Installing power steering belt??

timbieber · timbieber's Garage

Power steering belt snapped. Looks pretty simple but not sure if i want to start the job to find out it's more complicated then it looks. Has anyone done it... does anyone know of any on-line instructions or pdf 944 service manual? I've got 85.5 944.

Techno Duck · Techno Duck's Garage

Its very simple to do. There is a turnbuckle that connects the power steering pump to the block. Turn this to release tension on the belt. There are two lock nuts on this turnbuckle and sometimes they are pretty badly seized. If you have this problem, take the entire turnbuckle off the car and put it in a vice. A little penetrating oil and heat from a propane torch will loosen them up, antiseize the heck out of both eyebolt threads while its off the car, this makes your life alot easier in the future.

For future reference, check the garage shop manual on ClarksGarage. http://www.clarks-garage.com/

speedracing944 · speedracing944's Garage

Both nuts spin the same direction. Check the threads to determine which way they should turn. One time I had a wrench on it and couldn't make it budge using all my might. I then found out I was going the wrong way and tightening it instead of loosening it.

All in all it is a pretty easy job and should be able to be done in a half and hour.

Speedy

timbieber · timbieber's Garage

Thats great guys... thanks a lot!

I wonder if either of these problems are common for 944... I've got a bad fuel smell. It's worst at the back passenger side of the car where the tank spout is. I've examined as best i can without having it up on a lift and can't see any leaking. Could there be a common spot on these tanks where a hole can develop?

also... my windshield washer squirters stopped worked but head light squirters continue to work just fine. Are there two separate motors? which is the motor mounted on the top of the wash fluid reservoir?

Pops944 · Pops944's Garage

the upper motor is the windshield pump and the lower motor is for the headlights

timbieber · timbieber's Garage

so i guess that upper motor is out then. I don't hear anything from it so it must be burnt out?
I'll have to add that to the list parts i'm getting from a wrecker.

John_AZ · 02-07-2009, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timbieber

Thats great guys... thanks a lot!

I wonder if either of these problems are common for 944... I've got a bad fuel smell. It's worst at the back passenger side of the car where the tank spout is. I've examined as best i can without having it up on a lift and can't see any leaking. Could there be a common spot on these tanks where a hole can develop?

Your fuel fill or return hoses may need replacing.
This explains common tank cracks and repairs:

87 924S Gas tank removal

OR

Gas fumes? Tank leaks? Read this.

GL
John_AZ

timbieber · timbieber's Garage

Thanks for those instructions and the help! After having to return the belt i was sold b/c it was too short i got it on and tighten up no worries at all!

Problem is, now i have discovered the reason there was no belt on when i bought the car was because there a fast leak from a hose further back pretty much dead center under the motor thats leaking bad. Question: If i leave the belt on and no fluid (since it's all leaked out) am I causing damage to the power steering pump? The hose is very hard to get at so i'll take to a mechanic but probably not for a week or two... in that period can i burn out a pump if there's no fluid running through?? Should i take everything apart again and pull the belt off immediately?

Let me know. Thanks so much for the advice!

TibetanT · TibetanT's Garage

Can you burn the pump out running it dry? YES I think you can.

Can you drive the car with the belt off of the power steering pump? YES you can.

Will it be a little hard to turn with the belt off of the power steering pump and the pump not working properly?

Sure it will be, but you'll live to talk about it.

It's always something fundamental.

good luck with that.

timbieber · timbieber's Garage

I've been driving it with no power steering so not that big of a deal. Just not sure how quick i have to get around to getting the belt off... like, if i drove for the week then did it next weekend? I'm wondering if that's going to damage the pump??

TibetanT · TibetanT's Garage

Forgot to mention this earlier. If your power steering pump or hoses are leaking, check to make sure the stuff is not falling onto the bushings on the sway bar. The rubber bushing will be eaten up by the fluid. If, like you said, the PO (previous owner) took the power steering belt off for this reason, you might start looking very closely at those bushings. I would bet a nickel that they will be showing signs of age.

One of the cars I had worked on in the past had this problem and the owner drove the car without knowing it. The bushing deteriorated and then the sway bar bracket broke. Basically, creating an unsafe situation for braking and steering the car.

Hope this helps and good luck with that.

TibetanT · TibetanT's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by timbieber

I've been driving it with no power steering so not that big of a deal. Just not sure how quick i have to get around to getting the belt off... like, if i drove for the week then did it next weekend? I'm wondering if that's going to damage the pump??

If it were me, I would not drive the car like that. I would unfasten the power steering belt until it can be fixed.

For example, would you run your car without any oil in the pan? No, not a good idea. Remember, heat is the culprit and without oil/power steering fluid the pump will seize at some point. Essentially making it worthless.

My advise: Unhook the power steering belt and take it off until you can get the pump and leak fixed properly.