Houston... We have a problem...

Oook, were to begin... i just drove my Camaro for the 1st time on the Freeway... on this jolly little 45min 60-70mph jog my steering tightened up to the point where it takes a good bit of force to turn.. it turns but i really have to pull the wheel around... 2nd at about 65-70mph i hear this weird slapping or clicking noise... but it sounds like little rocks are getting kicked up... its not constant.. just random. Also my battery gauge puts me in the orange, right on the line between orange and ok. And my oil gauge is reading low too... Now i went to shucks.. checked my power steering fluid and its full, almost to the top.. (too full?) also... not the way the guy explained it to me, when he went to put the exhuast on he dropped a bolt down the manifold and had to cut it to take it out and when they re-welded the pipe it caused some piping to hit the control arm... could this be the problem? Should i just bring it into a mechanic? I can drive it, turning and control the car is just a bit of a work out.

AND ABS INOP... when i first turn it on it also says low oil and it smells funny (exhuast) also it stutters when i start it (didnt do that the first week i had it) Now my friend told me my power steering might be out.... great... any ideas from anyone?

Sounds like more than just power steering... The pump may be out. Check to make sure the power steering pulley isn't seized up. Sounds like it is and causing some other problems in turn.

ps pulley.. would be where?.. lol.. this thing looks totally the opposite of my old stang... the engine is alil more complex

I'm not sure where it's at on the Z28. Look on eBay at the pics of the P/S pump and pulley. Then look for it on your car. That's the only way I can help locate it for you.

WOW.... Accessory belt is kaput!!!! Its totally shredded! How the hell am i still driving with no accessory belt? My alt isnt being powered so what.. im running straight battery.. on top of that i need my oil changed... What kind of belt do i need? It looks hard to install... anyone have a how to guide? ive got a hanes book but they confuse the hell outta me sometimes.

Well that explains everything. Click here... http://www.autozone.com/N,15300077//shopping/partTypeResultSet.htm
 
At the bottom it has a link on how to replace it. Good luck!

Thanks! Im headed to shucks now..

got a new belt and a battery if i cant get my otherone to work..... Uh... and do i need a certain tool... a tensioner or something.

I'm not sure what you mean... One of the pulleys should be a tensioner pulley. Move it so as to put slack in the belt. Remove old belt and replace with new one.

Put a socket and ratchet handle on the center bolt on the tensioner pulley, turn clockwise, this pushes the tensioner down and relaeses the belt. Make sure all the pulleys spin easily before putting on new belt, so you don't break another one, especially the alternator and power steering pump.

ok great, so no specail tool like on mustangs?

No special tools, but watch out for your knuckles, may be a good idea to disconnect the battery so that the fans don't come and grab your fingers. LOL

lol ok. Now my original belt is all tangled and mangled.. so im guessing ill have to cut it out.. but then just loosen the tensioner pulley string the new belt on like the model shows and tighten it back up. Will i kno when its tight enough? do i turn it til it wont turn? Then as far as battery, if my current one doesnt have enough power to start my car, with the alternator will it charge back up? and thanks for your guys help! I was flippin out thinkin i would need a new ps pump.

You don't "loosen" the pulley, but merely push it out of the way. It's spring loaded, it knows when it's tight enough. The alternator doesn't charge the battery back up unless the car is running.

The tensioner is spring loaded, so you don't have to make any adjustments.  Simply do as Pete said, and once the belt is in place, let off the tensioner pulley. You're done.  The tensioner takes up slack as the belt wears.  Make sure the belt is routed correctly!

HA! Got it running! now i just need to take it to get serviced  lol

That's good! Everything running like it should?

yep, battery is good drove it around awhile and its just fine... Now i need to take care of a ticking in my engine  and my oil is low and dirty.. im going to get it lubed 2morrow

**** a full 20 point oil change and inspection today... other than my air filter being full of bugs and dirt and a moderate oil leak im golden..