06 power steering kluncky to dead 215k miles

[cbudgo]

Hi All, I searched for a bit but, no luck.

at 215k miles should I expect to replace the PW pump? It may be something else but it was just serviced. Oil Change, lube and I assume a look at belts, etc. But I topped up the fluid and it still feels real heavy as in, almost gone. No leaks. and it gets a bit better after its warmed up a bit. But even lane changes on the highway require more effort and thought than usual. I'm planning to trade it in 2 months around May 1st or so. I thought I could just tough it out but i'm not sure.

I dont think it would hurt my trade in value that's going to be crap anyhow. Oh FYI, super clean and perfectly maintained except for this.

Thanks

 

[AuSeeker]

Hi All, I searched for a bit but, no luck.

at 215k miles should I expect to replace the PW pump? It may be something else but it was just serviced. Oil Change, lube and I assume a look at belts, etc. But I topped up the fluid and it still feels real heavy as in, almost gone. No leaks. and it gets a bit better after its warmed up a bit. But even lane changes on the highway require more effort and thought than usual. I'm planning to trade it in 2 months around May 1st or so. I thought I could just tough it out but i'm not sure.

I dont think it would hurt my trade in value that's going to be crap anyhow. Oh FYI, super clean and perfectly maintained except for this.

Thanks

There's one thing you can check and do a little experiment to see if it could be causing your issue, inbetween where your steering shaft comes out of the firewall and the rack and pinion there's a intermediate steering shaft that has a universal joint in it and being that you are up in the snow/rust belt that universal joint many times will get completely rusted to a point that it will start to and or seize up causing the steering to get very stiff and or bind, once you find the universal joint spray it very heavily with a good penetrating oil spray, don't use WD40 which is not a penetrating oil, once you spray it well work the steering wheel full revolutions back and forth and spray the joint again, if the steering improves greatly then you most likely found the issue and the intermediate shaft needs to be replace, this is a very common issue on these 4th Gens after many, many miles living in the rust belt.

The penetrating oil if it temporarily makes it better and is not a fix because the universal joint is shot but it should tell you if that is the issue.

 

[MikeinNH67]

+1 on that steering shaft u-joint. ^^^

 

[waypoint]

What fluid did you top off with?

 

[cbudgo]

There's one thing you can check and do a little experiment to see if it could be causing your issue, inbetween where your steering shaft comes out of the firewall and the rack and pinion there's a intermediate steering shaft that has a universal joint in it and being that you are up in the snow/rust belt that universal joint many times will get completely rusted to a point that it will start to and or seize up causing the steering to get very stiff and or bind, once you find the universal joint spray it very heavily with a good penetrating oil spray, don't use WD40 which is not a penetrating oil, once you spray it well work the steering wheel full revolutions back and forth and spray the joint again, if the steering improves greatly then you most likely found the issue and the intermediate shaft needs to be replace, this is a very common issue on these 4th Gens after many, many miles living in the rust belt.

The penetrating oil if it temporarily makes it better and is not a fix because the universal joint is shot but it should tell you if that is the issue.

Thanks, I'll check it out. My shop is pretty good on defense so I bet it's okay. And actually having driven it a bit more since adding fluid, it's feeling much smoother.

 

[cbudgo]

+1 on that steering shaft u-joint. ^^^

I may use a heavier spray that may last a bit longer

 

[Syr4RinNC]

The power steering reservoir has a filter that came get gummed up. Might be worthwhile to try to flush/ replace all the fluid and clean this out with brake cleaner. Theres some youtube videos on it

Mine was acting up recently and I pulled the harness into the power steering pump on the side, cleaned and put it back in and coincidental or not, it worked after. THis harness I believe is supposed to be a shut off or over ride for high stress situations on the engine, but it worked for me

 

[cbudgo]

Yep. Did the lube for a short bit of relief but it came back. Had to replace it. Oh well. It’s great now!

 

[cbudgo]

Yep. Did the lube for a short bit of relief but it came back. Had to replace it. Oh well. It’s great now!

Thanks gang!