Power Steering Belt

[TopCat]

Ok guys, coming down from Terenure last night and got a bit of a fright. Was over-taking (so may have been a tad over the limit) and heard a bang from the engine bay. Eased off, and nothing seemed wrong. Cautiously accelerated again... no problem. Then a very gentle corner came up, and I thought the steering felt a bit weird. So slowed down completely and went to make sharper turn... then figured it out, no power steering.

I opened the bonnet and there was a belt missing, so I presume its the power steering belt?

Don't think it's a big deal to replace (camskill even have the alternate one minus aircon), but my question is this, is there anything else that can/should be done while I'm getting this sorted?

Thanks,
Tom

[optical illusion]

Christ Tom, you could have been killed!

[kevinod]

I remember something about a snapping belt taking the camshaft position sensor wiring with it, but sounds like you had no other problems. Check the power steering belt tensioner pulley as well as the power steering pump pulley for any noise.

The power steering belt goes on inside the alternator belt, so you'll need to take that off to replace. Check it's condition, might be worth replacing it at the same time. Presumably both belts would have been done together last time. Any sign of leaks or corrosion?

Sounds like you were lucky you weren't heading into a tight bend!

[karlf]

Sounds like you were lucky there Tom, that could have been nasty. Lucky it happened where it did and not somewhere it could have caused a serious accident.
I'm not sure about what to replace when doing this as I'm not too familiar with the engine and how all that works and what would be coming out to replace your ps belt. But I do know those belts all run on pulleys so you could check them for condition and see if they need replacing. I know the guy I bought mine off had one replaced as it was squeeking, turned out it was worn so might be worth doing if they show any signs of wear.

[Sebastian]

have you not driven non power steering cars guys?


Tom , maybe you can check the other belts ?

[karlf]

Driving a car with no power steering isn't the problem. Its going from a car with power steering to suddenly having none that would cause a problem. As you wouldn't be expecting it, you may well lose control in that situation thus causing an accident.

[Dragonheart]

I had this problem a few years ago in my last car, ran over a piece of metal that fell off a lorry in front of me and snapped my belts, but there was nothing else went with it except the engine temperature went through the roof as soon as I drove off, so had to stop every 100 yards and let her cool down when taking it to the nearest garage. Check your pulleys too to be sure.
When the power steering goes its amazing the difference, and when it went on mine it felt a lot heavier than a car that doesnt actually come with power steering, it was agony trying to get around the Kinsale roundabout!!!

[TopCat]

Cheers for the advice all. I'll check the pulley's, tensioner and other belts before I go placing the order so. (Any of the Limerick crew need anything from Camskill while I'm at it?)

As MJ said, its not really comparable to driving a car designed without PS. I've driven older cars without, and while they are a bit heavier, its nowhere near as bad as the FTO was on Sunday. My arms were actually sore after, and carparks are a definate no no.

TBH, I hadn't really thought about it until Laura mentioned it, but yeah, if it had happened on a different part of the road, I might not have been so lucky.

[colm_mcm]

your car doesn't have some odd setup due to the aircon being removed?

or is that a different belt?

[TopCat]

Different belt. Camskill actually stock it.

[colm_mcm]

I'd say a motor factors would have it too. once you have the number.

[optical illusion]

I'm good for everything at the mo thanks Tom.

And I'm sorry, but a car who's PS goes and a car that has no PS at all, are two very different stories.

[Myfeckin FTO]

Tom - Needless to say it was meself who last changed the belts on that FTO. Both PS and Alternator belt were changed + one of the tensioners (can't remember which now). The Power steering belt was later changed again when I got rid of the Air Con unit. From what I can remember the replacement belt was a fairly tight fit - I just picked up the closest size I could from a motor factors - Camskill weren't offering them at the time - so I'd say their belt size will be more appropriate.

FWIW - theres no real danger of loosing control of a car if the PS belt goes.

[steelroe]

Tom you will be needing one of these also http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m3b0s583p57

I bet your were well up in the revs when it let go. Problem is the bearing in this tensioner wears and causes a wobble in the tensioner. Not a big prob at low revs, but at high revs it will cut the crap out of the belt. You were lucky it did not cut the crank angle sensor wires. I have seen this prob several times and ti happened twice to me both time cutting the sensor, which is a pain in the ass to repair

[Mustang]

linky
In the end I replaced the crank pully (had previously replaced the alt and PS belts and both tensioners, which did not resolve the issue).
This appears to have sorted the problem as there have been many 8000rpm excursions since without issue.
That said the mechanic reckoned that the crank pully looked ok, and I saw it myself there were no visible signs of it seperating like the example on the camskill site. If you are replacing the crank pully, be sure to order a replacement crank pully bolt, and washer as it may not be possible to reuse these. The threads on mine were spent. P.S. The bolt cost me ~€16 form a mitsi dealer -most expensive bolt I've ever bought!

[miss-enzo]

would you believe my car ate it second belt in 6 months today!

dropping the car to FTORex next week for a full overhaul anyway but reading through this it looks like it might be a hell of alot more parts than i had first thought id need!!