Power steering failure

[adam2562]

Well, it's finally happened. Sounds like the power steering pump went bad on my 2011. I was in 4wd turning around at the top of a street in VERY DEEP snow, so I had the rpm's up near red line just to avoid being stuck.. THEN I started hearing a whining noise and smelled burnt fluid. Now when at a stop the steering wheel barely turns, but when driving it works fine. Seems at idle or very low rpm it doesn't have enough power to help turn the wheels. I already ordered a pump. But the truck will need serpentine belts soon too

 

[Ledvette77]

Wow. . . . Same thing JUST happened to me while off-roading yesterday. I was using crawl control due to my crappy tires and after shamefully giving up I backed up and it started doing exactly what you described. As long as I'm over 15 mph it's no problem, and it seems to have gotten better over time, still not gone though.

I'm thinking the fluid might have just foamed up or something inside the pump and I need to flush it and put fresh. I can't imagine the pump going bad with just 43K on it.

Did you end up replacing your pump after-all or what?

P.S. Before anyone tells me to just go get it fixed at the stealership since it's within warranty. . .I'm military stationed in Germany, US warranties aren't honored.

 

[adam2562]

Well, I haven't changed mine yet.. I have the pump, just haven't had a chance to get it on. Honestly.. try flushing the fluid out first.. but from what others have been thru, it seems it's the pump, so I just went ahead and bought one

 

[LWN]

Did you ever change that pump and was it a tough job? Mine has started leaking pretty badly from the front seal.

 

[Ledvette77]

I changed mine a few years ago when it happened and it was a pretty straight forward job. Don’t think I did a write up on it but it’s really not necessary.

The R&R is purdy simple. Just make sure you bleed the lines well afterwards then check the level for several days thereafter to top off any air that clears the lines afterwards.

Good Luck!

 

[LWN]

You were correct. Very simple job. Take the pressure hose bolt off through the right fenderwell - I had to use an impact wrench. Then remove three bolts through the pulley - two mounting bolts and one bracket bolt, disconnect the pressure switch connector, the return hose, and off it comes.