grinding sounds, fluid leak - after replacing vbelt/ps belt

[robz]

Hi,
91 jetta diesel 1.6 non turbo

While replacing my vbelt today, put the car all back together took her for a spin.  I heard some strange grinding type noises, and a little shriek while turning.  I found the power steering belt got tightened too much, so

I loosened the p/s belt, started her up and notice fluid leak, I assume p/s  fluid but it’s coming out and not a little but not too much, but enough.  The car is still making grinding type noise but I can’t seem to figure out what is grinding, could the pulleys be touching?  They dont look like they are.

When I turn the wheel I feel some tension as well as there is a shrieking sound.  I’m lost.
The only thing I can think of is to remove the p/s belt and see what happens.

Am I totally screwed?

Thank you,

robz

[Vincent Waldon]

Yup, I'd pull the belt to isolate the noise.

Likely scenario:  belt too tight -> PS bushing and front seal fail -> leaking fluid and a heck of a racket

[robz]

hey, cool thank you for the infor

i took off the belt, and the grinding sound is gone, as well as it does not spute out fluid...

but the bottom pulley that the p/s belt goes on - the pulley that virtually sits on the p/s pump (the only one on the bottom) doesnt move, I assume cause there is no ps belt on there

please help need her for work tomorrow...

thank you,

rob

[robz]

can I drive the car without the p/s belt, is it safe... I'm not sure if it works with the water pump, can I take out the p/s pump, my main thing is I need to be able to drive it but not f**k up the car for future use... so basically p/s is not a concern, just wondering...

thank you,

robz

[Vincent Waldon]

The belt that drives the power steering pump also drives the water pump, so the car will quickly overheat without that belt... possibly warping the head etc etc etc.

In other words, I personally wouldn't drive more than about 10 feet without that belt.

[robz]

oh sh*tty,

I thought it would be ok to drive...

so for sure 100% the p/s belt runs the water pump?

robz

[gigaz2]

if its a jetta mk2 then yes, there are two belts, the timing belt (under the plastic cover) and the accessory belt, that runs everything else, including the waterpump.

in serpentine setups (mk3) the PS is fed by a different (3rd) belt, on those you can drive without that belt because the waterpump will still be driven.

[Smokey Eddy]

sorry mate =( That sucks big time.
Maybe you can switch to manual rack steering if you dont care.
My PS doesn't work and i don't really know why but its a valve im sure in the ... what you would call the master cylinder i guess... i changed the pump but still no dice! and PS fluid is a hellish substance. It will eat through anything (at least what ever came out mine did, maybe it was ATF)
Good luck!!!!!!!

[morefuel]

maybe  just buy a belt from auto parts for a jetta  that doesnt have  power steering im driving without my belt and so is my brotehr and we both have powersteering racks if you have any arm strength at all  you will be fine

[robz]

hey guys,

thanks for the replies...
I've been driving her for the last couple days and no problems. the steerinng is tough but I can deal with it,

The vbelt is on nice which is pushing the water pump - which was a huge stress causing concern - don't want to warp the head...

- The p/s pulley has got a little too much play, so I'm wondering if the pulley is bad or if just the ps pump is bad, I know when the ps belt is on there is the grinding noise without it on everything is good - it's mk2 91 jetta diesel 1.6 without a/c...

robz