|
|
99 Mercury Sable power steering/AC compressor shot
|
|
|
| |
|
|
yankcap
Novice
Jan 5, 2008, 8:19 PM
Post #1 of 14
(3388 views)
|
|
99 Mercury Sable power steering/AC compressor shot
|
Sign In
|
|
In November, the '99 Mercury Sable I'd owned for 3 weeks broke the belt that drives the alternator, power steering, and AC compressor (not sure what else it drives). I figured the belt had worn out and needed to be replaced. Instead, $2100 to replace the whole AC compressor - which had locked up and broke the belt.
With some help from my brother and a friendly mechanic, we got the whole job done for a little over $1000. Drove it for about three weeks, then parked it for the holidays. Started it up New Year's Day - rattle clatter bang, and once again no power steering and a battery light. Same symptoms as before.
Question is this: is there ANYTHING else that could be causing those symptoms? If it's the compressor again, I need to junk the car. If not, I'll get it fixed - where should I start looking?
The odd thing to me is that the belt is not broken or missing this time, and I can turn it by hand - that shouldn't be possible if the compressor is locked up.
|
|
| |
|
|
Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 6, 2008, 4:34 AM
Post #2 of 14
(3384 views)
|
|
Re: 99 Mercury Sable power steering/AC compressor shot
|
Sign In
|
|
Hmmm? Just a thought. Belt still there and compressor turns by hand. It would but if it engaged in cold weather it would quickly lock with liquid refrigerant and is made to compress gas only. Unplug the compressor and see if it goes. There is a low pressure cut out to prevent the compressor from engaging when cold that might have a problem. Car can run just fine if the clutch of the compressor just behaves like an idle pulley which is needs to year round at times and especially now if cold,
T
|
|
| |
|
|
Double J
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jan 6, 2008, 2:06 PM
Post #3 of 14
(3380 views)
|
|
Re: 99 Mercury Sable power steering/AC compressor shot
|
Sign In
|
|
repaired many a these with belt tensioner problems,
also idler pulley problems....
had 1 ,tensioner worn,wouldn't keep enough tension on belt,battery light would come on at times
2 months later,same car,idler pulley broke,in that case belt came off....
just a thought.
|
|
| |
|
|
yankcap
Novice
Jan 9, 2008, 4:18 PM
Post #4 of 14
(3373 views)
|
|
Re: 99 Mercury Sable power steering/AC compressor shot
|
Sign In
|
|
Jim, I think you're on the right track - in which case it's a simpler fix than I had feared.
I just tested it tonight with my wife helping from behind the wheel. The belt doesn't turn at all when idling, but when she hit the gas, it was slipping pretty bad. I couldn't see that before when I was by myself.
I guess I'll take it to the shop and start making plans to get rid of it. This car has been nothing but trouble, and I don't have the time/skills/facilities to deal with repeating problems.
|
|
| |
|
|
yankcap
Novice
Jan 9, 2008, 4:32 PM
Post #5 of 14
(3372 views)
|
|
Re: 99 Mercury Sable power steering/AC compressor shot
|
Sign In
|
|
Btw, what's typical cost to replace idler pulley and/or tensioner?
|
|
| |
|
|
way2old
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jan 9, 2008, 5:12 PM
Post #6 of 14
(3369 views)
|
|
Re: 99 Mercury Sable power steering/AC compressor shot
|
Sign In
|
|
The replacement of those componets is really a do it yourself project if you feel like you want to do it. Not really all that hard. Let us know. Click here and enter zip code and you can gert a price on the parts.
Being way2old is why I need help from younger minds
|
|
| |
|
|
Double J
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jan 10, 2008, 1:58 PM
Post #7 of 14
(3365 views)
|
|
Re: 99 Mercury Sable power steering/AC compressor shot
|
Sign In
|
|
way2old showed you how to get price of parts....he's right ,very diy friendly most of the time...
tensioner held on with one bolt,same with idler pulley..
had one where the bolt for the tensioner was seized in the aluminum bracket...
necessary to replace the bracket as well....thats usually held on with 3 bolts.....
got both bracket and bolt at salvage yard for like $10.00....u-pull it yard..ford wanted $150 some odd dollars for the bracket and $25.00 for the bolt....
