Pwr Steering Alt idiot light glitch

obbop · July 23, 2005

2004 Silverado 4.8 / auto, A/C, 4x4, work truck model.

10,000 miles on it

Pulled into parking lot, power steering stops working and red alternator idiot light comes on. Parked it, turned engine off, and popped hood expecting to see a broken serpentine belt.

Nope. All looked normal, no smoke, no unusual smells, nuthin'.

Started engine. No idiot light, power steering worked.

8 hours later back at the truck. Started up fine, no problems. Drove a couple miles home, no problems.

Hmmmmmmm.

Did the belt slip a little? Tensioner going bad, possibly.... ready to go bad permanently?

It was 100 degrees out with very high humidity.... did that contribute to the glitch?

Taking the truck to the dealer is likely futile unless I can replicate the problem for them but who knows if/when the glitch will occur again?

Is this a semi-common problem others have had or something the service dudes know is a problem and don't need to experience it for themselves to know what needs done?

Any advice appreciated!!!!!

Bish · July 23, 2005

2004 Silverado 4.8 / auto, A/C, 4x4, work truck model.
10,000 miles on it

Pulled into parking lot, power steering stops working and red alternator idiot light comes on. Parked it, turned engine off, and popped hood expecting to see a broken serpentine belt.

Nope. All looked normal, no smoke, no unusual smells, nuthin'.

Started engine. No idiot light, power steering worked.

8 hours later back at the truck. Started up fine, no problems. Drove a couple miles home, no problems.

Hmmmmmmm.

Did the belt slip a little? Tensioner going bad, possibly.... ready to go bad permanently?

It was 100 degrees out with very high humidity.... did that contribute to the glitch?

Taking the truck to the dealer is likely futile unless I can replicate the problem for them but who knows if/when the glitch will occur again?

Is this a semi-common problem others have had or something the service dudes know is a problem and don't need to experience it for themselves to know what needs done?

Any advice appreciated!!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Best guess would be bad tensioner and a wet belt. The tensioner should hold a very wet belt when working properly. Did it squeal when you lost power steering. If so, possibly a temporary lockup of the alt or ps pump but I doubt it. I would get it to the dealer so at a minimum there is a record even if they don't do anything. Might get it replaced out of warranty if it is documented that you had the problem while under warranty.

asilverblazer · July 25, 2005

Sounds like engine RPM's may have dropped below idle speed (momentarily) the alternator did not spin fast enough to produce power thus the light, and the power steering pump did not spin fast enough to pump the fluid. Might have been a bump sloshing fuel away from the fuel pump causing the engine to stutter.

99-2door · July 25, 2005

You sure the truck didn't die when the light came on?

obbop · July 27, 2005

You sure the truck didn't die when the light came on?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Truck was still running. I drove several hundred feet at low speed man handling the steering since power steering was gone and the red alternator idiot light was on.

The obvious problem would have been a broken serpentine belt or.... a belt that slipped off the pully(s) somehow.

But, all was as it should have been regarding the belt.

It's been several days now with no re-occurance.

Called the service dude at the dealer and asked if there had been any problems related to mine. The guy sounded surprised, especially when told it has but 10,000 miles on it.

It's a 20 mile drive to the dealer so will wait for another occurrance, if there is one, to take it in to have it documented. Hopefully the problem won't happen again.

Another board had a reply mentioning some valve within the power steering pump, something related to variable assist power steering, though the guy wasn't sure.

The loss of steering and idiot light stayed the same even after I accelerated a bit while navigating the parking lot. There was no belt squeeling, no smoke, no indicators of anything amiss other than the idiot light and loss of steering. Inspected the belt and no sign of anything wrong. If something had seized, even momentarily, there should have been some indication of it. I drove several hundred feet without power steering with the idiot light on.

This is kind of a mystery!!!!!!

If it doesn't happen again..... well.... GOOD!!!!

If it does, right to the dealer, even if it appears to fix itself so I can get the problem documented.

Thanks for the replies!!!!

obbop · July 27, 2005

Sounds like engine RPM's may have dropped below idle speed (momentarily) the alternator did not spin fast enough to produce power thus the light, and the power steering pump did not spin fast enough to pump the fluid. Might have been a bump sloshing fuel away from the fuel pump causing the engine to stutter.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good guess but in order to assure the fuel pump always has enough fuel to keep it cool I always fill up when I reach 1/4 tank.

In 33 years of driving I have never run out of gas. Let's just say I take care of my rolling stock and an self-disciplined enough to always ensure there is an adequate amount of motion lotion in the tank.

Good guess, though, that is likely applicable to a fairly sizable share of the motoring public.

Additionally, I was driving at around 10 mph in a smooth parking lot when the event occurred. No sloshing and I had over 1/2 tank in a 34 gallon tank.