SCd_Walter

98.5 2.8 qms w/ PES G2 SC

Yesterday when I started my car up after getting it back together, and letting everything lubricate properly, there was a metal on metal clatter/grinding noice that I could hear. I had the serpintine belt off, the harmonic blancer off and the timing covers off. At first I was worried that it was the SC.

I took a rod and listened around the engine bay. It defiantely wasn't coming from the SC. It looked to be coming from the large diameter pulley that was right below the SC, slightly offset from the centerline of the engine to the left.

IIRC this is the Power Steering pulley, and the noise seems to be either coming from their, or the unit it is attached to (I assume the PS pump). It seems like there is a slight play in the pulley too (if the engine is off, I can wobble it very slightly side to side) Has anyone had this before? Is this an indication of the PS pump going bad? Are the pulley bearings going bad? Something else?

At high idle, the sound can be heard, but once the engine is warm and it drops to ~750 it isn't heard anymore. I can hear it again if I rev the engine. I can also hear the noice if I turn the wheel from side to side, there is a definate tone change, and the noise will start at idle if it wasn't audible before.

Thank you for any help you can offer.

~walter

Kris Hansen

are you losing any PS fluid?

SCd_Walter

the PS fluid was leaking slightly from one of the hoses connected to the resevoir and the res. was at or slightly below the minimum level, when I looked in after the car had been running, the fluid had bubbles in it?

does this mean the entire PS pump is on the way out? what would I need to replace?

thanks

Kris Hansen

take the belt off, and spin it by hand, see if it grinds.. Chances are, by what you describe, it's toast. Air bubbles arent' the end of the world, but they should work out before too long..