The serpentine belt is about 1-2 years old. While that car was idling, it made an interesting bad sounding noise. I opened the hood, and the belt was coming off of the power steering and was shredding itself.
How does this happen? What do I need to inspect for failure? I am going to take the belt off to inspect the pulleys and see if anything has a lot of play.



It also seems like the belt is wearing off on the idler pulley. How is this happening.

 

Have a closer look at the pulley in your second pic. The "ridge" looks like it lines up with the split in the belt.

Also check your harmonic balancer. When the rubber deteriorates enough, the pulley can slip a bit throwing the belt out of alignment.

 

The ridge on the idler pulley is where the belt split. It was like that before I replaced the belt, and I sanded it off. Somehow it is like that again.

How can I check the harmonic balancer?

 

Yes, definitely check this. My belt nearly lunched itself several miles from the trailhead due to failing harmonic balancer. You can look from above and see if the crank pulley is in alignment with the others or if it has worked itself forward of the others by 1/4" or more.

Here are some pics of the failing crank pulley/harmonic balancer that threw my belt off. You can see how the two halves of the pulley had begun to separate.

Replacing it isn't all that difficult, but be sure to rent both the puller and installer tool, as you will need them to do it successfully.

 

Here is my harmonic balancer. It looks fine, right?

 

I think you need to replace that idler pulley. That ridge looks like it the weld from the inside showing through.

 

I replaced the idler pully. I noticed that the power steering pully/pump looks slightly crooked. How can I align it properly?

 

Yeah, it looks fine. I think your problem lies elsewhere.

 

Is the power steering pump too far forward?

Maybe loose and/or missing bolts also?

 

All of the bolts are tight. It seems the pump may be too far forward, but I don’t know how to push it backward.

 

Did you go underneath and look up from the rear?