lose power steering when drive through puddle

I lose my power steering when driving through a deep puddle of water.

It comes back after about 5 seconds, with a terrible belt noise....

Should I just replaced the belt, or could it be a pump problem, or is that supossed to be a cover or something....

Wow, how deep are the puddles in Florida? Could it be your belt is just getting wet and just slipping on the pulley?

I'd be putting my $$ on belt slip resulting from puddle splash.

-P

I agree, change out the belt. Also change out the fluid ... don't make a big deal out of it, just use a battery filler to suck out as much as you can refill with new, test drive ... repeat process until fluid looks good. (Don't expect the fluid to ever smell good.) I prefer the syn fluid sold by Valvoline.

After all that, due to internal wear and dragging, you still may need to replace pump to get the "like new" performance and control you want.

The serpentine belt tensioner may be on the weak side also.

Belt looks and feels good, but I may replace anyway. It is definatley losing grip on the pulley for about 4-5 seconds....won't the new belt do that anyway.

PS I have changed the PS fluid yearly, once with the hose off while the system was running,

the other two times with the turkey baster method...

I think I read that there is a Ford bulletin on this issue. I can't remember what the fix was though.

I would change the belt.....might be glazed.....maybe some fluid got onto it.....possible that it stretched slightly.
Make sure that you have the diagram (should be on the underside of the hood) before you remove the old belt.
Then....before you put the new one on....spin each pulley to check for binding.
The water pump pulley will have some slight resistance.....and might make a very soft squeak sound....but very slight......

Replace any pulley that seems to bind.

If the new belt and pulley check does not clear it up....then check into the tensioner.

Thanks, I will go for the new belt and see if that helps.