2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Bad Power Steering Pump?

[KIseminger]

So this morning I started up my Dodge and a horrendous groaning sound came out of the engine. Blew it off just because it will do that if it's really cold and I did not plug it in. I started driving around and the sound was not as bad but definitly coming from the power steering. The level is fine.



Could there be a check valve or something stuck?



Has anyone else seen anything like this?

 

[jtwcummins]

Mine was noisy in the morning when cold, here thats in low 40's, and cleared up as I drove. Never happens in the summer. I had heard good things about Lube Guard so I got there power steering protectant. No noise any time and the brake pedal is consistant for the first time since I got the truck. The brake pedal feel is what I noticed the most. Sometimes it was hard as a rock and felt like it wouldn't stop, other times kinda mushy. In the 3 months since the lube guard the pedal has been the same all the time, a solid good brake feel.

 

[KIseminger]

Cool, thanks for the info on the product. I willgive it a try. I am still a little concerned that this has never happened before though. As I drove around today it has cleared up some.



Wow, I wish I lived in a place that 40 degrees was cold... ... it was about -5 degrees here last night.

 

[Jetson]

Many people on these forums say the Valvoline Synpower power steering fluid helps. Get a turkey baster and some 3/8ths clear plastic hose to suck the fluid out of the pump and refill it. I got a pint out of mine, refilled it, ran it a while and then replaced another pint.

 

[KIseminger]

Is anyway to just drain the whole system? I haven't really looked.

 

[dremelts]

Originally posted by KIseminger

Is anyway to just drain the whole system? I haven't really looked.

Not really, you can disconnect the hoses and some will drain out but most of it remains in the power steering pump reservoir - so you would have to remove the pump to drain it completely.

 

[jtwcummins]

I added the lube guard after the Valvoline synthetic didn't help much.