1991 Volkswagen power steering belt adjustment

This is just a general answer. There are 2 ways to tighten a power steering belt, 1, by adjusting the power steering pump OR 2 by adjusting a tensioner pulley.
Inspect the belt system and see which one your vehicle uses. If the pump is adjustable, it will be mounted on one end by either a sliding bolt on a curved bracket like the alternator, or by an adjusting bolt.
If your car has an adjusting pulley, check the routing of the belt. It will normally run from the front engine pulley over the adjusting pulley then over the power steering pump pulley. The adjusting (tensioner) pulley will have to be loosened, then either pulled to the tightening position by hand and retightened, or else there will be an adjusting bolt and nut which must be turned to tighten the belt before retightening the pulley.
Sorry, I don't know your car that well so my answer is just generic.
Good luck

A/c compressors can have either an adjuster pulley or a slip slot in a mounting bracket. With this one you loosen off the mounting bolts including the slot bolt and push the compressor in to get the belt off. Some slots adjusters have the adjuster bolt in that bolt mount

ADJUSTMENT

Excessive belt tension will cause damage to the alternator and water pump pulley bearings, while, on the other hand, loose belt tension will produce slip and premature wear on the belt. Therefore, be sure to adjust the belt tension to the proper level.
To adjust the tension on a drive belt, loosen the adjusting bolt or fixing bolt locknut on the alternator, alternator bracket or tension pulley. Then move the alternator or turn the adjusting bolt to adjust belt tension. Once the desired value is reached, secure the bolt or locknut and recheck tension.

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

1.5L, 1.6L, 1.8L, 2.0L and 2.4L Engines

Fig. Accessory V-belt routing-Mitsubishi 1.5L, 1.6L, 1.8L, 2.0L and 2.4L engines
Alternator Belt

Fig. Loosen the adjuster lock bolt . . .

Fig. . . . then remove the alternator belt from the engine

1. Loosen the alternator support nut.
2. Loosen the adjuster lock bolt.
3. Rotate the adjuster bolt counter clockwise to release the tension on the belt.
4. Remove the belt.

To install:

1. Install the belt on the pulleys.
2. Rotate the adjuster bolt clockwise until the proper tension is reached.
3. Tighten the adjuster lock bolt and the alternator support nut.

POWER STEERING BELT

Fig. After the adjusting and fixed bolts are loosened, rotate the pump . . .

Fig. . . . then remove the power steering belt from the engine

1. Remove the alternator belt as described above.
2. Loosen the power steering pump adjusting bolts.
3. Remove the power steering pump fixed bolt on the rear of the bracket.
4. Rotate the pump toward the engine and remove the belt.

To install:

1. Install the belt on the pulleys.
2. Rotate the pump until the proper tension is reached.
3. Tighten the adjusting bolts on the pump.
4. Tighten the fixed bolt on the rear of the bracket.
5. Install the alternator belt.

A/C COMPRESSOR BELT

1. Loosen the tension pulley and remove the belt.
2. The installation is the reverse of the removal.

3.0L DOHC, 3.0L SOHC Galant, and 3.5L Engines

Fig. Serpentine belt routing-Mitsubishi 3.0L engines (except 1998-00 Galant models)

Fig. Accessory V-belt routing-Mitsubishi 3.5L and 1998-00 3.0L SOHC Galant engines
ALTERNATOR AND A/C COMPRESSOR

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.

CAUTION Wait at least 90 seconds after the negative battery cable is disconnected to prevent possible deployment of the air bag.

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle and remove the front undercover.
2. Loosen the tension pulley fixing nut and relieve the tension on the belt by turning the adjusting bolt.
3. Remove the belt.

To install:

1. Install the belt on the crankshaft and alternator pulleys.
2. Using the adjusting bolt on the tensioner, tighten the belt to the desired tension.
3. Tighten the fixing nut to hold the adjustment.
4. Install the undercover and lower the vehicle to the floor.
5. Connect the negative battery cable.

POWER STEERING BELT

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.

CAUTION Wait at least 90 seconds after the negative battery cable is disconnected to prevent possible deployment of the air bag.

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle and remove the undercover.
2. Remove the alternator and A/C compressor belt.
3. Lower the vehicle and remove the cruise control pump link assembly.
4. Place the power steering hose under the oil reservoir.
5. Loosen the tension pulley fixing bolts and remove the power steering pump drive belt.

To install:

1. Install the power steering pump drive belt.
2. Insert an extension bar or equivalent into the opening at the end of the tension pulley bracket and pivot the pulley to apply tension to the belt.
3. Tighten the fixing bolts.
4. Raise the vehicle and install the alternator and A/C compressor belt.
5. Install the undercover and lower the vehicle.
6. Connect the negative battery cable.

3.0L SOHC Diamante

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Loosen the lockbolt on the face of the A/C tensioner pulley.
3. Turn the adjusting bolt of the A/C tensioner pulley to loosen the tension of the A/C belt.
4. Remove the A/C compressor belt.
5. Loosen the locknut on the face of the power steering/alternator tensioner pulley.
6. Turn the adjusting bolt of the tensioner pulley to loosen the tension of the belt.
7. Remove the power steering/alternator belt.

To install:

1. Install the power steering/alternator belt first and then the A/C compressor drive belt.
2. Adjust the belts to the proper tension by turning the adjusting bolts and tighten pulley fixing nut/bolt.
3. Tighten the mounting nut of the power steering/alternator tensioner pulley to 36 ft. lbs. (50 Nm).

Hello and welcome to FixYa!

The problem can be on the power steering pump itself. If the power steering pump is faulty, the power steering fluid does not circulate properly. One good reason why it squeaks when wheel is turned. Check the power steering belt too if they are not sloppy. If it is, adjust the pump to tighten the belt.

But before doing the power steering pump replacement, please do check the power steering fluid level. You may need to fill it up a little and turn the wheel from left to right. By turning the wheel to the max left and max right, the steering fluid will circulate and may get rid of the problem.

If the problem still persists after putting on new fluids, go for the power steering pump replacement. Be sure to tighten the power steering belt after replacement.

Hope this helps and thank you for using FixYa! Have a good one!

Purchase a replacement pump at Autozone or Kragens. Remove and plug the two pressure lines. Loosen the adjustment braket. Pull the pump over to loosen the belt. Remove the belt. Remove the adjustment bracket. Remove the bolt holding the pump. Replace the pump. Put on the belt and tighten it until there is 3/8 in. flex. Refill the pump reservoir with power steering fluid.

try and loosen the power steering pump body, install the belt,adjust and tighten the pump body.

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There is an idler pulley close to the power steering. Loosen the bolt that goes through the front of the idler pulley first. Then you will see the head of a bolt looking up at you. Turn the bolt clockwise to tighten and counterclockwise to loosen. The pulley is attached to the threaded bolt and it moves the pulley up or down as needed to adjust the belt tension. When the belt is replaced turn the bolt until the belt is tight. Remember to check the belt again after a few hundred miles. A new belt will stretch and loosen.

Which one? The A/C belt is adjusted from the top. Loosen the bolt that goes through the Idle pulley then turn the adjusting bolt next to the pulley to tighten or loosen. Retighten the Idle pulley bolt once adjusted. The Power Steering belt procedure is pretty much the same but has to be done from under the car. The alternator belt is similar but there is no Idle pulley. You loosen the alternator bolts and turn the adjusting bolt. Then retighten the alternator when done.

the v belt tensioner is spring loaded therefore it self adjusts the belt.i susjest a new tensioner and belt.good luck with repair.

the pulley that doesn't appear to drive anything is the tensioner

Robert