How to change Power Steering Belt

Does your Mitsubishi L300 make a strange noise? Need wheel alignment specs?
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mountainmack
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 6:34 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: 1992 Delica L300
Location: Whitehorse, YT

How to change Power Steering Belt

Post by mountainmack »

Hi Folks
I am relatively new here and have so far greatly appreciated all the information and connections available through this site. I know that my subject line is an easy job but despite being quite mechanically inclined I have not worked on cars much. Also I have searched extensively though this site and the wiki and could not find the instructions. Maybe I just don't know my way around yet but I could not find what I needed.

My problem is a horrible squealing when I first start going that sounds like the power steering. The belt seemed loose and the fluid a little low so I topped it up and tightened the belt but, although a bit better, it is still a horrible squeal. My neighbour confirmed that he thinks it is the belt so I bought one but it is not obvious to me how to remove the fan so that I can replace the belt.

I have just purchased a '92 L300 formerly known on this site as The Lazy Brown Fox but I think we will just call her Foxy. Drove her home from Vancouver 2700km to Whitehorse two weeks ago and she seems fine except for this. The previous owner never experienced this problem and thinks that it may be our dry air?? Any help or a link would be appreciated.

Thanks
User avatar
mountainmack
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 6:34 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: 1992 Delica L300
Location: Whitehorse, YT

Re: How to change Power Steering Belt

Post by mountainmack »

Okay - I figured it out. (This is for my L300 Starwagon Exceed 4D56 - aka "Foxy"))
1 - Remove the fan shroud (at least the two top covers).
2 - Use a small mirror or just reach in to find the four 10mm bolts that hold the fan to the shaft
3 - Use a small ratchet wrench to remove the fan
4 - Pull the fan out
5 - Loosen adjustment bolt on power steering pump
6 - Swing power steering pump in to loosen belt
7 - Install new belt
8 - Swing power steering pup out to create tension in the belt (my manual says there should be 6-9mm of deflection)
9 - Replace fan
10 - Replace shroud
11 - Crack a cold one

As ti turns out, that was not the problem. I was certain it was the power steering belt for a number of reasons but then I turned on the AC and got ore squealing. Then a mechanic friend told me to remove the belts one by one to isolate the squeal. Yes - apparently you can run the engine without the fan in place. So I removed the power steering belt which did not eliminate all squealing. During that process I noticed that the Alternators belts (there are two) were quite loose). I tightened them up and all squealing went away before I had to isolate further. In any case don't think that just because steering your vehicle and/or putting on the AC is causing squealing, that is is one of those belts. In my case it was the alternator belts. Also another good reason not to use that 'belt dressing' (sticky spray). I would have used it on the power steering belt but that was not the problem!
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