Volts Light AND Power Steering Failure?

Hi all, I am new to the boards here. My wife has a chevy lumina, and it has been a great vehicle to us. it has ~120K miles, and I THINK it is a '96, but it could be a "97 or 98. Not really sure, as we just got married, and I don't know much about her vehicle. We noticed the problem about a week ago. I was driving when the volts light came on, and at the same time, the power steering went out. As I was in the process of turning the car around (to go get my truck), the volts light turned off and the power steering came back. The car ran fine after that, until yesterday, when my wife went to the store, and on her way home, the car wouldn't start? When it did finally start, the volts light was on, and the power steering again didn't work. She turned it off, walked over to get lunch and let the car sit for 30 minutes. When she came back, it started, then died. She tried one more time, the car started and then she drove it straight home. I checked the serpentine belt that night, and it seemed to be in good shape, and didn't seem too loose, but I am not very good with cars. I was wondering if it may be an alternator problem, fuse, or possibly the power steering? This weekend I should have some time to check the fluids and fuses, and I was thinking about taking it to autozone to have the alternator checked (just replaced the battery about 5 months ago). Any help would be greatly appreciated! thanks,
-Garen

My guess is you have a leak (probably coolant) that is spraying on the belt and making it slick enough to stop moving periodically...seen it happen before.

Also check the tension on the serp belt...there is an index pointer on the tensioner arm that indicates belt stretch...if it's beyond the marks, the tensioner can't apply enough leverage to keep it tight...but still would take some kind of contamination to make the belt stop totally, in most cases...

See if you have wet stripes on the underside of the the hood, like the belt has been throwing something...some brown stains (dry) are normal...but anything slick or wet, and you've got something spraying...

When it does it it hop out and have a look...I'm sure you'll find the belt not moving...and you may see what's causing it...

Just remember, it may start turning suddenly again...don't get your hands on something that might start moving suddenly.

PS, try pushing the tensioner arm away from the belt by hand...if you can do it easily, the tesioner spring broke or lost temper...

It sounds like you have a belt driven accessory or pulley that is failing and intermittently locking up. Take the serp belt off and turn all the pulleys by hand. The one that has lateral free-play or feels gritty is the one causing your issue. Since it happens so irratically, I'd suspect the A/C compressor, as it turns on and off as you drive, depending on what setting the HVAC is on. Look for metal shavings between the a/c compressor pulley and the clutch face, if any are present, that is your problem.

Didn't really think about that...would explain the start/stall, huh?

Exact same thing happened to me this morning. 1998 Chevy Lumina LS. Volts light is on. Power steering is out. Belts look fine and are turning. No fluid splatter under the hood. No fluid on the belts. Taking it to Midas because they are close and I know nothing about cars.

recipe for problems =- in this area most muffler shops are claiming they can do tranny service,etc. baloney. best bet =- if you don,t do your own work ask a friend or family,etc. if they know a good,honest mechanic shop.