Hey guys, ok before everyone gets mad and says search, I already did and got some ideas lol but I am still vexed...anyway my problem is that I get belt squealing briefly for a few seconds when I start my car, but only in cold/damp weather, and my steering is also kinda tough briefly as well when I take off. I noticed when I turn the wheel, the pulley on the power steering pump and also the pulley on the water pump both freeze up briefly and the belt slips, causing the steering stiffness. Now my question is do you guys think that it is either of the pumps are bad or maybe just one of the pulleys? And is it possible that the alternator is the problem? Or maybe the belts themselves? My dad has an automotive stethoscope and when we listened for the squealing it seemed to be coming out of the alternator, but the pulley wasn't slipping on that. I am going to check it out this weekend, remove the belts and check the pullies, but is there anything else I should look at? I really appreciate any help that is offered and if you are just going to come in here to yell at me and not help, don't even bother. Thanks in advance

 

I think more than anything it's the pulley design. They're very picky about belts. I have had bad luck with most brands being quiet on my Hyundais. OEM and "Mileage Marker" brands are the only two that are pretty much 100% success rate that I've tried.



I assume you've verified that the belts aren't a bit too loose?

 

If the pulleys are seizing up, then there is probably not enough tension in the belt mang. If they are tight enough to strum, then I'd be spraying some WD-40 around the pulleys themselves.

 

yes we have...the belt on the steering pump is actually tensioned as far as it can go, but doesn't appear to be loose, maybe a little stretched...we will be replacing it tho because the new one does look slightly smaller.





I wouldn't necessarily say seizing up, its hard to describe, just briefly pausing, like skipping, when the wheel is turned, until the car warms up and then they are fine....originally I just figured it was the steering pump one that was slipping but then I saw both doing it so it kinda threw me off. definitely gonna check the pulleys with no tension tho and see how they look.



Thanks for the quick responses guys, I really appreciate it. I'll update after I check it out.

 

Yarp, the belts can stretch. I put a beta I main pulley on my beta II, then had to get a 5mm shorter belt, because I was using all of my adjustment with the new one. Keep us posted man.

 

When is the last time you changed your power steering fluid? If you are going to be at the dealership buying beltS anyway, might as well pick up some ATF for the steering.



Follow the bouncing ball -

When it is cold, the oil is thicker

you turn the wheel and your steering system wants oil

the steering pump tries to pump against heavy load and can't cope

the steering pump stalls

the belt stops

the water pump/alternator belt also stops because the water pump also drives the steering oil pump

The engine is not stopping, so it forces a belt to slip.



If you notice the steering pump only binding up on a full-lock turn, you are possibly in very good shape. Full-lock turning and/or turning the wheel when the car is not rolling forward or backward is the heaviest load for your steering system. If you notice that you can turn the wheels without belt squealing when the car is rolling, this is a happy sign. If you don't know how old the belts are, especially the power steering belt, and/or you have aftermarket belts on there, some squealing may be "normal." As said above these cars can be picky about their belts.



Also, because it bears repeating and we are on the topic of Hyundais liking OEM parts better:

for the automatic transaxle, always only ever use the Hyundai ATF because non-spec oils will kill the clutches and

Use OEM or high quality aftermarket (purolator pure one) oil filters to prevent top-end oil starvation and engine ticking.