01RedCLS

I just had a mechanic replace my timing belt and water pump. I also had him install the OptionRacing pulley that everyone is raving about.

I bought all of the seals, belts, etc that I needed for the job.

After doing the work, he called me up and I came by to pick up the car. He told me the car was purring like a kitten but he asked me if it had been whining a bit when turning. I told him it hadn't and when I test drove it, I really noticed the whining. It is most obvious 20mph or lower when turning left but is also present, to a lesser extent, when turning right.

He thought the pulley could be underdriving the pump, causing the whine. Well, the next day I started the car, popped the hood, and noticed the car idling much louder. I took it by his place, he listened to it and said it had gotten much louder since I picked up the car the day before.

He said the noise is coming from the power steering pump. Is it possible the pulley caused this? Or that it just "brought out" the problem sooner??

I don't want to buy a new pulley to swap back in to find out it's the PS pump.

HELP, any advice here? I've searched but I want to be 100% sure in my situation..

fsttyms1

Sounds like the mechanic overtightened the ps belt. He probably fried the bearings in the pump. They are very sensitive

StonedCL

iTrader: (1)

I have a option pulley and my car idles at 750 rpm's and makes NO noise.
I had it put in about a month ago.. My car seems to blow ac colder and turn easier since I put the option pulley in but performace wise i don't notice anything!

camaroracer016

Fluid full? its an easy thing to overlook.

01RedCLS

Yes the fluid is very full .. it's a bit above "Upper Level" .. no leaks, or else it wouldn't be so full .

So if the mechanic fried the bearings in the pump, is the pump completely shot? Or can I buy just the bearings for the existing PS pump??

Moodist

iTrader: (2)

I had the same damn issue, the P/S had to be replaced. It must be real sensitive to get ruined by over tightening the belts.

CL-S progression 01

iTrader: (2)

I got the option pulley done at my DLR who does everything for me that requires the impact and the pulley does not underdrive the the power steering enough to cause any symptoms, as it does to some other cars. Check how tight the belt is on the power steering, if you can push it and it moves a bit back and forth, then it's prolly not too tight, but if try to move the belt and it's barely budging, than yes it's defs too tight.

Put it this way, it should be looser than you'd expect it to be.

and as for performance... I certainly can tell the 10hp gain.. Especially in vtec.... put the car in nutral and rev it and tell me you don't notice how much faster the revs spool up AND down?

StonedCL

iTrader: (1)

01redCLS tell your machanic he fried your bearings cuz it happen to others that have the same car had the same problem..

01RedCLS

Dumb question: so does the PS pump have to be replaced now as a result?? Or can I have just the bearings replaced (is that even possible?)

The PS pump is not a cheap part..

burnedhandz

happened to me, you probably have air in the tube/hose

Mike

how did you bleed out the air?

silvervtec96

I had the same problem. If you have air in the system, remove the cap of the reservoir and let it run, it will work its way out.

However, the pump is more than likely too tight. I had to replace mine.... was expensive. Try loosening it up some if you haven't driven too far. When I put my new one on, it made some noise, loosened up some more and it has been fine.

AcuraGman

iTrader: (1)

Your pump is most likely fried. Don't bother taking it apart and replacing the bearings. Just replace the pump. The Honda Odyssey uses the same pump. It's probably cheaper to get it there.

AnthraciteBeast

iTrader: (3)

who cares how much faster the revs rise in Neutral

Never heard of doing it this way

The way i do it is to turn the steering wheeling from lock to lock over and over.................and over, until the noise stopped

03CL-S6SMike

My guess would be air got into your power steering system, or u can possibly fry your bearings by having the ps belt on too tight which causes stress to the bearings due to being over tightened.

03CL-S6SMike

Forgot to mention that i put on my option pulley about 3 weeks ago and have not had any issues with my power steering. I made sure i did not over tighten my ps belt.

01RedCLS

Thanks guys, will discuss with my mechanic this weekend..