cpa3504

I just recently purchased this used 2002 Honda Civic LX. When test driving the car on two seperate occasions, before buying it, it drove like a dream and all was great.
However when I drove it home a couple days later, it was wet outside and they had just cleaned the engine that day to make it look nice for me.
When I started in first gear, the belt squealed REALLY loudly. I had assumed, from experience with other vehicles, that it was because it was wet outside.
After driving it for a short distance, it also started to lose power steering. The more I drove it, the more it squealed (only at start up or slowing down).
My question is this, is it possible that when they cleaned my engine, that it is causing the belt to slip and squeal? The belt looks like new, no cracks or anything like that.
And would the power steering be affected by the belt slipping?
Thanks and I will appreciate any assistance with this issue.
Unfortunately I bought the car "as is" or I would just take it back to the dealer.

Rodrigo

Well, in my experience, a noisy belt could be an indicator of a worn belt, or one that is simply not tensioned properly.

Even belts with a bazillion miles on them can 'look ok'.

It's certainly possible that your power steering loss could be related to a lack of pump pressure -- which could be associated to a slipping belt -- but I would think that even a slippping belt would be turining that PS pulley enough to generate adequate pressure.

It's also possible that your power steering pump could be failing. I think a bad bearing in the pump could create these symptoms.

I'm just a duffer on this forum, tho. Hopefully one of the real experts will be along soon to weigh in.

04 Honda Civic

iTrader: (2)

Check power steering fluid level. Also check the belt tension. If the belt is tight it could be the pump going bad.

lowlife9

if you got soap or some kind of cleaning product on the belt it could potentially slip making a squealing noise.

cpa3504

Thank you ALL for the awesome response!!! I actually took it to the dealer, when they sold me the used car and cleaned the engine, they had knocked a pully loose somehow. Either way, they fixed it and it drives perfectly now.
This is an AWESOME forum and I appreciate the quick and amazing replies.