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Did I ruin my power steering?

 
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dheiter



Joined: 15 Aug 2001
Posts: 16
Location: Topsfield, Mass. USA

PostPosted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 9:34 pm    Post subject: Did I ruin my power steering? Reply with quote

This weekend while replacing water pump and thermostat, I decided to fix a leaking power steering reservoir and flush the power steering fluid too. I ran the engine with the reservoir detached, pumping the PS fluid into a waste can until it was dry. I reconnected everything and filled it up, got the bubbles out etc., but now the power steering does not work. Fluid level is fine, no leaks. Could I have ruined either the rack or the pump by running it with no fluid? The coincidence is just too much.
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Joined: 15 Apr 2003
Posts: 591
Location: Vermont, USA

PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 3:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The rack should be fine - When they go bad there's almost always a puddle (A big one) under them. Pumps usually make a definite squeel when they go bad (or leak all over the place. Most likely you have an air bubble. It takes quite a while running the pump dry to kill them most of the time.

Start the car and run it at idle. Turn the wheel 1/4 turn to the right, center, 1/4 turn to the left. Repeat at 1/2 turn, 3/4 turn, etc until you reach lock. If it changes in feel shut it down and check the level (it should have dropped). Good luck...
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