320D pulley on powersteering pump snapped

shooter57

Hi lads the pulley on my 320D just snapped and came away which caused the fanbelt to snap has anyone any experience of this ? It's in a garage at the moment ,just wondering what would have caused this , could it be a major problem ?
I'm thinking now I've had it with this car ,thinking when it's done sell it and be rid , it seems what I thought was a lovely car is a big money spinner
any opinions ?

jayok

The pulley could have snapped from either fatigue on the bearings, bolts, pulley, etc.

The question is not so much, how it could have snapped, but what damage it might have done as it was spinning when it happened, so you've a free pulley in motion around the engine bay - it could take out anything.

Best case would be a new pulley kit, probably tensioner and drive belt.
Worst.... a lot of damage could be done.

It all depends on what it done when it snapped and was it thrown free and where.

shooter57

jayok wrote: »

The pulley could have snapped from either fatigue on the bearings, bolts, pulley, etc.

The question is not so much, how it could have snapped, but what damage it might have done as it was spinning when it happened, so you've a free pulley in motion around the engine bay - it could take out anything.

Best case would be a new pulley kit, probably tensioner and drive belt.
Worst.... a lot of damage could be done.

It all depends on what it done when it snapped and was it thrown free and where.

hey thanks for your reply , I know exactly when the pulley snapped because the power steering went , after that I drove it 3 miles too the garage and engine sounded ok , mechanic pulled out the pulley it was at the bottom of the engine bay , and at first glance there was no visible damage done , his concern was what caused the pulley to snap , if it is the pump am I looking at big money ?

jayok

Well if the pulley snapped the the PSP would have no drive and you would feel the steering go heavy - so it's a question of what happened first

It's unlikely that the PSP seizing would cause the drive pulley to fail in the first place, you more that like snap the drive belt (it's rubber versus metal - although very tough) - but if the pulley was weaked already then, I suppose it could snap.

The PSP in the E46 is know to suffer failure due to PSP fluid starvation, I experienced this twice(!) but I've not seen it seize, it simply give a very loud gridning noise. If you need a new PSP, I'd be off to the breaker's yard.

I'd reckon you'd get a breaker PSP for about €100 (guess) from a breaker. I bought one for €60... so I'm guessing high!

shooter57

jayok wrote: »

Well if the pulley snapped the the PSP would have no drive and you would feel the steering go heavy - so it's a question of what happened first

It's unlikely that the PSP seizing would cause the drive pulley to fail in the first place, you more that like snap the drive belt (it's rubber versus metal - although very tough) - but if the pulley was weaked already then, I suppose it could snap.

The PSP in the E46 is know to suffer failure due to PSP fluid starvation, I experienced this twice(!) but I've not seen it seize, it simply give a very loud gridning noise. If you need a new PSP, I'd be off to the breaker's yard.

I'd reckon you'd get a breaker PSP for about €100 (guess) from a breaker.
I bought one for €60... so I'm guessing high!

hey Thanks for your advice much appreciated , the car was serviced last week , if my power steering fluid was empty is the garage who serviced my car responsible ? should they have checked this in a service ?

jayok

shooter57 wrote: »

....the car was serviced last week , if my power steering fluid was empty is the garage who serviced my car responsible ? should they have checked this in a service ?

Well, I suppose the PS fluid should have been checked, whether it was or not is another question. Normally it doesn't leak unless there's a bigger problem.

The starvation failure is not due to lack of PS fluid, but rather a design fault within the pump. Can't really blame the garage if this is the case.

Back to the original issue though, if it will need to be determined then why is snapped. The PSP could be fine, you should be able to turn this by hand. But you'll need to check the other components (A/C, tensioner, coolant pump etc). Your mechanic will do this.

It could just be a failed pulley/bearing.

shooter57

jayok wrote: »

Well, I suppose the PS fluid should have been checked, whether it was or not is another question. Normally it doesn't leak unless there's a bigger problem.

The starvation failure is not due to lack of PS fluid, but rather a design fault within the pump. Can't really blame the garage if this is the case.

Back to the original issue though, if it will need to be determined then why is snapped. The PSP could be fine, you should be able to turn this by hand. But you'll need to check the other components (A/C, tensioner, coolant pump etc). Your mechanic will do this.

It could just be a failed pulley/bearing.

Thanks I'm really hoping this is all it is anyway have to wait and find out from mechanic , I'll update when I hear !

Nissan doctor

I've seen it happen a few times...the bad news is that the rack and PS pipes normally have to be replaced too as the pieces of broken metal from inside the pump end up in the whole system.

shooter57

Mechanic reckons a new pulley will do the trick as it's made of plastic ? I've asked him to change the breather filter aswell while he has the car as I don't know when it was last changed (if ever) , as I don't own the car very long .