Geophysical observations as well as deformation experiments indicate that under hydrothermal conditions, crustal faults can be significantly weakened with respect to conventional brittle-plastic strength envelopes. Pressure solution has long been proposed as a mechanism leading to fault weakness. However, pressure solution has also been proposed as contributing to interseismic fault healing, and the competition between the weakening and healing effects of pressure solution is unclear. To investigate this issue, we have conducted rotary shear experiments on synthetic faults containing granular halite (NaCl) gouge using NaCl-saturated mixtures of water and methanol as pore fluid. The NaCl-water-methanol system was chosen as a rock analogue because pressure solution is known to be important in this system at ambient conditions. We explored the influence of varying pore fluid composition (hence pressure solution rate), gouge grain size, and wall rock surface roughness, as well as normal stress and sliding velocity on slip behavior. All experiments were done under drained conditions. An acoustic emission detection system allowed detection of brittle events in the gouge. The results show no evidence for steady state pressure solution-controlled fault slip. Frictional, rate-insensitive behavior was observed, whereas the microstructures and compaction behavior clearly demonstrated that pressure solution was active in the gouge. Our data show that fluid-assisted healing effects dominated over weakening, causing fault strength to be controlled mainly by brittle-frictional processes. Existing models describing pressure solution-controlled fault creep may not be applicable to a porous gouge undergoing compaction as well as slip.