As I was turning the last turn to go home last night, I lost the power steering. The 2-3 year old flat belt came off. This is a 1st time event. This afternoon I put the belt back on, and started the motor, after about 30 seconds, the belt started squealing. I shut it down, and found the belt 1/4" off the tensioner pulley. The first thought was the tensioner crapped out. No, its good, nice and tight, turns freely and straight. I put the belt back on, and the belt alignment doesn't look right. I laid a straight edge across the crankshaft pulley, and it is at least a 1/4" farther out then all the other pulleys I can reach with the straight edge. The crank pulley is pulling the belts outward away from the motor.
i thought maybe the crank pulley bolt may have come loose (the timing belt was replaced about 30K miles ago), so I got a flat punch and tapped around the outside of the bolt, but there was no movement, and the bolt seems tight (turns the motor).
Anyone have any idea what is going on here? Was something done when the timing belt was replaced (I did not do it), and if that is the problem, why no issues for 30,000 miles? Gene
