Power steering pump chewing engine block (I think) fwd ka24e

[Angell6]

I'm new here, but not to cars. I recently received and 91 Stanza with a ka24e, fwd. I've had the car since August, so I'm still fixing all the little problems the original owners didn't.

One problem (aside from wrong spark plugs, wires...) was that the pwr steering belt was too thin. It was the same belt as the water pump. What a moron, right? I replaced it with the correct one about 2 1/2 months ago. For the past month the car has had a slight squeak from the belt. Friday the car started screaming, a noise that I've never heard from a belt before. About an hour ago I turned the wheel to the right and removed the passenger side guard. To my amazement, it looked as if the power steering pump pully was grinding into the engine block. The squeaking was deff. coming from the pump. Also, the steering has been a bit shaky, the noise dies down when turning, and a really odd vibration can be felt throughout the car.

From the symptoms, I would've guessed the pump was going bad, which led me to look at it. I'm more concerned with the fact the pully is rubbing; I can't even put a fingernail between the two. If someone could please post a pic of this area, I would greatly appreciate it. I will try to post one tomorrow. It's dark here or else I would've already. Sorry so long, I just realized how much I typed. Oh yeah, I guess my question is, Is it supposed to be like that?

[liquid_cool]

thats the wrong belt man..you need a larger belt for clearencing the block..its to small not giving you the option for adjustment...

[Angell6]

I have the correct belt on. I bought the belt Autozone said I needed, and it fits the pullys. The adjustment is on the alternator, so technically the pwr string pump shouldn't move right? Is the pump connected to a bracket or to the block directly?

[Angell6]

Here are the links to 2 pics of my problem. You can see where the pully is pulled against the block by the belt.

http://www.facebook.com/photo....38692

http://www.facebook.com/photo....38692

These are the public links so you should be able to get to them no matter what.

[liquid_cool]

is your bracket holding the pump on even there?..is it broken?..couse that is not rite man..sumpin is awry for sho...clean under there and look at your bracket..see if its missing a bolt or if it crackd and is cantaleavering into the block.

[Angell6]

is your bracket holding the pump on even there?..is it broken?..couse that is not rite man..sumpin is awry for sho...

lol no kidding. I tried to get back under there but it's impossible without jacking the car up and taking off the wheel, which I'm not going to do in my parking deck (I'm at school).

I have spring break in a week. You think I could drive it 550 miles home? I noticed that if I loosened the belt the sound wasn't as bad. I think the previous belt on it was way to small and possibly bent or broke something over time. If I could just get it home I can get it up on the lift and fix it no problem.

I have driven it about 400 miles, that is, until I found the problem. I thought it was just a squeaky belt. God, come to think about it, it started squeaking about 3000 miles ago in December!

[Angell6]

Come to think of it, I think possible a bolt either connecting the pump to the bracket or bracket to engine might've come loose. The car has a very bad vibration sound. I'll try to make a video of it but I can't make any promises.

My other car made an almost identical noise when a bolt loosed on one of the motor mounts. It's just too freakin hard to get back there and find what's going on. I tried to stick the camera back there and take pictures, but it didn't work out so well...

[liquid_cool]

first off man....your engine should be cleaner...you need a better regiment for checking problems..as a driver of a "240sx" there is a certian responcibility in the comunity to maintain a better running ride then your moms mini-van..dont get me wrong..im not trying to burn ya...just point what ya need to do out...you need to maintain a clean engine at all times..with in reason of course...the clean engine will help you spot problems like this one fast..specially leaking seals and hoses...the engine bay should be a temple..but the inside..who cares..lol..clean he up in the bay man and post some pics of that bracket ...

[Angell6]

oh yeah I know. Like I said, I just got the car a few months ago and the original owners took very poor care of it. It was after all, a free car. This thing was sitting by the bay in NYC. It got so rusted out the passenger front strut snapped, something I've never seen before. Once summer hits this car will be a gem. It's just too hard to do any real work aside from interior while at college and in a parking deck. It drives me nuts having a dirty engine bay. When I swapped the engine in my escort I took about 2 days just cleaning the new engine and bay.

[liquid_cool]

i know what ya mean man..drove me insane when i rescued mine from the kid who faild the swap..its been a never ending nightmare of cleaning and fixing broken cut wire's..

[Angell6]

Fixed the problem, turns out the top bracket had broken where it bolts to the engine. After about 3 hours of welding, grinding and drilling it was back together.