Power Steering Belt Woes

[Kevinb]

Hi everyone,

 

Pretty embarrassing to have to ask.... Can anyone point me in the direction of which bolts/nuts to slacken initially when trying to loosen off the power steering pump to allow the belt to be removed? Pictures would be even better! I've tried following the Haynes manual, which I've generally always found to be pretty good despite what people say. However, it simply states "slacken off the pump's mounting bolts and turn the toothed tensioner nut clockwise to loosen the belt". The toothed nut is obvious, but doesn't seem to actually move the pump in any way. The mounting bolts it refers to could be any of the dozen or so bolts I can see in the immediate vicinity - the most likely candidate being a large 16mm bolt that is clearly the pin for a pivoting assembly just in front and above of the powering steering pump (and is attached to it via the assembly). However, after gingerly moving around the mechanism, I could find no obvious answer.

 

It might be worth noting, I have changed power steering belts on cars in the past, and am confident I can do this! However, it's resisting all my attempts at logically deducing which bolt(s) I need to slacken!!!!!!! I also want to show my two teenage stepsons that their logic of "why can't you just cut It [the old belt] off" is NOT the right way to tackle things...

 

Many thanks for any advice you can give,

 

Kevin

[chromedome]

Vehicle details would help.

[SilverBeast]

You haven't said what engine or MK it is, and I can't see it in your profile.

 

Assuming it's a MKII diesel I believe it also drives the Alternator and air-con. I thought it could be removed after slackening the tensioner without having to move any of the auxilliary items.  The link here explains how to do this.

[seatkid]

on my mk1 diesel (1998 AHU)

 

Slacken the bolt(s) that the pump pivots on just a touch.

 

Slacken the lock bolt that goes through the centre of the toothed adjuster, then use a larger spanner on the toothed adjuster hex shoulder  to move the pump to the slack position.

 

Easy when you realise the toothed tensioner is actually 2 devices, a tensioner and a lock bolt.......

[Kevinb]

Apologies for not making it clearer earlier and my late reply. The engine is from a Mk.1 1.9 TDi. As it happens I was taking it to a garage just before going on holiday. He was pretty good and had a quick look. As a benefit of a previous owner having decided the undertray was a waste of time, the power steering pump was pretty much jammed in place resulting in him having the lever it into a slackened position (after loosening it!). Only took a few minutes but he's apparently seen this many many times......

 

Thanks for everyone's responses since then.

 

Kevin

Edited August 19, 2014 by Kevinb

[chromedome]

Try and get another under tray. It has been known for the power steering to fail momentarily when it's raining. The water gets to the power steering pump/belt causing it to slip.

[Kevinb]

Chromedome, waaaaaaay ahead of you there. The car had never had an undertray and so never realised it was missing. It was only when a neighbour had his Galaxy up and it's undertray off that I realised. My other half has experienced that sudden loss of power steering which also made it priority. Apparently, a local scrappy just bins them as no one ever asks for them!

 

So, after sorting out a few issues (aux belts replacing, oil leak, changing the oil, partner having a baby and running around like a headless chicken etc!) it's been fitted. However, true to the way previous owners have treated it, I found a half sheared bolt in one of the bolt holes! Still, it's on now....

 

Thanks for everyone's help.

 

Kevin