Crazy knocking noise from serpentine belt area, power steeri

rmorse · Post by **rmorse** » 25 Sep 2012, 14:03

So, driving around with my girlfriend in our beater.... 98 V70 NA with 230K miles. Car got a crazy noise, so I popped the hood. The noise is coming from the serpentine belt. Anyway, nothing we can do since we're like 100 miles from home.

Noise went away and then came back when we stopped at the gas station. Popped the hood and the thing was straight slinging power steering fluid off the serpentine belt lol. Also, the top pulley that's attached to the power steering reservoir is rattling....it's not spinning straight.

Driving home now, with our fingers crossed lol. Any ideas as to what it is? I'm going to take the serpentine belt off and play with that pulley, but I don't know what it is that needs replaced.

Post by **phils94850** » 25 Sep 2012, 14:11

Id say its the pulley on your powersteering pump is shot..

byeboy · Post by **byeboy** » 25 Sep 2012, 19:55

Well, that post was seven hours ago, but I bet he didn't make it even 30 minutes before it just destroyed the pulley and did a dismount on the belt...
but can you just cut the belt on these cars and muscle it along?...I never have tried to drive a Rack and Pinion that way, I have done old recirculating ball.

Another example why the $125.00 a year AAA Premier is a great thing to have when you drive old cars...especially down here in Texas (where everything is at least a 100 mile trip it seems)because it gives you, among other things, two 250 mile tows (actually roll-off trucks) to any shop , your house, wherever. I've bought it for years, seldom used it, but its great sense of security for the price...Oh, and you get one day free rental car while yours is being fixed, as well.

I consider it mandatory for an old Volvo, living out here in the country as I do.

Post by **jblackburn** » 25 Sep 2012, 20:42

Yeah, AAA is a great idea for one of these old cars.

Your power steering pump blew and needs to be replaced.

rmorse · Post by **rmorse** » 26 Sep 2012, 05:53

byeboy wrote:Well, that post was seven hours ago, but I bet he didn't make it even 30 minutes before it just destroyed the pulley and did a dismount on the belt...
but can you just cut the belt on these cars and muscle it along?...I never have tried to drive a Rack and Pinion that way, I have done old recirculating ball.

Another example why the $125.00 a year AAA Premier is a great thing to have when you drive old cars...especially down here in Texas (where everything is at least a 100 mile trip it seems)because it gives you, among other things, two 250 mile tows (actually roll-off trucks) to any shop , your house, wherever. I've bought it for years, seldom used it, but its great sense of security for the price...Oh, and you get one day free rental car while yours is being fixed, as well.

I consider it mandatory for an old Volvo, living out here in the country as I do.

HA! Made it longer than 30 minutes boy! I drove it (very nervously) for another hour and a half and made it home

I was tempted to cut it, but I wasn't 100% sure on what would happen besides a dead battery.... Oh well. In any case, thanks for the heads up guys, about the power steering pump. My buddy has a used one that he's tossing me for $20, so the beater should be back on the road Friday!

Post by **cmblackburn** » 26 Sep 2012, 06:02

Yeah, your water pump is timing belt driven so that saved you there. I had a similar experience with my pump, but I was able to baby my car home 20 miles with the pump still going. It destroyed the innards of the pump.
When you replace it make sure the o-ring is still attached to your high pressure line- it's easy to misplace yet crucial.
Before installing the used pump make sure to spin it around and listen for any bad noises or resistance. I got mine out of a 40k car just so I knew I'd be good for it.
Also draining the old ATF from it is a nasty pain- I went to the dollar store and got a cheap spray bottle. With the engine cold I shoved the straw of the spray bottle into the reservoir and squirted as much of the fluid as I could into the bottle, then got the rest out by placing an aluminum pan (very carefully) underneath the low pressure line and disconnecting it. It will keep dripping for a while, so leave the pan there.
When all is said and done, leave the cap off, start the car and do at least ten full left-to-right locks, this will remove all the air from the system.
Good luck!