Someone once told me a damaged power steering pump can cause a car to idle lower than normal due to the fact that it runs off the engine belt, and can cause a vehicle to have rough running issues. But I have never heard of a damaged pump affecting anything but the power steering. Is there any truth to this? Any answers would be appreciated!

It is all guesswork, but there is either an alignment issue due to the crash or the power steering RACK is damaged and causing stress on the pump and the belt.

My Advice, get a lawyer on it and take the dealer to court. The fact that it was a write off should have been disclosed at the time of the sale. Get your money back, or credit on another vehicle.

Often times your engine , once overheated, will take time to return to normal....the high temps of your engine,will cause burnt odors due to old oil residues, anti freeze overflow etc..sometimes a simple engine cleansing will help to eliminate these odors..take care not to spill any liquids such as oil, antifreeze, power steering , brake or transmission fluids onto your engine....good luck

You didn't list your engine size, so I'm going to assume that it's the 2.5L V6. The engine operates several components via the serpentine belt including the alternator, a/c compressor and power steering pump. This belt also has a tensioner pulley that maintains good contact between the belt and the driven components. A whining sound indicates that one of the components is presenting greater-than-normal resistance to the rotation of the belt. If the noise stays at the same frequency whether or not the a/c is turned on, I would rule out the a/c compressor. Next, does the steering wheel turn smoothly in both directions? Does the sound remain the same when you're turning the wheel? If yes to both, I'd rule out the power steering pump. Does the whining get higher in pitch when you step on the accelerator pedal? If the answer is yes to this and the other questions, I'd lean toward the tensioner pulley being the problem. If that is what it proves to be, I would change it AND the serpentine belt at the same time since the belt may have endured unusual wear due to the tensioner. Good luck.

After market is fine....You are not going t do any more damage, BUT the old pump may freeze up and brake the belt...??

FIRST OF ALL TURN OFF RADIO REMOVE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. THEN REMOVE POWER STEERING PUMP FLUID FROM POWER STEERING PUMP.USING A HAND PUMP SIPHON. BE CAREFUL DONT GET POWER STEERING FLUID ON CAR PAINT IT WILL DAMAGE PAINT JOB.PUT A DRAIN PAN UNDERNEATH CAR TO CATCH POWER STEERING FLUID THEN DISCONNECT POWER STEERING PUMP LINES.REMOVE POWER STEERING PUMP ADJUSTER BOLT AND MOUNTING BOLT.REMOVE POWER STEERING PUMP.MOST OF THE TIME NEW POWER STEERING PUMP DONT HAVE DRIVE PULLEY ON IT SO TAKE TO A MACHINE SHOP THE WILL REMOVE PULLEY FROM OLD PUMP AND PRESS ON THE PULLEY TO NEW POWER STEERING PUMP.BESURE TO BUY NEW O RINGS TO END OF PRESSURE LINE.ONCE NEW POWER STEERING PUMP HAS PULLEY IN PLACE AND YOU HAVE NEW O RING FOR HIGH PRESSURE LINE.INSTALL NEW PUMP.ADJUST BELT TENSION.NOW BLEED POWER STEERING PUMP WITH FRONT WHEELS POINT STRAIGHT A HEAD POSITION.POUR POWER STEERING FLUID IN PUMP UNTIL FLUID LEVEL ON COLD MARK ON POWER STEERING PUMP DIP STICK.KEEP ADDING FLUID UNTIL FLUID STOP DROPPING. START THE ENGINE LET IT RUN AT IDLE ADD MORE FLUID IF DROPS KEEP FLUID ON FULL COLD MARK.ON DIP STICK TURN OFF ENGINE.CHECK TO MAKE SURE POWER STEERING PUMP NOT LEAKING AT THE LINES THEN.SAFELY RAISE SUPPORT FRONT OF THE VECHICLE WITH JACK STANDS. MAKE SURE VECHICLE ON SOLID LEVEL GROUND CHECK.FLUID LEVEL MAKE SURE AT FULL COLD MARK. NOW START ENGINE.LET IDLE MINUTE.THEN TURN STEERING WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT TO RIGHT SEVERAL TIMES WITH OUT STOPPING IT IN PLACE. CHECK POWER STEERING FLUID WHEN FLUID LEVEL STOP DROPPING.AND FLUID IS NOT A TAN COLOR WHICH MEAN LOTS OF AIR IN SYSTEM. TURN OFF CAR UNTIL AIR BUBBLES DISAPPEAR.CHECK FLUID LEVEL BLEED POWER STEERING AGAIN. DONT DRIVE VECHICLE UNTIL STEERING FEEL NORMAL.IF FLUID REMAIN TAN WITH AIR BUBBLES CHECK FOR LEAKS AT POWER STEERING PUMP PRESSURE HOSE ORING. AND CHECK POWER STEERING LINES TO PUMP FOR LEAKS.

It will lock up the engine,but not slow it down.

I've never heard of that either I don't see how it will affect the idle at all

Remove the accessory drive belt from the pump
Remove the pressure hose from the pump
Remove the return hose from the pump

Remove the bolts from the pump.

Remove the power steering pump from the vehicle.

Remove the power steering pump pulley from the pump

Remove the reservoir from the pump

Install the pump to the vehicle.

Notice: Use the correct fastener in the correct location. Replacement fasteners must be the correct part number for that application. Fasteners requiring replacement or fasteners requiring the use of thread locking compound or sealant are identified in the service procedure. Do not use paints, lubricants, or corrosion inhibitors on fasteners or fastener joint surfaces unless specified. These coatings affect fastener torque and joint clamping force and may damage the fastener. Use the correct tightening sequence and specifications when installing fasteners in order to avoid damage to parts and systems.

Install the power steering pump bolts.

Tighten
Tighten the power steering pump bolts to 34 N·m (25 lb ft).
Install the return hose to the pump.
Then just reverse what you did to remove.
Once you have it al back together fill the resevoir.
Do not over fill

Start the engine. Rotate steering wheel from left to right. Check for sign of cavitation or fluid aeration (pump noise/whining).

Verify the fluid level. Repeat the bleed procedure if necessary

if poor performance was noticed right off the bat, the timing belt is not timed properly. this will cause lack of power, rough idle, pre ignition(little noisey), and rich exhaust.youre going to need to first, find a friend or someone whom you trust to do your automotive work.second youre going to need to start over by tearing it all down systematically and taking note of anything done wrong. third find reliable information on the timing marks for this vehicle. i hope for your sake nothing is broken. let me know how this turns out, ill be happy to help further if you need.

It very possible that the new power steering pump is defective. I would take it back for a possible warranty issue.

I'm confused about the part where the water pump damaged the power steering pump. The power steering pump doesn't require any cooling from the water pump. The power steering pump only needs the belt to run it properly.