9-3 power steering pump on a NG900?

[AmuseMe]

Hi guys, new member here

I own a 1997 900S. She's quite literally a pain in my backside and bank account, but just the thought of getting rid of her makes my heart ache. So, here I am presented with a problem.

A couple of months back, I was driving the car down the highway when the belt tensioners snapped and the belt went byebye and my power steering pump was damaged in the process. My mechanic at the time was forced to replace it with a pump from a 9-3 because in all honesty, getting parts for the 900 here in Cyprus is a nightmare.

Ever since then, she's been going through petrol like pizza and the engine sounds rough, fully loaded and vibrates much more than the norm. I've replaced the Mass air flow sensor and the air intake temperature sensor but nada. The only thing I can think of (because everything else has been checked) is the 9-3 power steering pump because it's the only thing on the car that doesn't belong. Could it be that it's making the engine work harder because it's all on one belt system? Any ideas? I'm at a loss!

I've tried researching this problem but couldn't find anything and I have looked in this forum for anyone with a similar issue. If there is a similar thread, I'd love the link to it. Thanks!

[EdT]

Originally Posted by AmuseMe

Hi guys, new member here
A couple of months back, I was driving the car down the highway when the belt tensioners snapped and the belt went byebye and my power steering pump was damaged in the process. My mechanic at the time was forced to replace it with a pump from a 9-3 because in all honesty, getting parts for the 900 here in Cyprus is a nightmare.

Ever since then, she's been going through petrol like pizza and the engine sounds rough, fully loaded and vibrates much more than the norm. I've replaced the Mass air flow sensor and the air intake temperature sensor but nada. The only thing I can think of (because everything else has been checked) is the 9-3 power steering pump because it's the only thing on the car that doesn't belong. Could it be that it's making the engine work harder because it's all on one belt system? Any ideas? I'm at a loss!

How much pizza exactly? If the pump was seriously loading the engine, then all the energy would be eventually turned into heat. Is the pump hot? The P/S fluid?

You could also run the engine (not very long!) without the belt. That would remove all accessory load from the engine.

It's quite possible that something else got damaged. But I can't think of anything that could draw off so much power from the engine....but not have melted in a couple of months of driving.

Is the Check Engine light on? Do cars in Cyprus carry ODB-II diagnostics?

Could the belt have damaged the O2 sensor or wiring? That would make the engine run very poorly....and also set off the Check Engine light and store an O2 sensor code in ODB-II cars.

[mytodoroff]

Loosen up the belt and try to roll the tensioner pulley by hand it should be easy enough. I am guessing it wasn't only the pump damaged when your belt snapped. Try the AC compressor as well.

[earthworm]

I do believe that a OG 9-3 PS pump and a NG 900 unit should be identical..These two cars themselves are identical, except for 1000 minor little details..
You need to do the impossible, find a better mechanic.....in Cyprus...so its DIY...

[AmuseMe]

hi earthworm!
Turns out that the P/S pumps between the two cars ARE different (much to my dismay). Their mounting brackets are totally different and so are their outtake/intake pipes. I'm actually going to have to get a new pipe made just to fit another 900 P/S pump I found.

BTW in regards to Cypriot mechanics. I once drove my car into the official saab dealership here (clutch cable rubbed a hole into the a/c pipe). As I drove the car in, I overheard one of the mechanics there turn to another one and say "But they never made this model into a coupe!" Needless to say, I drove the car straight out without even stopping. The dealership here also likes slapping on an extra 100 euros on a part that would normally cost 30 euros, so you can understand my frustration and my love for ebay.

[AmuseMe]

Originally Posted by mytodoroff

Loosen up the belt and try to roll the tensioner pulley by hand it should be easy enough. I am guessing it wasn't only the pump damaged when your belt snapped. Try the AC compressor as well.

I'll try that too, thanks! (please don't let it be the AC compressor, please don't let it be the AC compressor...)

[mytodoroff]

Turn off the AC from the left button next to defrost

[BobSaabit]

Originally Posted by AmuseMe

I'll try that too, thanks! (please don't let it be the AC compressor, please don't let it be the AC compressor...)

FYI - it's not usually the compressor that goes when you have noise, it's the bearing. You can replace it for $20 usd and a bit of work (requires someone with a press). You can do the whole clutch for $80.

[AmuseMe]

Hm... it would be safe to assume that my car chews up petrol like a 5L...without the performance. In the last couple of days, she's actually been bucking a little and the engine is vibrating so badly that I keep thinking that it's going to stall. I'll have to bite that bullet and have that ODB-II diagnostics done just to figure what else is wrong. In the meantime, I'm going to change that 9-3 P/S pump out and put an original 900 pump that I had salvaged from another car.

I'll let you guys know how that goes. If it goes that is haha
Thanks for the advice!