Ever bypassed the power steering pump?

**fju2** · 10-04-2011

I understand it's no longer term solution, as it will trash the rack and pinion, but has anyone used a shorter than stock belt and bypassed the power steering pump?

I'm doing my best to help my mechanically DEclined brother, who has no tools, is broke and is leaving it up to me to fix the car. Unfortunately, it's all over the phone at this point, as I have no time to go replace the power steering pump until this weekend, and I just want him to get the car home.

If you've bypassed the power steering and know of a belt that will fit, please let me know. Thanks.

**matt5112** · 10-04-2011

Does your brother have a strong upper body?

**TheOtherNick** · 10-04-2011

You cant just run a shorter belt, due to teh way its routed.

**matt5112** · 10-04-2011

http://www.grandprixforums.net/websi...ts/pulleys.jpg

eh you might be able to pull it off..

alt to back side of tensioner then around water pump.

**TheOtherNick** · 10-04-2011

I guess it might work.

**Scottydoggs** · 10-04-2011

how far does he need to drive it?

if its all highway, just drive it, but tell him to have the car rolling when he try's to turn it, (like dont ape it when the car is sitting still) or for sure the rack will die.

i wouldn't waste my time (or money) buying a new belt to reroute it past the p/s pump, if its dead its dead, cant do any more damage to a dead part.

**fju2** · 10-04-2011

Originally Posted by scottydoggs

i wouldn't waste my time (or money) buying a new belt to reroute it past the p/s pump, if its dead its dead, cant do any more damage to a dead part.

I'm not trying to salvage the PS pump, I'm just not wanting him to drive the car with, essentially, no water pump. Thanks for the input, guys.

**fju2** · 10-04-2011

Originally Posted by matt5112

Does your brother have a strong upper body?

Maybe by now, since he's been driving it with no PS fluid for a while, even though I told him to put PS fluid in it.

**TheOtherNick** · 10-04-2011

Why are you trying to bypass teh pump if he is driving it now?

**Scottydoggs** · 10-04-2011

Originally Posted by fju2

I'm not trying to salvage the PS pump, I'm just not wanting him to drive the car with, essentially, no water pump. Thanks for the input, guys.

why would the water pump not be working?

i drove with a shot pump and shot rack for about a month, the water pump still worked the whole time.

your only fear should be the rack quitting on you after the pump is installed.

**TheOtherNick** · 10-04-2011

If the belt is still on the water pump is working.

**fju2** · 10-04-2011

The belt's not on and the PS pump is frozen up, which throws the belt, hence the reason I'm looking to temporarily bypass the PS pump.

**fju2** · 10-04-2011

Originally Posted by TheOtherNick

Why are you trying to bypass teh pump if he is driving it now?

He is no longer driving it, and it's parked in a random parking lot in Tucson. If you know anything about Tucson, you may know you don't want to leave your car anywhere other than your home for any length of time. I'm just wanting him to get it home, and he has no money to have it towed.

The PS pump is now frozen, so the belt slips off almost immediately after the engine is started. If driven without a belt, the water pump obviously doesn't spin, causing the engine to overheat.

**redlinepontiac** · 10-04-2011

drive till it starts to overheat then shutoff, let it cool down and drive again?

**matt5112** · 10-04-2011

well if that belt diagram is to scale... one could guestimate the length.

**Scottydoggs** · 10-04-2011

sounds like your going to have to get to him to fix it, i wouldn't drive it then, at all.

you did leave the part out where the pump is frozen. important info there.

**fju2** · 10-04-2011

Originally Posted by scottydoggs

sounds like your going to have to get to him to fix it, i wouldn't drive it then, at all.

you did leave the part out where the pump is frozen. important info there.

Not really. I mean, I do appreciate all the input, but I wasn't looking for alternate solutions. I know what needs to be done long term, I was just wanting to know if someone has bypassed the PS pump with a different sized belt.

**fju2** · 10-04-2011

Originally Posted by redlinepontiac

drive till it starts to overheat then shutoff, let it cool down and drive again?

I thought of that, but hate the idea of repeatedly taking the car to the brink of overheating.

**Scottydoggs** · 10-04-2011

i hear ya, but thats not something you would do, not even as a temp job to get you by. and a waste of a belt that you will never use again.

hell if you think about that belt will run upwards of 50 bucks, a socket set is 25 bucks. a pump 70 bucks. if you like send me the 50 for the belt and ill buy pot with it, same thing, its up in smoke