1986 Ford Tempo power steering help

Guess you replaced the alternator unnecessarily.

Goes to show the value of actually looking close. The problem, I would think, is in belt tension, not a bad PS pump.

You have to tighten the belt before you can diagnose anything else.

While belt is off, or very loose, spin the idlers and check for bearing slop in the driven components

well put new alt belt on it and still happened

BELT TENSION!!!!!?????

DID YOU CHECK THE IDLERS,TENSIONERS AND PULLEYS FOR FREE-SPIN AND SLOP???!!!

Should not be 'gravelly', in/out or side/side excessively, wobble, or stiff.

belt should not deflect a lot to the index finger, should be about the same, or just a little more, as sidewall on properly inflated tire.

IIRC the alt belt runs off of the PS pump, so if the PS belt is slipping the alt won't turn fast enough to charge. Bob

It's the OTHER BELT.... IIRC, older Tempos had a belt driving the PS pump, water pump and AC, and another from the AC to the alternator. It was something like that anyway. Look close at the belts, the tensioner would fail or get weak and the alternator would slow down under load also. Now that I think about it, the small belt went from the alt. to the AC. Either way, your problem is the tensioner and/or the serpentine belt. Likely both.

thanks I will look at that