When car is idling, no noise. As soon as I try to steer left or right there is a loud screeching sound as though the belt was not tight and its almost impossible to turn the wheels The belt is tightened to the max and changed the fluid. With someone assisting in attempting to turn the steering I noticed that pump pulley is hesitating and not turning as it should. Is it the high pressure hose, the pump itself? How could I tell. Any idea as to what it could be?
Power Steering Pump Question
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execmalibu
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I had the exact same problem!
I almost gave up my CSi after being repeatedly humiliated by the horrific noises my beautiful E9 made in front of people. I would pull into a parking lot and people would stare at the car, then the super embarrassing part. Whenever I turned the steering wheel while parking there would be very loud squealing noises like a pig with his balls in a trap... This went on for for weeks. I tried tightening the PS belt 3 separate times finally using a giant extension on a prybar to tighten the belt ultra gorilla tight... Still NO success:sad:
Then I tried two brand new belts but the damn thing kept squealing every time I turned the wheel. I was convinced that the pump was locking up or something...
On any "normal" car the power steering belt is driven directly off the crank pulley... And on any normal car it would always cure the PS squealing problem by tightening the PS belt...
But the E9 as we all know is not a "normal" car!
One night as it turns out I happened to notice that the headlights dimmed whenever the belt squealed...
This I thought was very strange how was this even possible? Apparently as I discovered some moron engineer at BMW decided that the PS should be a secondary system. Check and you will find as I did that the PS pulley is actually driven off the water pump pulley which is driven by the alternator belt!
Try tightening the Alternator belt and let me know how that works out for you...
I almost gave up my CSi after being repeatedly humiliated by the horrific noises my beautiful E9 made in front of people. I would pull into a parking lot and people would stare at the car, then the super embarrassing part. Whenever I turned the steering wheel while parking there would be very loud squealing noises like a pig with his balls in a trap... This went on for for weeks. I tried tightening the PS belt 3 separate times finally using a giant extension on a prybar to tighten the belt ultra gorilla tight... Still NO success:sad:
Then I tried two brand new belts but the damn thing kept squealing every time I turned the wheel. I was convinced that the pump was locking up or something...
On any "normal" car the power steering belt is driven directly off the crank pulley... And on any normal car it would always cure the PS squealing problem by tightening the PS belt...
But the E9 as we all know is not a "normal" car!
One night as it turns out I happened to notice that the headlights dimmed whenever the belt squealed...
This I thought was very strange how was this even possible? Apparently as I discovered some moron engineer at BMW decided that the PS should be a secondary system. Check and you will find as I did that the PS pulley is actually driven off the water pump pulley which is driven by the alternator belt!
Try tightening the Alternator belt and let me know how that works out for you...
Last edited:
try 2nd paragraph
http://www.e9-driven.com/Public/Library/BMW-E9-Manual/pages/en/32410090.html#refertoc
Make sure you put the correct type of AT fluid. And you changed the bronze filter and put it back correctly.
Jack up the front, make sure there's nothing binding in any linkage.
An old trick - fluid level rising. idle, lid off. small turns.
otherwise, find a freindly trans shop who can hook up the correct guages.
http://www.e9-driven.com/Public/Library/BMW-E9-Manual/pages/en/32410090.html#refertoc
Make sure you put the correct type of AT fluid. And you changed the bronze filter and put it back correctly.
Jack up the front, make sure there's nothing binding in any linkage.
An old trick - fluid level rising. idle, lid off. small turns.
otherwise, find a freindly trans shop who can hook up the correct guages.
MMercury
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Power steering pump problem solved
Execmalibu and DaveG were both correct. I replaced the alternator belt and the noise disappeared blissfully. Replacing this belt is a real PITA. I'm convinced the Mission Statement below is right on the mark.
By the way, I used Power Steering fluid instead of ATF as refill after I drained the system. Is this a concern?
Execmalibu and DaveG were both correct. I replaced the alternator belt and the noise disappeared blissfully. Replacing this belt is a real PITA. I'm convinced the Mission Statement below is right on the mark.
By the way, I used Power Steering fluid instead of ATF as refill after I drained the system. Is this a concern?