Shattering noise caused Power Steering Loss and Battery Light to Show
 

I was just starting out on a 600 mile round trip yesterday in my 75 CDI, when I heard what sounded like gravel being thrown up at the underside, front of the car, coupled with complete loss of power steering and and the battery light to show. I turned round, parked the car up and went in another car (Just got back now). Any idea what this could be please. I had a failed alternator a couple of times before, but it did not affect the power steering. I'm easily stumped.
Many thanks,
John.

Snapped auxiliary /serpentine belt, easy fix.

Sounds Like the Rubber Cush Drive in the Auxiliary Belt Pulley
 

If it is the belt snapped, a look under the bonnet will quickly show you.
To see what happens to the rubber insert in the pulley after about 100,000 miles, see the pics of mine in Jules Boiler Room thread.

Yep loss of the serpentine belt and easy enough job if it has just got tired and snapped.

But the noise could have been the crank pulley shearing or another pulley giving up - water pump bearings can collapse, so check that the serpentine belt isn't still in one piece and check all the other pulleys.













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