Five problems related to engine belts and pulleys have been reported for the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
During wet road/weather conditions power assisted steering failed. Dealership installed a water deflector plate to prevent water from contacting power steering belt. However, while traveling at approximately 25 to 30 mph in a rain storm, power steering failed, and belt for alternator slipped which caused light for battery on the dash board to come on. Dealership has been contacted, and owner was informed that nothing could be done for this problem. The dealer indicated that the wet conditions caused a belt to slip from the alternator and disabled the alternator.
The serpentine belt was cracked and worn at 40k miles. Nlm.
The seperntine belt failed. Nlm.
When driving thru puddles during rain, water splashes on the serpentine accessory drive belt , causing the power steering pump pulley to slip and loss of steering control. The service manager a the dealership where I bought the van said there was no way to tighten the belt. This has happened four times and luckely the speed has been slow and the steering came back after a few seconds.
With front wheel drive vehicle making a right turn and driving over a puddle , water will splash from wheel and get into the serpentine belt, causing steering wheel to lock up. Dealer claimed this was normal. Ak.