HELP!!! Timing belt nightmare

[jenn.preece]

I own a 98 Honda Accord EX V6. The car was previously owned my father, who took it in for regular maintence. He had the timing belt changed with about 60000 miles. The car now has 144000 miles on it. So I took my car in for a tune up and to get my timing belt replaced. The car was running fine when I took it in the shop but when I picked it up it's squeeling like crazy. The national chain shop told me that my power steering pump was making a little noise and advised getting it replaced. They also told me that they didn't replace the sirpentine belt and it looked like it could be replaced. So it might make a little noise but it should go away after a little while. I requested, when I dropped my car off, to replace all of the belts while they were in there. Lack of time and needing my car I signed my paper. When I started my car in the lot it was squeeling. I thought this is not a little noise. I drove off and when I turned my steering wheel the noise got louder. By the time I drove the 20 min. home the noise was still there. When I poped the hood the power steering belt was frayed. It didn't look like that when I dropped the car off. I called the shop. They were closed but I got through to the manager. He said to drop the car off Monday morning and he would replace the belt for free. I asked why my car was making this noise when it wasn't makeing any noise when I dropped it off. He said when we replace the belt it should fix that. The car is also leaking power steering fluid like crazy from the top of the reserve. I left my car with them all Monday. Supposedly they bleed the lines and put on a new belt but the noise is still there. I was told I will just need to replace the power steering pump and the noise will go away. About a week later I started my car up for work. With in 5 seconds a strong burning smell came from the engine. I found a ride to work....HELP!!!

[AccordCodger]

Well, they're probably right about the power steering pump. I can think of two explanations: (a) coincidence -- it was going to give out anyway, and (b) they damaged the pump, maybe by tightening the belt TOO MUCH.

The fact that they didn't replace that belt anyway when you asked them to is pretty unforgivable. If they were a responsible shop they should have told you you ALWAYS replace the external belt when you replace the timing/balancer belts.

[jenn.preece]

Originally Posted by jenn.preece

I own a 98 Honda Accord EX V6. The car was previously owned my father, who took it in for regular maintence. He had the timing belt changed with about 60000 miles. The car now has 144000 miles on it. So I took my car in for a tune up and to get my timing belt replaced. The car was running fine when I took it in the shop but when I picked it up it's squeeling like crazy. The national chain shop told me that my power steering pump was making a little noise and advised getting it replaced. They also told me that they didn't replace the sirpentine belt and it looked like it could be replaced. So it might make a little noise but it should go away after a little while. I requested, when I dropped my car off, to replace all of the belts while they were in there. Lack of time and needing my car I signed my paper. When I started my car in the lot it was squeeling. I thought this is not a little noise. I drove off and when I turned my steering wheel the noise got louder. By the time I drove the 20 min. home the noise was still there. When I poped the hood the power steering belt was frayed. It didn't look like that when I dropped the car off. I called the shop. They were closed but I got through to the manager. He said to drop the car off Monday morning and he would replace the belt for free. I asked why my car was making this noise when it wasn't makeing any noise when I dropped it off. He said when we replace the belt it should fix that. The car is also leaking power steering fluid like crazy from the top of the reserve. I left my car with them all Monday. Supposedly they bleed the lines and put on a new belt but the noise is still there. I was told I will just need to replace the power steering pump and the noise will go away. About a week later I started my car up for work. With in 5 seconds a strong burning smell came from the engine. I found a ride to work....HELP!!!

Thank you for the tips. This is my first time on this site and I just love the quick response. Does that also explain the burning smell when I started my car this morning?

[Huffa]

The burning smell might possibly be the belt spinning over a pulley that is siezed, which will naturally create friction which equals heat which in turn will give you the smell.

Just a theory anyway.

[Igovert500]

Ok power steering fluid leaking out and getting burned by the heat or friction could cause the burning smell as well...you did mention it was leaking out of hte reseviour correct?

I agree with what was said by accordcodger about the pump though.