hard steering, low battery, high engine temp

**loic** · 06-11-2012, 12:19 PM

my wife just called me, she is driving the 99 tahoe (LT 4x4) saying hi honey, there is something wrong with the car, I asked what it is. she says
the steering is getting hard, the engine temp is very high, the battery is low.
I told her to park and shut off the engine right away.
then she says she hear some noise (after engine is off) something like click click click... I am 30 miles away taking care of my 2 years old, I cant get there until she comes back (she'll have to take a cab...) because I have a old wrangler without doors/tops so no way I can put the baby in this thing...
I have to try and fix this thing today...
I am thinking that maybe the alternator is on its way out which will explain the gauges going crazy. but not sure about the hard steering and noises she heard after turning the engine off.
what do you guys think ?

**Pikey** · 06-11-2012, 01:23 PM

Could have lost the serpentine belt for some reason. That would explain the high temp (no water pump), the low voltage (no alternator), and the hard steering (no power steering pump). As far as the clicking goes, I have no idea! Sorry

**loic** · 06-11-2012, 01:46 PM

ok, thanks. I didnt think about the belt but makes sens. I just called AMA to get the truck tow back to the apartment, it makes more sens than driving 30 miles and finding that I forgot that tool or another..

**Pikey** · 06-11-2012, 01:52 PM

Please let us know what the issue was.

**loic** · 06-11-2012, 03:33 PM

The truck just came in, the belt is shredded......

**SupplySgt** · 06-11-2012, 04:52 PM

Make sure your pulleys move freely before you put the new belt on. I shredded a belt in my old 96 GMC cause my idler pulley froze up. Didn't realize it till I threw my spare belt on and started it up.

**RallySTX** · 06-11-2012, 06:24 PM

Right on Sarge, good sig.
Brian L.

**loic** · 06-14-2012, 08:09 PM

lol, before I put the belt I checked if the iddle pulley was spinning, no problems, put the belt on, start the struck and a really bad noise.... removed the belt, checked everything, everything looked ok, checked the iddle pulley, sure enough it was not moving... went to get a new one and everything is ok.
again thanks !!

**Pikey** · 06-15-2012, 09:37 AM

Glad it was an easy fix

**Dana W** · 06-16-2012, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by Pikey

Could have lost the serpentine belt for some reason. That would explain the high temp (no water pump), the low voltage (no alternator), and the hard steering (no power steering pump). As far as the clicking goes, I have no idea! Sorry

The ticking noise was the super hot engine and exhaust system shrinking while cooling. You'd be amazed how much iron, steel, and aluminum grows and shrinks due to temperature.