Power steering loss, lights dimming.

2009 KIA RIO
40,800 MILES • 1.4L • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
Avatar
KEEGANJDAVIS
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
My Rio LX has been squealing for a month or so now, I took it into the shop and they said they checked everything, and found that the mount for the alternator was stripped, and they rethreaded and mounted the alternator. They also said they checked the pulleys, power steering pump and system. After I got the car back, the issue went away for about a month, but now the problem is back. The power steering fluid is full, and colored fine, the power steering belt is brand new, the other two belts are about 15,000 miles on them, at least that's what the dealership claims. The problem usually comes up when it's cold, but it also happens on normal days when I turn the wheel all the way over. Before I took it into the shop, the belts all stopped when I turned the wheel all the way over. That hasn't begun again yet, but the pump makes a hissing or sucking sound and the hose leading to the reservoir tightens up now. I also have steering wheel vibration while on the express way, no connection to speed, but it feels like the wheel is switching between extremely hard to turn and extremely loose.
Apr 3, 2016 at 5:35 AM
Advertisement
Avatar
HMAC300
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 48,601 POSTS
check belt tensioner may need replacing as well then turn all the way to left hold for 30 seconds then all the way to right and do same. repeat 5 times it may have air in system. make sure p/s is full prior to do ing this then check again after finishing.
Apr 3, 2016 at 8:58 AM
Avatar
KEEGANJDAVIS
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
So I had a friend turn the wheel while I watched the belts. The car has three belts, a AC one, a water pump/alternator one, and a power steering one. The power steering Pump and alternator belt share a pulley. When I turn the wheel over, the belt and pulley for the power steering stop completely, and that causes the pulley where they meet to stop. The belt for the alternator keeps spinning, but is stuttering because the power steering pump isn't allowing it to spin.
Apr 3, 2016 at 10:53 AM
Advertisement
Avatar
HMAC300
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 48,601 POSTS
the pump mayhave some junk in it as well as belt may be loose. it need to 98NM torgue with a belt gauge on it so it is done correctly you may have oil on pulleys as well so check that. if you find junk in system you'll have to put a filter on the return hose and hope it all gets in the filter and not is steering rack. pic shows bolt for tension
Image (Click to enlarge)
Attached Media
Apr 3, 2016 at 12:30 PM
Avatar
KEEGANJDAVIS
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
The power steering fluid looks good in color, nothing I can see in it, no flakes or discoloring, is that the only way to check for junk in the system? Also, I will adjust the tension on the pulley, and check other pulleys for oil. I plan to put some belt grip on the alternator belt to test if it's the belt, pulley, or pump.
Apr 3, 2016 at 12:38 PM
Avatar
HMAC300
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 48,601 POSTS
also check tension on alternator belt as well as clean battery terminal ends.
Apr 3, 2016 at 1:31 PM
Avatar
KEEGANJDAVIS
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
I put belt dress on the belts and the problem stopped, so does that mean it's my belt or tensioner, and not the pump? The steering wheel still shakes on the express way.
Apr 3, 2016 at 2:19 PM
Avatar
HMAC300
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 48,601 POSTS
probably not the pump check belt tension like I said it may be way to loose also causing the problem.
Apr 3, 2016 at 3:29 PM
Avatar
KEEGANJDAVIS
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
I tightened them both up, and adjusted them around while turning the car on and checking to see if it squeals when I turn all the way over. I just adjusted it until it stopped doing it.
Apr 3, 2016 at 4:02 PM
Avatar
KEEGANJDAVIS
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
The problem is back as of this morning.
Apr 4, 2016 at 3:55 AM
Avatar
HMAC300
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 48,601 POSTS
then it's either a bad pump or something wrong with the rack
Apr 4, 2016 at 6:52 AM