A/C, power steering, and fan (water pump/alternator) belts
Hi. Hope you can help me out, I'm looking at a 1987 cargo van the current owner removed the power steering pump when a friend told him he didn't need it, the van is listed with that note and also the A/C doesn't work. I stopped to look the van over it has a bit of rust and the windshield needs to be replaced which is no big deal, but I noticed there is a belt missing where the PS pump was located does this belt also run the A/C, if so will I have to replace the PS pump, can I just get a smaller size belt to test it out or will I have to mount an idler pulley to test out the A/C. Also the engine sounds really good it has 170,000 on it just broken in. Thanks for any insight you may have.
Re: A/C Power steering pump
AC and PWR STR are 2 different belts running parallel to each other, no way to make one work off the other.
Both have idler pullers which are notorious for failing but at least are easily replaced.
If they deleted power steering it is most likely because the pump was leaking and it was easier to delete than spend the money to fix it properly.
Besides it spares the alternator from getting a constant bath in Str fluid (when the pump is leaking)
If you buy the van I would hook up belts to both systems, replace whats broken and live happily ever after.
BB
Re: A/C Power steering pump
On the vans with all power options there are 3 belts. The serpentine belt runs the water pump & alternator, the power steering belt runs only the power steering, and the AC belt runs only the AC. Many of us have run without power steering for short periods of time, and I'm sure some have driven long term without. Personally I find the van much more fun to drive with PS, so I keep mine in good repair. Another reason to fix the power steering is the bevel gear. The steering on these vans passes through a bevel gear. These aren't the strongest and have been known to fail (there was actually a recall on these). Running without power assist greatly increases the load on the bevel gear & could lead to early failure. Tim
Re: A/C Power steering pump - I don't see a pulley for my AC compressor drive...
I read this thread, and look under the car and my AC compressor pulley perfectly lines up with my power steering pump belt. As if I got a larger belt it could run the compressor and the power steering. What am I missing here? There are only two pulleys on the crank: the flat belt and the v belt. This van is a basket case project, so the parts came from here, and there, but the AC compressor was still connected to the car, tied back, and hopefully still charged.
Thanks.
Re: A/C Power steering pump
Nevermind! I found a photo of the pulley in another thread. My "AC" crank pulley is driving the power steering pump. There are not three pulleys so I suppose this engine came from a non-AC donor.