Archived No brakes no Power steering

[Dieselmann]

Took a short trip last night with my truck to go skiing, woke up this morning to go to work only to find that my truck had no power steering and no brakes. I didn't do any hard driving or tow. I have a 98. 5 24v 2500 with auto, 4+4. The power steering reservoir looked like it overflowed. Their was fuild on the ground. Is it my power steering pump? Or could it be my nitrogen accumulator? How can I tell what the problem is? Help

 

[Ron Bissett]

Originally posted by Dieselmann

Took a short trip last night with my truck to go skiing, woke up this morning to go to work only to find that my truck had no power steering and no brakes. I didn't do any hard driving or tow. I have a 98. 5 24v 2500 with auto, 4+4. The power steering reservoir looked like it overflowed. Their was fuild on the ground. Is it my power steering pump? Or could it be my nitrogen accumulator? How can I tell what the problem is? Help

The same thing was posted by a member not long ago his nitrogen burped his words and he posted a fix. Look in archives. Ron in Louisville KY LOLOo. Oo. Oo.

 

[lmills]

yeh, I can't remember who it was, but I remember the post. He found a person online that sold the tanks for a portion of what the dealer wanted.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

MAN, I *gotta* do some reading!



I *still* have NO IDEA what a "nitrogen accumulator" is, what it does, or how it operates - where does the nitrogen COME from that it "accumulates"? I suppose it "accumulates" in that blue container attached to the power brake assembly, but...

 

[parcher]

Gary, The nitrogen accumulator is the blue thing on the master cylinder. It does not accumulate nitrogen, rather the nitrogen is used to store (accumulate) brake boost pressure to provide a reserve if the p/s pump pukes.

 

[Ron Bissett]

Originally posted by Gary - KJ6Q

MAN, I *gotta* do some reading!



I *still* have NO IDEA what a "nitrogen accumulator" is, what it does, or how it operates - where does the nitrogen COME from that it "accumulates"? I suppose it "accumulates" in that blue container attached to the power brake assembly, but...

As stated the nitrogen accumulator is the Blue thing in side is a bag that contains the compressable nitrogen gas as the power pump is working it pushes fluid into the accumulator and compresses the nitrogen bag a ofice lets the psi (fluid)out to work the brakes for a limited time to stop the truck one time . at most . Hope this makes it a little easy to understand its operation Ron in Louisville KY

 

[illflem]

Best way to describe it is a miniature well tank.



But why would the accumulator failing make the power steering go out?

 

[Extreme1]

Originally posted by illflem

But why would the accumulator failing make the power steering go out?

Good question, I'd guess that the system is unable to maintain pressure due to a leak somewhere. If not the accumulator leaking, line or fitting possibly?

 

[Phil Stuart]

PS & PB (lack of)

So the way I see it here is that the accumulator can be separated from the hydroboost system if it goes bad? I was under the assumption it was not replaceable and the whole shootin' match had to be replaced. Does the accumulator going bad make the pump puke fluid?I knew it had a small charge in it , but enough to blow excess fluid out the pump cap when it dies



Dieselmann, try refilling the pump reservoir and have someone start truck while you observe the pump and other related items, turn wheel left to right, step on brakes,etc... See what happens.



Phil

 

[Bigramguy]

If the accumulator diaphragm breaks,the escaping nitrogen can push out some power steering fluid,causing the fluid on the ground,and air in the system. Fluid may also be too low now to provide any assist.



It can also be caused by fluid foaming as well. Best thing to do is top it back up,run it for a bit to get the air out,and then test the accumulator. After shutting off the truck,push the brake pedal down,You should get 1-2 pumps before the pedal goes rock hard. If so the accumulator is OK. If not,it has ruptured. If it is OK,refill the system with synthetic fluid,and an anti-foaming additive,should solve your problem.

 

[jrobinson2]

When mine was giving me problems I found if I let it idle 10 to 15 minutes it would usually let out a big whine and start working, if I couldn't wait it would start working if I revved the engine quite high (maybe 2400 rpm), not the best idea on a cold engine but sometimes you gota do what you gota do. I think the nitrogen bubbles accumulate in the pump causing it to cavitate in the mornings especially when the oil is to cold to self prime easily. The synthetic oil seems to have cured the cold start cavitation problems on my truck.



Jared