hard steering, low battery, high engine temp

[loic]

my wife just called me, she is driving the 99 tahoe (LT 4x4) saying hi honey, there is something wrong with the car, I asked what it is. she says
the steering is getting hard, the engine temp is very high, the battery is low.
I told her to park and shut off the engine right away.
then she says she hear some noise (after engine is off) something like click click click... I am 30 miles away taking care of my 2 years old, I cant get there until she comes back (she'll have to take a cab...) because I have a old wrangler without doors/tops so no way I can put the baby in this thing...
I have to try and fix this thing today...
I am thinking that maybe the alternator is on its way out which will explain the gauges going crazy. but not sure about the hard steering and noises she heard after turning the engine off.
what do you guys think ?

 

[Yukon420SEL]

the over heating is what stumps me on this one, i once drove my mercedes from 3 days without a working alternator, and even got it smoged without it without any overheating issues, though you might be on to something because the alt would affect the gauges, ask her if the speedo was working?

 

[_Dylan_]

Alternator, waterpump, and powersteering all run off the belt. Maybe the belt snapped and fell off when she was driving.

 

[loic]

didnt think about the belt. could be.

as far as the battery, now, most of the battery will give you about 2.5 hours driving if your alternator fail.

 

[xanatost]

X2 on the belt.

 

[ajaxnxs]

Belt loose or gone check the tensioner

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Donnie Yukonie]

it is the belt happend to me a year ago , all my gauges went crazy lol, and not sure about 2.5 hours on the battery mine didnt last that long you be suprised how fast they drain with radio , spark, computer, ects can drain it fast

 

[gpracer1]

Like they said, most likely the belt or tensioner. If the belt is still there the tensioner spring might be broken an the belt is super loose.....slipping badly.