More problems

[ihatemygrandamg]

So aside from overheating, my car is having other problems. Lately its been making a REALLY, REALLY loud sqealing/screeching noise coming from either my belt or my ps pump.

I first noticed it after a hard rain or slightly when its really cold out, but now it does it pretty much all the time. It also gets louder as I turn the wheel more or give it more throttle, which is signs of the ps pump, but I just replaced it a few weeks ago. I tried testing out the noise by starting the car and trying turning the wheel all the way left and right. When I would cut the wheel all the way, it would try to push itself back the opposite direction and the rpms would jump and the car feels like it was almost about to stall.

Im gonna try getting a goodyear gatorback(have a dayco now), and if thats not it then I might replace the ps pump again. Could it be the belt tensioner? Or even air in the ps lines?

[SappySE107]

Could be air. I use trans fluid in my cars now and it seems to work pretty well. I start the engine, pour some in till its half way full, then turn the wheels back and forth a lot. Need the front tires off the ground. You don't want too much in there either so get it so there is some in the resevoir but not to the top.

Im not sure what a rack does when it goes bad, as I replaced the one in my 91 before it was even showing signs of not being normal.

[ihatemygrandamg]

You use trans fluid in the ps?

Well Im getting a new belt anyway cause I need a shorted one to delete my a/c.

[SappySE107]

Yeah, its what most companies use. Im not really sure why GM uses power steering fluid instead.

[Rhedalert]

Ford used ATF in their pumps for years. I don't think it's a big issue. I don't know if one is better than the other, but I did run ATF in my old car with no adverse effects.

[tractorman]

Air in your p/s lines won't cause the squealing problem. It'll make the pump hum a little, but will work itself out soon enough (a couple days, topping it off as neccesary). A glazed belt can cause that problem (especially if you've spilled oil on it), as could a loose tentioner. I'd suspect one of those since you're hearing it mostly when rainy or cold. Those tensioners have a bad habit of wearing the pivot out. Make sure the belt is running centered on the tensioner, and that you can't wobble it around much. Also, just for the hell of it while you've got the belt off, make sure that all your accessory bearings roll smoothly and aren't loose- just loose enough to feel is ok, but enough to 'clunk' is bad.

If a new belt and checking the tensioner doesn't take care of the problem, then I guess the pump is a possibility... but pretty unlikely. The only scenario I can imagine that could make the pump cause that is if the relief valve is set too high... but I don't ever remember running into that.

It won't hurt a thing to run ATF in your power steering- I see it done all the time. Personally, I run what the GM Gods tell me to put in there unless I see a good reason to change it... but in this case it won't really matter much. In fact it might be better if it gets stupid-cold where you are, as atf is a bit thinner I think.

How's that overheating problem going? Did you get the air bleeder fixed up?

[SappySE107]

I was told that running ATF will free up a little power since its thinner. I dunno if it does or not but it certainly works just fine with ATF.

[ihatemygrandamg]

Well I checked my ps fluid and it was a bit low, so I put lucas ps fluid in, and also got a lil belt spray. Did that then drove it,and the sqealing came back after a min. It squealed for a few mins,but then stopped and I heard a tine like tapping/pinging noise. A little thread is loose on the blet and was hitting the little belt cover over top the water pump. Gonna get a gatorback tomorow since Im deleting my a/c.

Oh and I tried letting the car warm up with the coolant res cap off, since I cant use the bleeder screw. I did that twice and it doesnt overheat as much, may go up a bit but not all the way to 260*. I havnt had a chance to go to a junkyard but Im gonna go within the next few days to see if I can find that long coolant hardline that bleeder screw is in. Could I use one of these from any 3400 vehicle? How about any 3100 vehicle? Just incase I can find an n-body cause its prolly easier to find a minivan or an older w-body or something.

[SappySE107]

Gonna have to take a pic of yours unless someone already knows for sure. Can't drill yours out and but a bolt in there for a bleeder?

[ihatemygrandamg]

Well Im sure I could drill it out but Im not good with things like that, and its soo small Id prolly damage something. The pipe isnt hard to get, Im sure I could find one for only like $5-10