1999 Grand Am SE V6

[markpetersonii 26 4 Vehicles]

So, I get picked up from the airport and my mom says to me, "Can you ask the guys if they can figure out whats wrong with my car?" lol

So here are the symptoms:

- Fan for Heater/AC only works on 5 (Highest).

- REALLY hard to turn the steering wheel, like the power steering is out.

- After a while the steering loosens up but then makes a terrible groaning sound at low speed turning.

- All of this happened at the same time...

My mom and I are thinking fan belt and honestly I haven't even tried looking yet. She just kept telling me to put this online lol. I'm hoping fan belt so I can fix it before I go home and she doesn't have to worry about it later on throughout Winter. It's not easy to drive in the snow with no power steering

Thanks guys! (esp. Chaos who knows all )

[[ChaosweaveR] 14 1 Vehicles]

Ah, I already know.

First off, the blower motor resistor is responsible for only #5 working on the fan.

Second, you might either have a lot of air in the power steering lines, or a leak. The groaning from the pump is evidence of air in the pump, or lack of fluid at all.

The belt? Hope you have a floor jack and a block of wood handy, the belt (only one serpentine belt) loops around the hydraulic motor mount. The mount needs to be loosened up, the motor itself (using the block of wood) needs to be jacked up, then the old belt snaked out, and the new belt goes in the same way.

[markpetersonii 26 4 Vehicles]

SWEEEEEET! haha thanks.

How do I fix the resistor in the blower motor? I'll check the power steering fluid too, I asked my mom about the level and she said it was fine, so probably air....

Thanks!

[[ChaosweaveR] 14 1 Vehicles]

No fix for the resistor, just replacement. Autozone and other stores carry the resistor for $20. But getting to the blower motor involves getting behind the glovebox IIRC.

[markpetersonii 26 4 Vehicles]

Also, does the belt NEED to be replaced, it's only the fan and power steering?

[[ChaosweaveR] 14 1 Vehicles]

Couldn't hurt, the belt does everything:

Alternator

Power Steering

A/C

Technically there's no fan drive, since the LA1 is transverse. Electric fans are better anyway.

Go with a Goodyear Gatorback belt.

[markpetersonii 26 4 Vehicles]

Alright, thanks. I'm going to try and work on this stuff tomorrow. See where I get with it.

[markpetersonii 26 4 Vehicles]

Update: Kinda old... BUT, power steering is fixed. Blower motor has been replaced and the resistor is going to get installed relatively soon.

[Ringo64 486 2 Vehicles]

Update: Kinda old... BUT, power steering is fixed. Blower motor has been replaced and the resistor is going to get installed relatively soon.

Good to hear!

[[ChaosweaveR] 14 1 Vehicles]

Damn, I forgot about this.

Glad to see everything sorted out. Now that I look back on this, those symptoms are common with a bad rack and pinion. You scored on it just being simple, or from how you worded it.

[markpetersonii 26 4 Vehicles]

Yeah... It's fixed! lol