Major voltage drop when turning to the left??!!!!! '97 SE

[Ludichris]

Okay, so this is the first time I've seen this happen, I've had the car for about two weeks: I'm parking in a space, and one of my peeves is people who park crooked in a space...so I back 'er up, straighten 'er out nice and straight, and while doing this I notice that the ambient light from the instrument cluster, stereo head unit, etc., didn't seem as bright...so I caught a glimpse of my volt meter, and it was almost down in the red!!!!!! I'm thinking, "Oh please no....not the alternator....", and then it recharged itself and floated on over to 14 volts where it should be. So, I noticed my wheel was turned to the left when it happened, so I turned it to the left again, and this time WATCHED all my lights dim (not SUPER dim, like the car was about to die, but you know...they just dimmed enough to notice, including the headlights), and the volt meter dip down to almost in the red again. So again I'm thinking, "PLEASE no, not the alternator!", and straightened my wheel out, and watched the volt meter crawl back up to 14 volts again.

What is THAT about? Anybody have any idea? It was a very strange thing. Then I tried turning the wheel to the left a couple more times, and then to the right, then back and forth a couple times, and it didn't happen again...but I'm wondering what could possibly be causing that??? If something needs attention, I'd rather catch it while it's early.

***I should note also, that there's a definite 'lurching' sound while in drive (not loud, but noticeable), and parking/adjusting the wheel, but not moving, when the wheel is turned to the RIGHT. This lurching sound does not happen when turning to the left. Is it my power steering pump? But if so, what does that have to do with the volts dropping on the system?! Bad belt? What the?!?! I'm open to theories....

[CDawg011]

Loose belt? My 95 Grand Prix did this when I replaced the alternator and found out the belt was loose. Check it out

[Ludichris]

Loose belt? My 95 Grand Prix did this when I replaced the alternator and found out the belt was loose. Check it out

...which symptom, the lurching sound, the voltage drop, or both?

***I should also mention that this lurching sound isn't the screeching sound that belts sometimes make. It's not like that. Hard to describe a 'sound' with words, but it's not the belt screeching sound...

[CDawg011]

Both actually

[CDawg011]

its more like a whining sound, correct?

[Ludichris]

...not exactly. Hm...well, you can feel a slight vibration when it happens. I'm talking SLIGHT, and only when parked or traveling VERY slowly. Once you go over, say, 5MPH, it doesn't do it anymore...so it's a low pitched lurching sound with a LITTLE vibration.

[CDawg011]

yep yep. check the belt. is it harder to steer one way than the other, also?

[Ludichris]

...regarding steering - no, not really. But, sounds like I definitely need to check the belt. I didn't realize by turning the wheels in one direction or another could cause 'more' slack on a loose belt.

[CDawg011]

That's what I thought too haha..... doesn't seem like it would make any sense... but I think the real problem is that the steering uses power and causes the belt to change speed and that makes it either tighten or loosen.. which would give you the problem you are experiencing. Someone else can probably explain it better but I'm probably 92% sure its your belt. :D

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Could be the belt, or the tensioner is going bad.

[CDawg011]

Could be the belt, or the tensioner is going bad.

True true.. tensioner tightens the belt. Check it out and let us know!

[Ludichris]

Could be the belt, or the tensioner is going bad.

True true.. tensioner tightens the belt. Check it out and let us know!

Will do, but now I need to find out how to tighten the tensioner if it's the belt. I hope it's the belt, not the tensioner. Any links to how to tighten the tensioner around these parts? Aren't some spring loaded and some manually adjusted?

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Ours are automatic. No way to tighten it.

[Ludichris]

Ours are automatic. No way to tighten it.

I see. So how does one change the belt then, any tutorial on that around? Because...I left my phone in my car last night, so I ran out there real quick, popped the hood, and just felt the tension on the belt. It could stand to be tightened. But since it can't be, I guess it's new belt time.

[reb]

Purchase a Gatorback belt and that should solve the problem. Remove bolt in motor mount passenger side and then belt is a simple replacement.

[CDawg011]

Yep.. just follow the little diagram, or remember exactly how the belt came off, and pop on a new one.

[Ludichris]

...is $249 exorbitant to replace that tensioner - NOT including a new belt? That seems high to me. I've only got one estimate so far because the garage does good work and they're honest, but I know that's only like a $65- $75 part.

[willwren]

Buy the part and replace it. It's a 10-minute job.

Do you KNOW that's the problem? Or are we throwing parts at it hoping it will help?

[Ludichris]

Buy the part and replace it. It's a 10-minute job.

Do you KNOW that's the problem? Or are we throwing parts at it hoping it will help?

Hey Will! Thanks for jumping in. No, we don't 'know' it's the problem - yet - I was going to have it looked at by a mechanic ASAP, but unfortunately I work tomorrow, so it may not be until next weekend. But I can tell you I really don't like how loose that belt is - I can push it or pull it about 2 1/2" - 3". Is there any test I can do on the tensioner? Doesn't it have visual lines that show it's safe range? OH wait a sec....if it does, I guess that would also tell me if the belt's too loose wouldn't it? In any case - is there any visual inspection or anything I can do on the tensioner? I looked at the tutorial thread for replacing the tensioner. I don't know if I could handle it. I 'might' be able to, but I 'might' not, and it's my only car, so I would be stuck. 10 minutes, for the tensioner, seriously?

***Different thread material possibly - my alternator was dipping down low more this evening. On start up, it started out low (as in - five minutes in a convenience store and back out to start it), it would start down near the 8 volt mark, then climb it's way (quickly) back up to 14. This could be two separate incidents - my belt I believe is too loose to be considered within operating range, and 'maybe' the alternator isn't getting charged properly (although I don't 'hear' any slipping), and 'maybe' on top of the belt issue, the alternator is going bad. Hm...

[CDawg011]

woooaahh.. no way..... you can get one from a junk/salvage yard for like 10 bucks max!! i got one for 5!! and they should NOT be that high especially for this common of an engine.