PS Pump Pain in the A$$
 

So I am in the middle of replacing my power steering pump, but can't seen to get it off. I know there is one hose and a bolt in the back of it that I cannot for the life of me get to. There is too much stuff in the way and Im about to give up and call a mechanic, or have it towed to a shop. I was wondering if anyone has replaced their pump, and if so, if I could get some pointers on how to even get the darn thing off? Also, once I have it off, if there is any tricks to putting a new one on? I would be very grateful if anyone in the Everett, WA area could come out and take a look if they have any knowledge on this subject. I appreciate all the help I have recieved on this forums, as I need lots of it.
Thanks.

So I broke the air control valve on the pump. $232 from the dealership!!!!! I cant afford this s***. Does anyone have one of these laying around I could purchase from them? Or can I just seal the one I broke, because its only cracked? I am about to give up. Sorry for the frustration, I just cant take the stress anymore. This pump is absolutely ridiculous.

I have one, I'm in everett. Pm me.

You DON'T really need the 'vacuum operated idle up' valve. Just plug off the hole and go on with life.

Its purpose is to keep the idle up to normal (700 rpm) when turning the steering wheel during idle situations, like driveways and parking spaces.

Thanks for the advice nickleye, but Ill just get one from nate. I have since calmed down and have decided to take things slower so I dont mess anything up. I have a daily driver, I just have a jones for boost :offwall:

Dude, stop trying to mess up my sale!! You're going to cost me $10!! ;)

I too am going through these issues, only I have replaced the pump and the rack, bled the system and it still won't work!! I suspect that air control valve might be the problem. But my local dealer wants $282. If we are talking about the same thing this is a small part that has 2 round tunnels on it and goes in the back of the pump and is operated by vaccum. I think the only option is to try and find one in a junk yard.

I am ready to pull out what is left of my hair to get this figured out. I have looked for kinks, nothing, there really isnt anything left other than this air valve.

Does anybody have any suggestions what I am doing wrong or what is not working right?

I just replaced my pump and it is still having issues. Have your reservoir and pressure line to your ps pump replaced, as I believe that is the issue on mine. I got fed up and took off the drive belt for the pump. Is that a bad idea? Screw power steering.

i was just reading all this and through the whole thing i was thinking 'screw pwr steering' i went without mine for a while just cause i was to lazy to replace the belt on mine, you have to take it off last after the fan and alternator belts more work than i really wanted, but it was fun and a good experience... now it turns with pwr like a charm.

Yea, I replaced the belt too, but it wont tighten all the way. Plus there is a leak from my pressure line and when I look in my reservoir, its all bubbly and foamy. I dunno. I just wanna drive, and if it has to be without power steering, then so be it.

yeah i had one of my pals wrench on it with a flat bar while i tightened it haha, make sure you only tighten somewhere between 1/4"-1/2" (i think... check on that) with thumb pressure applied in middle. made it to tight once and it busted on me again... :( , but an easy fix... as for your PS pump gone, good luck haha... but like you said screw the pwr steering, hold off till you can find it in a pick and pull.

[QUOTE=drmmr15]Yea, I replaced the belt too, but it wont tighten all the way. Plus there is a leak from my pressure line and when I look in my reservoir, its all bubbly and foamy. I dunno.[QUOTE]

I've got the exact same problem. I replaced the pump and plugged off the vaccum valve in the back. Bled the system. I've had the pump off twice now, replaced the reservoir return line and I got nothin'. Same problem as before. I have replaced the entire mechanical steering sytem with rack. Now I am really scratching my head saying what else can it be? But it too is foaming.

Drmmr15 I would loosen the large mount bolt 14mm underneath the car that you can get to after jacking up the car. Then adjust the belt with a long screwdriver as a lever and tighten. Then re-tighten the bottom bolt.

Thanks for the advice. Also, have your tried replacing the pressure line? I think that's what my problem is too. Take it to a shop with the belt off, have 'em hook it up, and just have them diagnose it. That's what I am going to end up doing. Just a suggestion.

There is a screen in the bottom of the reservoir that gets clogged up and wont let the fluid flow properly. Take the reservoir off and clean it with some carb cleaner and see if that helps.

Your welcome!! Between the two of us maybe we can figure this out. Marks MKII has a good suggestion too, which I will try. But I decided I would drive it yesterday during the morning commute. Was a little stiff by the end of the day the fluid had overflowed out or sprung a leak somewhere. Man this is really getting annoying. I am almost to the point of taking it somewhere, but I am trying not to. I already have countless hours and about $350 in the project to no avail.

I bought a MKIII acouple of years ago and the PS was not working even after the guy had put a new PS rack on. I brought the car home and put a new pump on it thinking that..that had to be it. No fixy. I took the lines loose and made sure the pump was pumping fluid, but I only did it for a second so I wouldn't make a big mess. Fluid seemed to run through them fine. So I took the reservior off because it was the only thing left and it was clogged completely up. Cleaned it out put it back together and it's been fine ever since. Good Luck


Mark

Mark Thank you for your input.

I spent the day yesterday at a pick a part taking various ps parts to try and remedy this problem. Once I got home I took your suggestion to clean the reservior. There seemed to be a thin film of 'uck on the bottom of it. I took some brake cleaner and sprayed it, some stuff did come out. I decided to take the pump off again and put the junk yard pieces on it, while I had soaked the reservior in cleaner. When I emptied the tank all kinds of a thin film came out and the screen looked about as clean as I could get it. I am letting it dry today and put everything back together in the next day or two. Like you say I hope that does it. I will keep ya posted. Thanks again for the suggestion.

Well I re-installed the PS pump last night and drove it today. The cleaning did work somewhat at least now I dont have to take two arms to steer it. But now it has this horrible whine when I turn the steering and a little stiff. I am thinking what now!!

Air in your lines?

Well I bled the lines on what the book says, jacking up the car and moving the steering wheel back and forth several times with the motor on and off. After driving the car to work today I looked in the reservoir and it looked like the fluid was down a little and not all the way empty. Looks like I may need to do that again or maybe the junk yard pump might be bad too, I dunno. Thanks for the suggestion

Are you checking the fluid while the car is running. It will show more in it when it's not running. Add some fluid and see if that helps.

Thanks

Mark

Mark:

Thanks for the suggestion. I finally solved the mystery. It ended up being the screen inside the reserviour. After I had cleaned it as you suggested before, I put it back on the car. It started to boil and bubble over again. It turned out the screen was actually torn and was flapping around clogging up the flow. So I took some hemostats and pulled the screen out completely. Put it back on the car and works great!!

I am again terrorizing the southern california freeways again. This has been a two month maintenance saga. Thanks to you and all the other contributors, I wouldn't have figured it out on my own.

Great, I'm glad to hear that your on the road again....with POWERSTEERING:offwall: