Xterra Power steering issue

[yello-x]

Hello all,

I have a 2000 nissan Xterra, which I purchased used and have owned for about ten thousand miles. So far it has been a great vehicle. However, I have been experiencing a nasty squeal from my power steering. It only squeals when I try to turn to the wheel while parked or at very low speeds. I have checked the fluid level and it is fine with no signs of dropping, and I can't find any leaks. I had the power steering belt replaced along with timing belt and other drive belts about 3k miles ago (it was squealing at the time and the new belt did not help). While driving the steering seems great, it always tracks straight with no pulling or darting. It is driving me nuts that I can't figure it out. I just joined the forum and you guys have a lot of knowledge and insight. Any ideas? Thanks in advance for any help.

[chubbybubba1]

It's a loose belt. Find the belt. Find the longest span between 2 pulleys. The deflection should not be more than a half of an inch either way. What that means, is grab the belt in the center of the longest span and pull up. The slack should not be more than a 1/2". Now push down. The same measure applies again. If more than 1/2", the belt is too loose. Let us know.

[yello-x]

It was a loose belt. Easy fix, I didn't check it prior to asking. I figured the mechanic who did the service, who I've used before and trust would have given it the correct tension. Thanks again for the help.

[chubbybubba1]

Well, he might of very well installed the belt with the right tension and that was good at the time he felt. It sounds like it stretched afterwords enough to start making a racket. You either retighten it after it stretches or take a hair more deflection out of the belt on the new install

[yello-x]

Update:

After I tighened the belt, the squealing went away for a couple of weeks. A week or two ago I noticed it again and it worse. I looked at the belt and it was pretty much shot at this point, and I could not figure it out with my limited knowledge. I took it back to my mechanic and explained to him the issue I was having. As it turns out the spacers that were in place to align the pulley and allow the belt to run true were not there, and the belt was crooked which was causing the squealing. The mechanic was very apologetic that he didnt notice it the first time and he replaced the belt and put in the spacers for the cost of the part which was next to nothing. All is well, it seems to me like a fluke type of thing but I thought I would share it for others to reference.

[chubbybubba1]

It's nice to hear of a shop that owns up to issues and does what is right. I know they are out there, just that they seem few and far between.