Edreamsz

Hi guys,

My power steering is not working. The car suffered a crash on the right front wheel. We had to replace the front right fender, right headlight wheel and tie-rod.

While replacing the tie-rod we did loosen the steering rack and al the oil was "removed" out of the steering system.

Afterwards we refilled the system with new and fresh Pentosin power steering oil.

The steering-rack has been inspected and is not showing any signs of damage. It turns smoothly without making any noises. It does not have any cracks and does not leak anywhere. (Tested without weight on the front wheels).

Strangely When there is weight on the front wheels I do not get any power-assist to the steering. I checked the steering pump oil reservoir and saw that a little smoke/damp came out of the oil-reservoir when starting the car and turning the steering left to right a few times.

Is there a "special" way to bleed the system properly? Maybe this is causing the problem?

Can it be that the steering rack suffered some strange internal damage? Is there any other way to check that?


NOTE: The steering pump started to leak at the oil pickup point. This is where the black oil canister reservoir connects with the metal power steering pump. We took the power steering pump apart and noticed the the pick up hole had melted shut! I replaced the pump with a new unit but the problem is still there! No power-assist!

My car is a 2002 carrera 4 convertible (3.6 L)

I hope you guys can give us some assistance and help us solve this problem.

ivangene

you have to bleed the system

Edreamsz

I did bleed the system by turning the steering wheel completely left to right a few times. This did not help

ivangene

the manual does not indicate how to bleed and I had a crash while loading it....but bleeding is typicaly done by some sort of opening of a bleeder valve to release the air out of the hydrolic system while fluid is pushing from the pump...there might be a special tool, I dont know.... but turning the wheels doesnt seem to be the answer.


ALSO - there is a big bunch of "things to check after an accident" regarding the steering. You might want to read up on those as well. There might be another issue.... but for sure if you opened the lines and did NOT bleed them, that is one big issue

Pac996

If your problem had happened to me I'd sit there wondering when I could get an alignment. I think a bad alignment makes steering a bit tougher.

Lock to lock repeated a few times is the normal method with no waiting between lock to lock. After such and no sounds of air passing the pump you should be good.

You can read what I just read on the dust bellows with remorse. I'm not sure if I want to look at mine now. My car does have a slight power steering whine which has me waiting to swap the pump out. It isn't a major noise but detectable. No signs of air or foaming but its got the whine.

ivangene

well the repair seems a bit of a "home job" and if replacing these parts I would be looking for FRAME DAMAGE as well as alignment... but as he stated he opened the power steering system and put it back together... the manual clearly states "must bleed" although i didnt see a proceedure, it only stands to reason that if he did not bleed it, there is air in the system and that will make it not work and could even cause damge with parts that should be in oil, running in air........

Edreamsz

The car was professionally repaired and no, the was no frame nor inner fender damage.

The problem may lie in the steering rack or a backpressure valve on the return line

Shark Attack

usually PS is blead the way he did it... At least in american cars. But the p car may be different.

GMS

Sounds more like a pump problem.
To bleed, as other have posted, turn from lock to lock to lock and ensure the fluid reservoir does not empty. On first start with fluid refill, crank over engine a few times to pump fluid through system.

ivangene

OK,

if no air then its pump right.....or blockage from the "melted" stuff found in it?

Pac996

I never saw your comment of smoke and damp coming out of the steering pump.
Again do not turn lock to lock when the car is statiionary. Besides possible tire damage it might explain the what looked like smoke coming out of the pump. It's harder to pump when the car isn't moving. Run it lock to lock while moving and it might snap out of it. Do the lock to lock till sattisfied but don't play pressuring the system at the end of turing stop.

code7rpd

Edreamsz - did you ever get it figured out? My car is having a problem with no power assist either - no leaks or noise, so I think it might be the pump.

white out

WTF is this?