Hello all,

when I got off work last night I started my car and it was making what sounded to me like a really bad exhaust leak. I just thought "Damn I'll fix it tomorrow since I'm off." when I started to pull out I realized I had no power steering and the battery warning light came on. I left it overnight and came back today to take a closer look and realized the crank pulley is so loose that the serpentine wasn't spinning the alternator or the power steering pump. I had no problems on the way to work and it was instant when I started it last night. I unfortunately had to start it again to get it on and off the trailer to get it home so I will take my lumps for that but what could have made that pulley loose like that that quickly and what damage could I have done by running it for about 90 seconds today?

as for tech info I have a 97 Honda civic ex sedan California model with 123,000 miles on it.

any thoughts would be greatly appreciated

MC

 

Running the car with no alternator or P/S set-up?

Just a dead battery possibily. If the crank didn't come off, I can't think of anything that would be damaged. Just check the timing belt. you might want to just replace it since you will be in that area anyway. Taking off the crank is the hardest part of the T belt job!

 

UPDATE:

The crank pulley was really loose which meant the serpentine was so loose that it wasn't powering A/C or power steering. I got it tightened but the dealership says tighten it to 141 ft/lbs plus 90 degrees. how can I do that since that is more than my compression?

 

You will need a new key and probably a new pulley as the bore of the pulley is likely torn up.

If it's manual you can put in gear (5th) and lock the front wheels to lock the engine. The alternative spec is to tighten to 14 ft-lbs then use an impact wrench to turn 1/4 turn more.