Archived No power steering or brakes...

[THenningsen]

I turned on my truck today and I noticed that I didn't have power steering or power brakes. I know those are run off the vaccuum pump, so I looked for the few vaccuum connections that I'm aware of... everything looked good. I restarted the truck a few times and still the same thing. No codes are being displayed. Any ideas?

 

[wcjp]

Does the HVAC work? HVAC is vacuum operated. On my 96', I used small zip ties at every vacuum connection. Could also be a problem with vacuum pump. Try search for "CPFF".

 

[THenningsen]

i came out today and started my truck and everything worked okay. Can anyone provide any more insight into what might have happened?

 

[THenningsen]

... i know the vacuum pump is gear driven, so it was obviously turning and creating a vacuum, right? If so, where down the line could it have failed assuming all the vacuum connections were on?

 

[SS]

Was there any fluid on the ground? The P/S pump provides assist for both steering and brakes. There is a small cylinder on the hydroboost unit behind the brake master cylinder - it is pressurized Nitrogen which is used to provide brake assist if the pump isn't running (engine stall/etc. ) Mine burst while sitting overnight once and it pushed fluid out of the P/S pump cap. When I started it I had no brake or steering assist. When I filled the fluid and got the air out then it was fine - EXCEPT that there would be no brake assist if the engine stalled.



Just to be sure, test it per the procedure in the service manual. You may also test it by driving in a large, empty parking lot. Start the truck and make sure the brakes and steering work. Drive 2-3 mph and shut the engine off. If there is no brake assist it's likely that the hydroboost unit is shot. Get if fixed - never know when you'll need it.



Or it may have been the belt slipping or something else in your case. Just providing an alternative.



Good luck.

 

[bnbrown]

PS pump is gear driven off the back of the vac. pump. check your PS fluid, and the hydroboost unit as SS said. I do not think there is any repairing the hydroboost unit, I just had to replace mine when the cylinder gave up, there were not external signs, but it provided no power assist for the brakes if the motor was off. I went through a couple PS pumps, have a heavy bumper guard on the front and when you would try to turn on rough pavement, such as spotting a trailer, it blew the ps pump up.

 

[GAmes]

I'm surprised no one sent you tohttp://https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/2nd-generation-ram-forum-no-engine-transmission-discussions/69047-possible-low-power-steering-assist-fix.html



That screen will give you power steering and brake assist failure if it is clogged. After you have done the fix do a search on inline filters and synthetic P/S fluid.

 

[kkreigh]

I had a similar experience on 2001. 5. I started truck and no power steering or power brakes. I called a mechanic friend of mine who ended up disconnecting the batteries waiting 5 minutes and reconnecting them. Truck started and everything worked fine. This happened over a uear ago and no reccurrence. He said it had to do with resetting the computer.

 

[THenningsen]

thanks for the suggestions. Steve, so if I understand correctly, if i'm driving and shut the truck off I SHOULD still have power steering?

 

[GAmes]

thanks for the suggestions. Steve, so if I understand correctly, if i'm driving and shut the truck off I SHOULD still have power steering?

As he said, you will have a little brake assist. About one shot, two if you are lucky. .

 

[bnbrown]

If the power brake booster is still in full working order, when the motor is off you will still have power brakes.
As GAmes said, maybe one or two pushes of the brake pedal.
You will not have power steering.
Another possibility is if it was colder than you ordinarily start the truck the PS fluid will have to warm up... for instance starting the wife's 2000 when it is 5* it groans for a while and there is very little PS (working on replacing all the PS fluid with Syn. )

 

[SS]

if i'm driving and shut the truck off I SHOULD still have power steering?

As the guys said, you should have a couple of good brake assists but no steering assist. Check it just to be sure - you really don't want to have to stop this truck without assist from highway speed.

 

[bnbrown]

As the guys said, you should have a couple of good brake assists but no steering assist. Check it just to be sure - you really don't want to have to stop this truck without assist from highway speed.

Tried that one out for myself... talk about pucker factor, and think I left a dent in the back of my seat it took so much pedal force. Figured at that point it was time for a new hydroboost unit.

 

[THenningsen]

thanks for the help guys, I'll check it out. If I do have to replace the hydroboost, what are they going to get me for the part?

 

[WoodJ]

If your truck has a hydroboost and not a vacuum booster, they do not have a vacuum pump. Hydroboost runs off power stearing fluid pressure. If hydroboost or power stearing pump has any problems they will affect each other. Not sure what one is cousing the proplem.

 

[DCreed]

If your truck has a hydroboost and not a vacuum booster, they do not have a vacuum pump. Hydroboost runs off power stearing fluid pressure. If hydroboost or power stearing pump has any problems they will affect each other. Not sure what one is cousing the proplem.

on a 98. 5-02 24v Cummins Dodge, the brakes and steering are fed by a hydrolic pump . If the pump works, EITHER the steering OR brakebooster MAY fail; if the pump/feedlines fail, both stop working. There IS ALSO a vacuum pump for the various accessories.

 

[bnbrown]

I believe the 24valvers use the vacuum pump for two things... HVAC controls and cruise control... I rebuilt my 99s vac. pump when I did the PS pump also, since it was easiest to pull the whole assembly.
and ditto on Dcreed, for a while I had no PS, but PB worked... for about a day
gotta love power-brakes though, came home yesterday from our hay auction with my 24' stock trailer almost roof to tail full... was a little slow up the hills, but down was another thing.

 

[DerekW]

wow takes me back to days where I replace 4 power steering pumps in a week in half. these trucks are hell to steer in a parking lot with 1400lbs engines, 1 ton chassis, 4wd, etc. add aftermarket bumpers, winches, or snowplows and Oh dear god. few weeks after my power steering pump crisis I spent 800 on a new steering column beings it broke trying to park the truck in a tight apartment complex parking lot. I feel your pain. what ever you do just dont use advance autoparts pumps or hydroboost units. I am picky about some components on my truck power steering is on the top of the list and i wont let anyone touch my power steering. "they bleed themselves when you start the truck" is too often heard for my liking. so are noisy pumps on older cars. the last pump i removed from advanced auto parts I pulled it apart and found metal shavings the cause of a sticking pressure regulator went to the dealer and spent the money i should have and bought a pump that worked.



if you have a problem with power steering it could lead to more costly repairs as it did in my case with a new steering column. and never buy a advanced auto parts pump-they suck.

 

[THenningsen]

it did it again... got in my truck and no brakes or power steering. Also, I notice that when I tried to put it in 1st gear, the gears were grinding a little. I didn't see any power steering fluid on the ground and there was plenty inside the ps pump. SS mentioned checking the hydroboost per the factory service manual, how is this done? What does a new hydroboost cost? I'm also going to try disconnecting the batteries. I'm not sure how this would work, but it's worth a shot... it's not showing any codes though.

 

[SS]

If I recall, the service manual procedure calls for starting the truck, making sure the steering/brakes have assist, shutting the truck off and waiting one hour before testing for brake assist without engine. It's easier and quicker to get an indication using the large parking lot method.



Again, I'm not sure this is causing your problem, but I know you don't want to be without hydroboost. If it is bad you don't know it until you need it.