sayow

So about a year ago I bought a near mint 99 LS in Diamond Pearl with 97k on the clock. Timing belt and water pump done at 92k.

While I love the car, it was apparent a few weeks after delivery that the car had sat a while (which explains the low miles) and I discovered a few problems. First the AC while ice cold had a bit of a whine to it (bearing), the tires had great tread but some cracking and the big one that I did not notice until after delivery was a leaky steering rack.

So I had the entire rack and pump replaced about 10 months ago and it has ran perfectly for the 6k miles since then... until last week.

Right as I started the car and began to move, i heard a CLUNK and my battery light came on with power steering going dead. Serpentine belt right? That is what i thought to.

But much to my surprise when i opened the hood... the belt snapped alright, but the power steering pulley and literally fallen off and sheered the threaded shaft in the power steering pump. Laying at the bottom of the engine bay was the pulley and the nut that holds it on.

Unfortunately, it appears the nut had come off and stripped the pump shaft so that i could not get the pulley back on the pump. Had to replace the pump, reinstall the pulley, nut and new serpentine belt and then be sure to lock tight the nut.

So my questions:

* Anyone ever heard of this happening?
* I am just a mediocre shade tree mechanic, is the use of tight lock standard?
* Did the mechanic i used initially screw up by not using lock tight or is there a SOP he should have used?
* The pump was less than a year old, so i paid the core charge to keep it thinking maybe the shaft can be replaced.

Car is running great and back to mint condition... i hope

billydpowe

iTrader: (1)

nope, never heard of that, hope I dont......
I was a professional dealer mechanic, and shop owner for many years (I am 81 now) and employed many mechanics and there is no SOP on the little stuff... we all have our own way of doing things... the thing I stressed was "fix/repair" the trouble and leave it looking like you had not even worked on it, but it now has NO problem...
my customers liked that approach...

djamps

not torqued to the proper ft/lbs is the most likely cause.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

my guess is an overtighened pulley nut and it stripping some of the threads on the shaft.

Legender

I just did that PS pump replacement on my 98 and don't seem to have a problem. I still have a small leak somewhere in the rack / hydraulics as evidenced by my driveway, but have not had a problem with the pump since I replaced it. And I did not use any Loctite on the nuts or bolts during re-assembly.