need help - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

rice · 07-22-2005, 08:53 PM

two of my belts weren't moving including the one connected to the alternator, the only one running was the one way at the bottom, I was on the highway and on my way to switching to 2nd gear, i heard some metal falling off my engine, my battery light went on and i pulled over. At this point my steering wheel became extremely hard to turn. I turned off the car then restarted, thats when i realize the belts weren't moving, i cant believe i could still drive the car with only 1 belt moving, but i did. The belts were making horrible noise. After a while when i shifted to 4th gear, the belts made a loud noise and all of a sudden the two belts started moving again, and my steering wheel became easier to turn. My coolant became completely emptied and this morning it was full, i dont think a full tank of coolant drained that much in one day *sigh* my steering wheel is a little better now but makes a loud noise when i turned it half way, this hasn't happened before, only after the incident. Anybody know what happened?? plz help, thanks in advance *sigh* oh and i have a 1994 corolla dx

also, i cant find my transmission oil dip stick, the manual said between the coolant tank and the distributor, but its not there, any help would be appreciated

rice · 07-23-2005, 04:14 PM

ok, my belts make a really loud noise EVERY TIME i start my car now =(

***cam2Xrunner*** · 07-23-2005, 04:21 PM

Your belts are either too loose, or they are saturated with oil. I'd get them changed, and while you're doing it, check to make sure the pulley(s) aren't seized. If the belt are soiled, check to see where it is getting wet from. My guess is that you have a power steering leak, and it is causing your belts to slip because they are wet with oil. Which would also explain why your steering wheel is hard to turn, because the belt is slipping.

If the belts aren't wet/oily, check to see how tight they are. If they feel loose, you'll have to have them tightented by loosening the alternator bracket and pulling it tighter.

rice · 07-23-2005, 06:11 PM

the belts aren't wet, they looked fine, and they are tight as it should be, my coolant is leaking and my power steering is leaking, i dont see where its leaking from but they are draining way too fast, if its not a leak, could it be anything else thats draining them so fast? any advice on what to do?