Power steering

[trickett90]

Anyone ever have any issues with their power steering systems? I don't remember reading a whole lot about it. When I searched that didn't yield too many details either.

Well something went bad with mine. It sounds and feels as if the fluid is low (you know that sound). However, plenty of fluid. If I increase the rpms it seems to help. At low speed turning is nearly impossible though. This happened pretty much all of a sudden during my drive home this evening. Tomorrow when its light out I'll give it a good look over. Any ideas? Is it most likely as simple as the pump?

 

[trickett90]

Bump. Nobody has anything?

 

[oddball]

If the system is kept full and clean, then there's usually no issues.
A pump failing will do what you described. The problem is if it's shredding itself and spewing bits into the fluid, then it will rapidly destroy the rack too.
Take a good look at the fluid. If it's not still bright red, do a flush and capture the old. Look closely for particles. Remember to use Mercon (III or V).
Testing for pump pressure output requires some special tools, so that's no fun.

IIRC, doesn't the LS system also have a solenoid to regulate output pressure? That could be a simple problem, similar to the common hydraulic fan pump solenoid failure.

 

[Shredicus]

Hmm serpentine belt replaced lately?

 

[joegr]

...do a flush and capture the old. Look closely for particles. Remember to use Mercon (III or V).
...

While doing this, look closely at the screen at the bottom of the reservoir. If it gets clogged, it will also cause the symptoms you have.


The LS does control power steering effort with a solenoid. Usually, when it fails, the result is full boost all the time, but you never know.

 

[trickett90]

Hmm serpentine belt replaced lately?

Yes.

Well thanks guys. Got some things to go off of now. I was a little surprised this issue came up.

 

[trickett90]

I'm going to start with the idler pulley, tensioner, and P/S flush.