I just bought a 91 240 yesterday and on the ride home the power steering stopped working and the ac belt flew off. Does the ac belt affect the power steering or are these two separate problems? The power steering fluid is full and I have not noticed any leaks. It also went out on me all at once so that's why I'm assuming it has to do with the belt. Thanks in advance for any info

 

Your ac compressor may have seized and caused the belt to fall off. The Ac belt goes to the crankshaft pulley, and the power steering is driven from the compressor. So - no ac belt = no power steering.

If your compressor is seized and you don't want to replace it - you can remove one of the alternator belts and run a belt from that now open pulley to the power steering pump. You might have to remove part of the timing marks on the timing belt cover to clear the new belt. With just one Alternator belt it will tend to slip - so you will have to keep it really tight.

The belt you will need to bypass the compressor is a 10x1075 belt (10mm wide/1075mm long)

 

Is there an easy way to check if the compressor is seized? It turns freely by hand. The car sat for over a decade so I'm hoping the belt was just no good.

 

Yes right now (with the engine off) I trust the idler bearing/pulley on the ac clutch can be spun by pushing the power steering belt/pulley.

When the electric clutch for the compressor is engaged, that couples the smaller inner pulley with the outer pulley - the inner is connected to the crankshaft of the compressor. Can you spin the inner pulley on the compressor? (if you can't spin it by hand there is a bolt in the center that a 10mm socket fits on) If yes - try a new belt - if no - the compressor is seized.

 

Yeah it spins, I'll replace the belt and see if it fixes the problem. Thankyou for the advice!

 

If the car has been sitting - you should check the condition of the timing belt. (under the black cover) Old ones tend to break. Good thing on that engine is if the timing belt breaks - no permanent damage is done to the engine. (later 4 valve /cylinder engines are interference)