Steering questions

cammerfe

Dedicated LVC Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2007
Messages
3,496
Reaction score
98
Location
Metro Detroit
I'll readily admit to giant gaps in my knowledge and experience. Trying to fill in:

I have had a minor leak in the power steering on my car(02 LS 8 Sport) for some months. I say minor because the only way I was aware of it at all is due to the 'humm' noise that cropped-up one day. Recognizing the sound as the PS pump being short of fluid, I topped it up and had no further trouble. Probably two months later I had the same experience, and again topped it up. Please note that there was no sign of a leak noticeable. Since I've been working on another project, the car's been setting for a couple of months now, and when I went to move it today I had NO POWER steering. And on the driveway apron was a significant spot to the passenger side on the drive.

Altogether, I'd added about a pint or so of Mercon V until today. I added almost a quart more this afternoon, but although there is NO sound from the pump, there is also no power steering.

As near as I can tell, the leak, based on the observable mark on the drive, is from the location of the passenger end of the rack or thereabouts. But a seal failure in the rack housing would, to my mind, result in some degree of power and a rather copious dump of fluid. And any lack of fluid would seem to likely cause the 'humm'.

I now have no noise, a lack of leakage, and NO POWER.

Your comments and input is solicited.

KS

(I suppose I should also state that there doesn't seem to be a similar set of details available from 'search'. I did spend better than two hours going through what's there---mostly comments from our brothers in the MVIII area)
 
Do you have fluid circulating? You may have to disconnect the return hose at the reservoir to tell.

If no circulation:

You may have to vacuum bleed the pump to get it primed and operating again.
You should also check the screen at the bottom of the reservoir. It may be clogged now.

Here's the gen II bleed procedure, gen I should be about the same.
http://deneau.info/ls/s6x~us~en~file=s6xb0004.htm~gen~ref.htm

If you have circulation:

Seems like it would have to be an internal rack failure.
 
when i put a new pump in my mark, i had very little boost. went lock to lock a few times, and all of a sudden it sucked a ton of fluid from the reservoir and i had power steering again.
you may have a bubble somewhere.
 
Thanks, Chris. I did try turning the wheel but with no power assist the effort is giant. I've got enough stuff on my plate that I won't get back to it until tomorrow or the next day. Then I'll try again.

I'd have thought the pump to be self-priming but there may very well be a bubble 'holding-up-the-works'.

KS
 
Thanks, Chris. I did try turning the wheel but with no power assist the effort is giant. I've got enough stuff on my plate that I won't get back to it until tomorrow or the next day. Then I'll try again.

I'd have thought the pump to be self-priming but there may very well be a bubble 'holding-up-the-works'.

KS

It could be that you can disconnect (at the rack) the high pressure hose from the pump and let some fluid pour through to prime it. The pump pumps liquid really well, but it can't move air.
 
get the front wheels up off the ground, the steering effort is reduced enough so its pretty easy to turn the wheel.
 
One of the positive aspects of this forum is not just that there is a wealth of technical expertise, there's also a willingness to be of help.

THANK YOU!!!

KS
 

Members online

No members online now.
Back
Top