Saturday, December 27th, 2025 AT 4:00 PM
Started with alternator going bad out of absolutely no where, so of course I changed it as well as installed brand new Battery and belt. After, I had suspension work done all the way around (struts, control arms, sway links, inner & outer tire rods) after having the suspension done, I noticed a loud screaming whine. I contacted the mechanic immediately and he said “I did notice there was a ton of fluid that seemed to be stuck in the ‘boot” but I didn’t think too much of it. So he came back the next day, and found the power steering resivour was empty. So naturally we filled it up and the sound went away after a few lock turns from left to right. But then returned with a vengeance. He wasn’t comfortable with changing the power steering pump which seemed to be the culprit, so I reached out to someone else who was willing to take on the task. Pump was changed as well as new belt yet again, pullies we confirmed to be okay, upon turning on and trying to bleed, there’s still the loud screech, and the fluid is turning into foam, air bubbles go away, but come back when adding more fluid. Observing from the top, the belt keeps jumping off of the alternator slightly and then goes back in place. Screeching still very much present? Eventually battery light came on and car stalled, my belt looks like angel hair pasta. Changed out the return hose and the pressure switch I am now 6 belts in and each have shredded the same way, in around the same amount of time. And I just don’t know what to do. I am using the proper PS fluid for my vehicle, and it has been perfectly mechanically sound, until this nonsense has happened. I have no light on dash and no check engine light. Why is the belt jumping off of the alternator? Why is it shredding? It was also mentioned to me that it sounds like the belt is hitting something even though all the pullies seem to be completely functional? I am by no means a mechanic. I know very very little. And I feel like I have been taken advantage of by a few who weren’t up for the task of this nightmare of a job which I would think would be so simple? Please guide me in the right direction? I am well over $1000 spent and I don’t have another $1000+ for this. Please help me understand what’s happening and how to fix the issue? I have a high pressure hose and ideler pulley with assembly which they weren’t installed? Not sure why? But they said hose two things were okay. My driveway is full of power steering fluid and an undrivable car. He told me to drive it around last night after installing belt #6 since it was no longer jumping off of the alternator, but of course that wasn’t the case, and I made it back to my driveway by pure luck because by the time I was in park, my belt had shredded yet again and I was able to turn it off before it caused any more harm. Please please help me out here!



