Charger power steering pump refit problem

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sun Aug 14, 11 5:39 pm

I've removed the pump, replaced all of the seals and o-rings etc to solve the leaking problem.

Refitted the unit today and fired it up, filled it with fluid yet my steering is not powered.

Any issues spring to mind? It has sat a while with no fluid in so the float adjustment thing will need tweaking but usually after a drain of fluid the wheels pull to the left by themselves due to that float having sunk to the bottom.

However, I have nothing, no power steering at all. The steering wheel is hard, manual. The wheels do turn but its a huge effort.

Have I missed a step? Something obvious? I followed the workshop manual and followed every step.

I'm confused. Apart from the leak it was working fine when I removed it.

Rebel · Post by **Rebel** » Sun Aug 14, 11 8:04 pm

Hi Mate, how you doing ? not seen you for ages

Sorry, I aint well up on power steering pumps, all I can think of is maybe it could be an air lock, possibly.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sun Aug 14, 11 8:38 pm

Alright chief.

I've been working a lot recently which has been nice.

Two movies this year and another one starting in September (fingers crossed)

Hoping it's something simple in the steering, I'll give it another go tomorrow.

What is the best way to get rid of an air lock?

andyrob · Post by **andyrob** » Sun Aug 14, 11 8:40 pm

Dukerich wrote:What is the best way to get rid of an air lock?

just keep working the steering full lock to full lock with engine running & keep checking the fluid level

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sun Aug 14, 11 9:01 pm

Ok. Will do. Cheers Andy.

The steering is really resistant. The wheels do turn but it's incredibly hard.

Is that still an air lock?

charger01 · Post by **charger01** » Sun Aug 14, 11 9:05 pm

Check that the pulley is actually spinning the shaft Rich.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sun Aug 14, 11 9:15 pm

It appeared to be. The bugger was tight enough to get back on(!)

System was working ok pre-removal apart from leaking.

Can an air lock be that resistant?

Rebel · Post by **Rebel** » Sun Aug 14, 11 9:22 pm

If the steering is that hard, try jacking the car up and put it on axle stands, then turning the wheel should be easier.This should at least let you know that the steering is o.k. I'm not sure if the wheels have to be on the ground to bleed the pump by turning lock to lock.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sun Aug 14, 11 9:52 pm

Makes sense.

That's tomorrows job then.

Cheers lads.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Mar 16, 12 3:48 pm

Been working lots recently.

Back in the garage now.

Power steering pump still not working.

Have cranked the wheel lock to lock a bunch of times with front wheels off the ground to reduce friction but after doing that for ages the fluid level is still not going down and I still have no power steering.

I want to make sure I've tried everything before I remove & check the pump in case I made a mistake during reassembly.

Any ideas?

ANTON · Post by **ANTON** » Fri Mar 16, 12 4:00 pm

Did you put the pressure relief spring and plunger back in correctly.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Mar 16, 12 4:25 pm

I thought I did.

Everything went back in the same way it came out as far as I'm aware.

The annoying thing is I went to a mate's place to use his pulley wheel puller.

So annoyed, it work (albeit with a leak) before I took it out.

Is there an online "how to" guide somewhere? I used my manual and followed the steps.

Just at a loss...

John · Post by **John** » Fri Mar 16, 12 4:54 pm

Maybe take the belt off and Undo the outlet hose, see if it pumps out when you spin it manually.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Mar 16, 12 4:57 pm

Ok.

Will give that a go.

Wish I'd just decided to live with the leak now(!)