get a new tensioner tho.....bracket can be used if needed...but thats a fluke ...usually its ok....
good luck.....post back results....
thanks
jim
|
|
| |
|
|
yankcap
Novice
Jan 14, 2008, 12:34 PM
Post #8 of 14
(3351 views)
|
|
Re: 99 Mercury Sable power steering/AC compressor shot
|
Sign In
|
|
Considered DIY but I'm fresh out of college living in a town house with no tools or space to work. :(
Took it to a mechanic I was told could be trusted and he says the crankshaft pulley has come loose and separated. That requires a specialty tool he doesn't have, so I'll be taking it somewhere else. Not sure how much is involved in fixing that.
|
|
| |
|
|
Double J
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jan 14, 2008, 12:45 PM
Post #9 of 14
(3348 views)
|
|
Re: 99 Mercury Sable power steering/AC compressor shot
|
Sign In
|
|
does he mean the crankshaft harmonic balancer ?
if so ...
take a LQQK at this....
|
|
| |
|
|
yankcap
Novice
Jan 14, 2008, 12:57 PM
Post #10 of 14
(3345 views)
|
|
Re: 99 Mercury Sable power steering/AC compressor shot
|
Sign In
|
|
Yes, it's the harmonic balancer. Looks like about $40 for the part and max 1-2 hrs labor.
|
|
| |
|
|
dave284
Enthusiast
/ Moderator
Jan 14, 2008, 1:30 PM
Post #11 of 14
(3345 views)
|
|
Re: 99 Mercury Sable power steering/AC compressor shot
|
Sign In
|
|
With a little advice, a hand full of open - face wrenches (metric) 12,13,14,15,17,18, or sockets , you'll be amazed. By the way a tool set is mans best friend it would be a wise investment. You could do this job yourself, good luck.
|
|
| |
|
|
Double J
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jan 15, 2008, 12:29 PM
Post #12 of 14
(3339 views)
|
|
Re: 99 Mercury Sable power steering/AC compressor shot
|
Sign In
|
|
yes.i'm with dave
this is a diy'er if your kinda handy. i know you stated you don't have tools or a place to work tho....
just curious..what kinda mechanic did you go to??? reason i ask is that the specialty tool needed is something i think every mechanic that works on vehicles daily has in his tool box....if not ,autozone and murrays rent them or even sell them...
thats why i sent you the instructions to look at....see my post for those in case you haven't yet.
good luck...post back results
JIM
(This post was edited by JIM N on Jan 15, 2008, 12:31 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
yankcap
Novice
Jan 15, 2008, 4:17 PM
Post #13 of 14
(3334 views)
|
|
Re: 99 Mercury Sable power steering/AC compressor shot
|
Sign In
|
|
I looked at he instructions for harmonic balancer and I could probably do that myself if I had the spot to do it. I do have a (cheap) wrench and socket set.
The mechanic I took it to is a small shop that does mostly brakes, radiator flushes, things like that. Very much a small town place that was recommended to me for honesty etc. I was really surprised when he said he didn't have the tool - but when I talked to him today he told me it is definitely the crankshaft pulley.
He told me it should take no more than 1-1.5 hrs to do it. He said you have to take off the right wheel to get at it but once you do that it's fairly simple. Are you guys absolutely sure that it can't be the crankshaft pulley?
They towed me to another garage (no charge) and they're taking care of it. They even looked up to see if there was a TSB on it - there are a couple, but not for the '99 model.
Thanks for all the patience and encouragement. I'm really lousy at this stuff and it's nice to have experienced guys answering my questions.
|
|
| |
|
|
Double J
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jan 15, 2008, 4:22 PM
Post #14 of 14
(3333 views)
|
|
Re: 99 Mercury Sable power steering/AC compressor shot
|
Sign In
|
|
hey
good luck to you and post back with final results...
JIM
|
|
| |
|
Auto Repair Home
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG 
mdma pills for sale : WhatsApp +33758633852
Drive Shaft Repair
2006 Toyoto Camry XLE Driver Side Electric Window Trouble
Grounding Cable, 2017 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk
equipment
