The other issue is the diesel pump. A while back we noticed drips from the plastic tube on top of the pump. I showed it to a diesel pump repair specialist and he says its a problem with one of the ball bearings inside the pump and pump is filling with diesel. I had planned to have pump reconditioned next month, however as of Sunday I noticed a bigger leak which at first we thought might have been from a cracked balance pipe on the injectors. We changed the pipes but this was not the cause. On further investigation we believe that a seal on the cover at back of pump - which corresponds with the cover at bottom on front - is dripping. Diesel seems to be running down front of block behind alternator.
I am wondering if maybe diesel has sprayed onto alternator belt and is causing it to slip? would it just slip at start up if diesel had got onto belt or would it be a more continuous slippage? Might it just be coincidence and that the belt needs to be changed anyway? What would best way to clean old belt be if it is the diesel at fault?
Lots of questions I know!!
scary
OK so brought car to my mechanic and he discovered that the lower bolt holding the steering pump in place had loosened because the nut had fallen off - not an uncommon problem so he says. The bolt itself was protruding out and rubbing against the pulley - this was causing a low noise that I had noticed. On checking the belt it was found to be in good condition and not contaminated by any diesel spray so it was re tensioned and the noise is now gone so all good there. I did have one of the pulleys replaced about 2 months ago so apparently the belt can loosen off after a while and this seemed to be the cause.
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