1993 Ford Ranger Won't Start After Squeal

Avatar
MJA1009
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
1993 Ford Ranger over 170k miles

My father put in a new alternator and battery, about 2 weeks ago. This past Friday, I was driving it, when all of a sudden it made a squealing noise, then it just shut off and I had it towed back to the house. It tries to start, but it grinds real loud and smells like burnt rubber. The power steering pump has been broken and not working for a long time, and somebody looked at it and said it wouldn't start because it had something to do with the rotors that turn the belt, or something like that, and that it could cost from 500 - 900 dollars to fix it (that was a rough estimate from a friend mechanic of my husband's). Does this sound right?

I needed a vehicle to run right away, so we ran out and bought a used Oldsmobile, and are having problems with that already (posted in the other autos thread). I just don't know what to do. Spend more money to fix the Ford, or the Oldsmobile.

Please help
Feb 20, 2007 at 12:52 PM
Avatar
NOS
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 320 POSTS
ok the best think i can tell you to do is go through a prosses of elimination take the belt off try turning each pully that the belt runs on and find the one that don't turn.and that one would be the one that is making the belt squeal and it and in some cases it can killl the motor .also take the belt off and turn the motor over see if it does. you have a pully locked up somewhere replace it and you good to go. if it is the powersteering pump it will have to be replaced.NOS 8)
Feb 20, 2007 at 1:18 PM

Suggested Repair

Remove the accessory belt and turn each pulley by hand to find one that does not turn. Also try cranking with the belt removed. Replace the locked pulley; if it is the power steering pump, replace the pump.

Conversation Summary

A 1993 Ford Ranger with over 170,000 miles shut off after a squeal, then ground loudly and smelled like burnt rubber when cranking. The power steering pump had already failed, and a friend estimated a costly belt-drive repair. The expert advised removing the belt, checking each pulley for one that will not turn, and trying to crank with the belt off. The locked pulley should be replaced, and the power steering pump replaced if that is the seized component.

Add a reply
Join 2CarPros for free, one of the most advanced car repair communities on the internet. From first-time drivers to seasoned mechanics, everyone is welcome to reply, share details, and get better answers. You can add a temporary image or video first; uploads are limited to 20 MB.

Frequently Asked Problems for This Vehicle

Advertisement