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850 slipping belts

97'850GLT sedan, (WITH optional plastic shield under engine) going thru water puddles during rain makes the alternator/compressor blets slide, all lights come on on dashboard, power steering stops working, just for a few secs, then goes away... my volvo mechanic claims it's usual onn this model, and not much to do... i added the shield, helped reduce the problem but it's still a big issue. especially in south louisiana... anyone here has this problem? any ideas?

thanks

Reply to
grv
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I haven't driven through that many deep puddles, but I have driven through one very deep puddle, and this did not happen.

Don't know about that.

Bev

Reply to
Bev A. Kupf

SOme time after the 94, they went to a new routing of the serpentine belt. It used to just touch about 45 degrees of the alternator pulley. Later, they fitted a longer belt and rerouted it so it contacts about 180 degrees. This reduced the slippage.

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you have the old routing, you can change it to the new arrangementwith a new belt..

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Reply to
Doug Warner

This doesn't happen on my '98 S70 and V70. I'd suggest trying a new belt and make sure that the tensioner is working properly. (You may need to compare the tension from the tensioner on another car.

Reply to
Mike F

Sorry to say: Nope, same thing happens here in SoFla. The puddles don't have to be very deep either.

I'm intrigued by the new belt routing. That should help the lights coming on, but my biggest gripe is the loss of steering. It most often happens to me pulling into my driveway, wheels turned and going through a 1" small puddle that is there in the swale dip.

regards

bullshark

Reply to
bullshark

DOUG,

i looked and i seem to have the old arrangement... (why is that on a 97, that's another story though...) I will change it soon. Will this help with the power steering too? I assume the power steering shuts off due to lack of electrical power...

thanks a lot for your very to the point reply.

vlad.

Doug Warner wrote:

Reply to
grv

Power steering is completely mechanical, so the alternator wrap increase won't help. I used to lose power in the wet, but that doesn't happen any more. I don't recall losing steering though, but then, I'm rarely, if ever, turning in at speed in deep water.

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Reply to
Doug Warner

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