Help Please

[Chris12870]

I have a 97 with the 4.6. Last night when I got home from work, the car just stalled. It wouldn't start, so I tried to jump it. When I jumped it, it started, but made an awful squealing noise and no power steering.
My brother-in-law said to check the tension on the serpentine, which felt a little loose to me, but I don't know what it should be. It continues to start now, but still makes a squealing noise and no power steering. My brother-in-law thinks that the serpentine is too loose and that we should change it. Could the serpentine have slipped and caused the car to stall, then not start until i jumped it? I really have limited knowledge about cars, so any input would help.
Thanks.

[beyondloadedSE]

I would definetely check your accessory belt. Having lost your power steering and stalling issues, definetely points towards it being loose or possibly the tensioner pulley being broken.

[Chris12870]

Just to update:
Found out it wasn't the belt, but the power steering pump. Brought to a shop and they said the power steering pump was bad, pretty much frozen like somehing broke inside. The mechanic said that when it broke it probly caused the engine to stall because it froze everything up.
Now I know a little bit more about cars!

[littlerichgirl]

Originally Posted by Chris12870

I have a 97 with the 4.6. Last night when I got home from work, the car just stalled. It wouldn't start, so I tried to jump it. When I jumped it, it started, but made an awful squealing noise and no power steering.
My brother-in-law said to check the tension on the serpentine, which felt a little loose to me, but I don't know what it should be. It continues to start now, but still makes a squealing noise and no power steering. My brother-in-law thinks that the serpentine is too loose and that we should change it. Could the serpentine have slipped and caused the car to stall, then not start until i jumped it? I really have limited knowledge about cars, so any input would help.
Thanks.

if the serpentine is not tight it will make tha awful noise . another thing you can look at is if you pully are all thight . also your power steering pump might have went bad also .ther are a feww thing you can look at ...