Got a few issues with my Ride...

[titanescape]

Hey Hey!

I haven't been on the boards in a while..changed jobs so now working and living up in Mckinney. No time to get by Trackdog so I'm hoping for a little direction for a DIY guy.

Ok..i have a 96 with JSRC M45 SC, JSRC air to water intercooler and JSRC Headers. The timing is advanced 10deg. The car checked out fine a couple of months ago, Gary said everything looked fine and it has been running great. Here's the deal.

First of all, when I turn on the AC, the car dies. I can keep it alive by increasing the RPM's and the air blows cold as ice but if you just turn it on..the car bogs bad and dies.

Second..it's not boosting like before. The get up and go has got up and gone! When I get on it, the RPM's climb rather slowly. Almost like it's struggling. There's a little hesitation but not like it's missing..you can just feel it.

Lastly..after driving for a while and the car gets good and hot. The Power steering pump starts to whine. It only does it after the car has been driven for a while.

I'm wondering if this is belt related or what. I just need a bit of direction to get started!


Thanks in advance!

[Titus]

Hmmm... the AC, supercharger and PS pump all share a belt. If the PS Pump is seizing up, it could be affecting the speed of the belt and therefore the speed of the supercharger. Add the AC compressor kicking on to add even more drag and it could cause the bog and die you are seeing. Look for lots of black belt dust under the hood if that is the case.

If it isn't that, a clogged cat could cause the bogging and lack of acceleration.

[titanescape]

I did notice a lot of black belt dust under the hood...... So are you thinking new PS pump and belt? I never thought about the cat..she is lowered with coil overs and i took a nice smack on a speed bump not to long ago. Any idea of the cost of a PS Pump?

[MiataMike]

We just pulled one out of our Lemons car. Call Gary at TDR and find out how much he wants for it. I'm sure you can get a pretty solid deal for it.

[Titus]

I did notice a lot of black belt dust under the hood...... So are you thinking new PS pump and belt? I never thought about the cat..she is lowered with coil overs and i took a nice smack on a speed bump not to long ago. Any idea of the cost of a PS Pump?

First you want to confirm that the problem really is the PS pump... I would hate for you to buy a new one on my guess! If it does turn out to need a new pump, do as Mike said and pick up the used one from Gary.

[titanescape]

First you want to confirm that the problem really is the PS pump... I would hate for you to buy a new one on my guess! If it does turn out to need a new pump, do as Mike said and pick up the used one from Gary.

Yeah i hear ya there! Any suggestions on how to confirm that?

[miataspeedracer]

We will make you a solid deal on the power steering pump!!

[titanescape]

Sounds good...how much? I'm gonna do the work this weekend!!

[Titus]

I would start by getting a friend to watch what is happening under the hood when the car is running and you are turning the wheel. Check the belt tension too.

[titanescape]

Np there! Last night I did notice some PS fluid around the area below the bottom of the resevior but i couldn't find an actual leak. Also after it's hot sometimes i can hear a humming/whistling/whirring type noise coming from the PS pump area. I was thinking the noise might be coming from the SC but now I'm wondering if that noise is from the PS pump. As for the belt..i have no more adjustment and that sux! The fluid is very concerning.

[miataspeedracer]

Contact Gary at TDR. He has the PS pump at this location. He can quote you a price.

[trickyrix]

How's the PS fluid level? Are there bubbles in it? Is it puking? FWIW, I blew the high pressure hose on mine last year. It was leaking up near the pump and causing the PS to whine - but it was a fluid loss issue. I got a good used one from TDR and it hasn't leaked a drop...

If you're out of belt adjustment, you might want to go ahead and replace that belt.

[titanescape]

I called TDR, gonna pick one up on Sat morn. I have a new belt but didn't want to put it on till I figure out the PS problem. I'm getting some whine and some fluid under the resorvior but the issues all seem to happen after the car gets good and hot. I'm going to change the pump..replace the belt and see where that leads me. Gary says i need to increase the idle to fix the AC killing the car.

[creek]

turn the steering wheel to full lock and see if the engine bogs or the pump stops. I would just delete the P/S but that's me.

[titanescape]

I would just delete the P/S but that's me.

I though about doing that but i like PS..lol I adjusted the idle last night, flipped on the AC and the car drooped abit but then the RPM's kicked back up and it seem to hold the idle. I even turned everything on in the car with the AC and it idled fine. Hopefully that problems is solved. I did notice some squeaking coming from that pump area when adjusting the idle so it's looking like then pump is giving up the ghost!

[titanescape]

Wanna say thanks for all the input last week on my issues. Here's the update.....met Gary Sat morn and picked up the pump, a new..smaller belt. and some redline PS fluid. Its was not an easy task pulling out the SC and all the other crap to get down to the PS Pump. Thanks to my 7yo helper and few "honey can you hold this just a second" I was able to get everything back installed properly! I cranked her up and she purred like a kitten! Took her out on a spirited and drive and the boost is back!! Revs like she should and the rear end will kick out when ever I want.

There was no more PS noise and the AC does not kill her. So thanks for the direction guys..it was not an easy job but I sure learned a lot more about my car!

[Titus]

Glad it worked out for you!