Vehicle background: I had overheating problems.

Tiny
ANONYMOUS
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 MERCURY SABLE
  • 119,000 MILES
Vehicle background: I had overheating problems last year as my fan had worn down to nubs. It was replaced along with the alternator and battery that had had it due to the overheating. No problems for 14 months until yesterday.

Current problem: Seatbelt light flashes on and off accompanied by clicking when it goes on or off. Also, power steering goes half-off during this time. I know what it's like when the power steering is all-the-way off because I've ridden it down hills with the engine off and therefore no power steering at all. What I'm getting is about halfway between completely off and proper. Does not seem to happen immediately, only after it's been running 5-15 minutes. The power steering issue only starts after the seatbelt light begins flickering on and off with clicks.

Attempted Solutions: I checked the 2 fuse banks in the front of the engine and all were in correctly. I replaced some but not all of the power steering fluid that looks a bit dirty, but since the problems only happens when the seat belt light comes on I don't think it's the fluid, otherwise the power steering would be suspect all the time instead of just intermittently. I've run and turn off the car multiple times and this keeps resurfacing.
Sunday, April 7th, 2013 AT 6:19 PM

2 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
You could have a faulty buckle for the seat belt light flashing,

as far as the clicking, where is it coming from?

Roy
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Sunday, April 7th, 2013 AT 6:22 PM
Tiny
FREEMBA
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,152 POSTS
Along with what has already been posted, the belt tensioner could be going bad, thereby not providing enough pressure on the power steering belt allowing it to slip 9this will cause the half-off condition you spoke of).
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Sunday, April 7th, 2013 AT 6:29 PM

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