Belt jumping off of the alternator?

Tiny
AMARINJETER
  • MEMBER
  • 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA
  • 6 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 117,011 MILES
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!
Saturday, December 27th, 2025 AT 4:00 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,872 POSTS
Wow, yep the people working on it seems like they dont know what hat they are doing or they are not keeping their eyes open when working on the car, the PS leak is the problem with the fluid on the ground, so it can be the rack and pinion that are leaking, the belt problem seems like it is a separate problem, if you can lift the hood and take images of the belt area I can look and see what the problem is. Try to take as many from different angle so I get a good look at it. Also, a short video from under the hood while the engine is running so I can hear the noise will help as well, thanks for the detailed question, it helps :) Ken
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Monday, December 29th, 2025 AT 12:43 PM
Tiny
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These the best I could get. (I have Lupus and lack a lot of mobility unfortunately) as you can see, the belt is almost shredded and isn’t all the way on the the alternator even though it was lined up properly. And I do want to note, as I think I forgot to mention this?- But it is an aftermarket alternator. Is it possible that the pulley on it is not the right size and that’s what’s causing the jumping off and shredding? Can I purchase that pulley without buying another alternator if so? I am disbaled with a special needs child and this is the only transportation we have. The wet spot seen is from the reservoir foaming over and leaking while we were trying to bleed it, but this has been done 6 times over so as you can see the puddle is huge from all the times we tried.
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Monday, December 29th, 2025 AT 2:59 PM
Tiny
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Sorry forgot to include thes, the first one was the very first time it happened, when the guy told me he noticed fluid but didn’t think of anything of it. It had gotten substantially louder after every belt break. Again, reservoir is full, will go down after excess foaming and stay level until it seems to go through the system, after top off and turn to turn more foam! I do want to note even before belt breaking all these times, there was no hard turning so issues turning at all actually, and the leaking is from the reservoir to the ground, and directly under pump. The other videos are over a course of days after several belt changes
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Monday, December 29th, 2025 AT 4:19 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,872 POSTS
Thank you for the images and videos, sorry to hear about your troubles, I hope things get better, but, please stop driving the car, it does not sound good and the amount of fluid on the ground is dangerous, the power steering fluid is low or has air in it that is what is making the whining/gurgle noise, the tapping noise must be something in the belt area, maybe part of the belt is hitting something while it is running. Driving the car anymore will create more problems, I would call a tow truck and find an AAA certified repair shop to look at it. I am sorry to tell you this, but it is better than someone getting hurt. When you find the shop tell them the entire story on what happens to the car so they know what is going on. Please let me know what they say and how much it will cost so I can help confirm.
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Tuesday, December 30th, 2025 AT 9:42 AM

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