live4soccer7

Today I was driving my truck when all of the sudden my charge battery light went on and the ebrake/parking brake light went on. I didn't think much of it at the time. I then noticed, when I pulled off the highway, that the power steering must have gone at the same time because it wasn't working. I also noticed my engine temp gauge was reading about 3/4 of the full gauge spread. It usually operates in the bottom quarter (really cool).

I changed the thermostat about 1000 miles ago, so that shouldn't be it (the heat anyways).

It seems like it may be some kind of electrical problem that is causing the craziness in the gauges and lights, but that still doesn't account for the power steering problem. The reservoir was full last time i checked, about two days ago.

I'll be able to take a closer look at the problem once I get the truck back home, but if anyone has any ideas it would help out a lot.

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

Likely the alternator:
- http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/mainte...nator_brushes/

Higher temp reading may be due to the different system voltage with the alternator problem.

Or it may be due to a broken belt or two, one for the p/s and maybe if that one went it took out the alt/water pump belt as well.

live4soccer7

But how would that explain the power steering? I am agreeing with you though. I'm just trying to figure why I would have lost power steering at the same time.

BTW, the writeup you provided is great. I'm going to call up toyota and get the parts tonight

bleakhorizon

lost one belt and it took out the other on the way out.....

did yea look under the hood yet?

live4soccer7

Well I feel retarded for that one. You are right bleak. I guess I didn't think it was that because I was still driving around and figured the truck would have died without the alternator going. I'm trying to figure out how many belts there are cause is all i see are a bunch of pulleys now. Any ideas?

There the alternator, the power steering, AC (removed ac unit so I removed this one and don't need it), others?

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

Up to 3, from back to front:
- Alt/water pump/fan
- A/C
- Power Steering

live4soccer7

Could there have been any damage done when they broke besides what they may have hit?

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

Generally not but try and figure out what caused the failure in the first place. I've had p/s idler pulley bearing seize up, causing that belt to fail. Have also had a water pump seize up and that caused that belt to go.

live4soccer7

Alright, the belts looked liked they needed replaced and were actually on my list, so they could have just failed I suppose. Is there a quick way to test the bearing and water pump (just try to turn them by hand?)?

Kiroshu

Its unusual for 2 belts to go at one time but i imagine it can happen...... what kind of truck is it and motor? Maybe broke belts. If Your power steering belt broke then you would have not powersteering....lol If the alt/water pump belt broke then you would have the charge and brake light come on and it would get hot cause the water pump is no longer turning due to broke belt.

bleakhorizon

lol usually it is the stupidest thing you could imagine lol... i would think one belt was prob loose and when it tossed that belt it got under the other belt and rolled it off the pulley...happened to me before in my old ford...and it sounds like yea only need ps and alt belt

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

Spin then by hand. Should be smooth and tight. If they feel gritty or hard to turn or if the pulleys are loose and wobble, that is a sign of worn bearings.

live4soccer7

Well thanks for all the help. I got the belts from NAPA and am going to go out and install them. Any tips on how much tension there should be on the belts? I was always curious how to correctly set the tension. I suppose now would be a good time to address that.

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

FSM lists a tension, I usually shoot for being able to push the belt in about 1/2" with a thumb or finger. With new belts, I usually tighten them as tight as I dare to and then once they stretch a little with use, I shoot for the 1/2" deflection.

live4soccer7

What kind of tool would you use to measure the tension? I've looked briefly before, but didn't find much.

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

You can get something like the FSM shows:
- http://www.amazon.com/OTC-6673-Unive.../dp/B000I198J0



But I just use the old press the thumb in the middle of the longest section of belt and look for ~1/2" of deflection in the belt.

live4soccer7

Got the new belts installed. Took about 45 mins or so. Works like a charm. Thanks all for the help and pointing out the obvious (didn't think in a million years the truck would have ran without any of the belts).