Water pump apparently went bad on the drive home from Jacksonville. Belt burnt up and broke while driving. I was able to limp it home. I got the new pump on but having issues making the belt fit around the crank and power steering pulleys. (Yes, I downloaded and have been using the repair manual).

I know there is something I am missing, but just can't see it, I am sure this is something stupid that would take all of 5 minutes....



Illustration shows what I am working with. The repair manual makes it sound like you just loosen the nut marked "loosen" and adjust where it says "adjust" - but its not moving at all for me. Since it broke in place is it possible something else is wrong here (why I can't adjust the power steering pulley closer to fit the belt (green dots) around the crank and water pulleys?

Thoughts. Tips. Advice. Local Volunteers (for beer?)

Thanks,

Jon

 

notice the 2 holes in the power steering pump pully??? you may have to turn the pully to get the holes lined up on the bolts... behind that there are more bolts that can be loosened to move the powersteering pump and allowing it to move a little more so the belt will slide on... i dont think my fsm said anything about loosening them either... but that is where the other bolts are that hold the water pump in place...

 

I've had a buddy of mine suggest I put the belt over the water pump and the crank and try and make it reach the power steering. Loosen the adjusting bolts. Pull the fuse for the fuel pump so the car won't start. Put a screwdriver or wrench to pry the belt into place - and then crank the motor to try and slip the belt in place....

Anyone try this? (i am a little hesitant to just force it on there...)

Jon

 

hmmm I will try and look for that. Didn't look thru there before. Thanks.

Jon

 

dont try to slip the belt into place... danger awates he who tries... you want a screwdriver in your hands that close to a cranking motor??? hell no... not smart...toosen all the bolts... it will go on...

 

Yeah I figured it out - thanks. I am gonna post pictures a little later, b/c there are steps not included or mentioned in the repair manual.

Jon

 

thats whut i was getting at... but as long as the job gets done...

 

If it the same problem as mine was, it was just stuck cause its been sitting like that for so long....you just have to work at it, maybe tap the bar with the adjusting bolt on it lightly until it comes loose. After that, its easy to get on. As long as you bought the right size belt, that is.

 

Well some properly placed PB Blaster on the right bolts loosened everything right up. But the power steering pulley does not come far enough in to just slide the new belt into place. I actually did use a screwdriver as described. I just pulled one of the spark plug wire so the engine wouldn't turn over.

The pics should be helpful once I get them up and drawn all over like my other picture lol. I should also get some pics of the car up as well.

97 240 SE, 98k miles, horrible exhaust that I have to replace from previous owner oh and my custom vented hood since I also took off the LED windshield washer thingys he had on their too (no OEM ones in place yet)

...its a work in progress.

Jon

 

Here's my suggestion for unsticking the powersteering pulley/pump ..... Take something that won't damage or dig into the pump , place it up aginst part of the pump , hit the piece with a hammer till it moves . I had to do this with my powersteering pump and my alternaor to change the belts . Yuo do this after you loosen the adjustments bolt/bolts of course .

 

nobody mentioned to loosen the pivot bolt on the power steering pulley. im having the same problem. i already loosened the tensioner bolt but the pivot bolt is right behind the pulley. i didnt think to check the holes in the pulley to line up with the bolt. i will check that out tomorow after work. i was just wondering what everyone else did to loosen up their power steering pulley. i need my belts changed asap.

 

That bolt is exactly what u need to losen - that allows the power steering pump to swing down and closer to the other pulleys. The bolt for that is right under where I have the read arrow pointing and says "power steering" but u can't see the bolt in that picture though.

It won't however (at least for me it didn't) get close enough to just slide the belt on - I had to slip it on as described above with a screwdriver.

Jon