1999 Chysler Grand Voyager several symptoms?

CRYSTALMILLER

MEMBER
1999 CHRYSLER GRAND VOYAGER

Steering problem
1999 Chysler Grand Voyager 6 cyl Wheel Drive Type unknown Automatic 168k miles

I had just left basketball practice when my power steering was just gone suddenly. I thought the engine died, but it hadn't. So I kept on going with no power steering. Next I noticed that the battery light came on and the heater was blowing cold air. A few minutes later, the engine overheated. I didn't have very far to go, so I continued home. I did stop a few times and cooled the engine. On the way to practice I did notice a burning smell while stopped at a light. The smell went away after starting to go, so I assumed it wasn't my van. Could this be a blown fuse or a much bigger problem?
I appreciate any advice/suggestions.

1 Reply

GORDON_HEWITT

MEMBER
2 POSTS

This may not be a timely response, sorry.
With all these symptoms, a common threat could be your belts. Your power steering pump is driven by an aux belt, so with either no tension on the belt (usuallly associated with a screeching noise when you start or at idle) or no belt you wont have power steering.
Belts also drive the alternator and water pump, so with lose or no belt, your car will not charge and the battery light comes on. Your water pumo will not circulate coolant and the engine will overheat. Once the engine overheats the collant boil over meaning that the level can drop to a point where you heater stops working because there is no heated coolant in the heat exchanger.
Finally, if the aux belt begins to disintergate, shards of belt sit close to the exhast-buring smell. Sometimes you can hear funny ticking noises from the belt if it remains in place whlie chunks are coming off. This is the fibre in the belt hitting other parts on the motor as they become detached. The reason for this could be a worn belt tensioner or idler as well as an old belt.

Hope this helps.