as hell & before i got a chance to get out of the car & take a look smoked started to bellow up from the bonnet so i shut it off.

It looked as though the smoke was coming from the power steering pump but i cant be sure. (bottom right side of the engine)

Has anybody got any experience with power steering pumps? Can they sieze & cause the belt to squeal as it trys turn the pulley? Is there any way to test it?

Im pretty clueless with this sort of thing to be honest but my cars a daily runner so i need it sorting asap!

thanks

 

remove the belt from the PAS pump and try it by hand...if its locked solid then there's your problem.

Does the belt look smoked? can you not get a mate to turn it over whilst you look under bonnet and see whats happening?

Does it have fluid in PAS reservoir? If not then put some in.

Dan

 

thanks for the reply, im guna go attempt to remove the belt, is it easy enough to do?

cheers

 

OR unplug the coil so you dont have spark and turn the engine over whilst watching the pulley for movement.....you dont have to undo anything then...

Dan

 

Haha, my Cossie has developed a fucking horrid screech lately, but it's a familiar one, loose power steering belt again.

With a bit of luck yours is just loose too. I think the adjustment bracket is a poor design, hard to get it as tight as you want it.

EDIT: saw you said it was smoking, so yes maybe seized.

Look on the bright side, loud sudden noises accompanied by smoke from under the bonnet can be REALLY expensive, or they can be something like a dodgy power steering pump, I know which I'd prefer

 

starter motor fuked and the solnoid jams and burns it out, has happened to me before

 

Well its working fine again now, god knows how long for though. I just went back out & turned it over & it was spot on

Cant complain i guess

 

i would check the altornator, make sure that hasnt siezed

 

I'm still convinced it's that power steering belt that was squealing, mine started doing it just the other day too, perhaps something to do with the cold weather that suddenly hit us?? Could something in the pump have frozen??