2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Power steering failure

[Gordon Maney]

Saturday I drove my truck several times during the day with no power steering problems. The truck has never made an oil spot of any sort on the pavement where it sits, and it has 28,000 miles. I have not had it need any steering fluid.



Sunday morning I noticed a 4 inch diameter wet spot under the driver's side, possibly coming from the steering pump. I started the truck and it had no power steering and no power assist on the brakes. I let it run for a minute, considering the matter, then shut it off, since the steering would not work.



I removed the cap from the pump and it was at least full, and seemed as if it could have been over full. Upon removal of the cap, some more fluid ran down the side of the pump and on the ground. I started it again, it still did not work after a minute or so, so at that point I shut it off and gave up.



The weather was not hot on Saturday, and the truck was certainly not worked, so it did not seem to me to be an overheating issue that was causing fluid to expand and run out.



In conversation with the dealer today, they tell me they got it there, discovered it was low on fluid, filled it, drove it, it had and has power steering and brakes, and there is no problem. They put a Chrysler part number, a 1 ounce bottle of an anti foam additive, in the steering fluid. They say they have seen quite a bit of this, and that it involves fluid foaming with resulting loss of fluid. The dealer I bought the truck from (I was out of town at the point of this failure... ) said they have never heard of this, and wanted to know just what it was they added.



The part number (which I left at work... sorry... ) is apparently an additive intended for automatic transmissions, I have since learned from another dealer's parts department. That dealership said they have used it for transmissions, but not steering.



So, my question is, what is the deal here? I have felt this truck was very happy in hot weather, and have never had any problem with steering, other than it is apparent that the engine is heavier than the V10, and you can tell that on dry pavement, sitting still.



I am worried that this will happen again, and am uncertain as to what to do next. They have given me the truck back and said, "Drive it. "

 

[Sky]

I have noticed lately mine will "humm" a bit only sometimes when I make sharp turns. I have check fluid all seems well. So Im not sure what the deal is.

 

[jrobinson2]

I think the accumulator on your brake booster has failed, filling your p/s fluid with nitrogen bubbles. My 99 did this and took about a month to quit cavitating in the mornings. while driving (in a safe place) turn off the engine and push the brakes. you should have boost 1 or 2 times, no boost =no accumulator.

 

[Blu-meanie]

jrobinson2 has it nailed. I had the same failure not long ago. My dealer was, typical, ignorant of the problem. I didn't have any power steering problem though. Run the engine and turn the steering lock to lock a couple of times. Shut down and wait about 5 minutes and see if the brake has some assist. If not, it's the booster. The book says 2 hours, it only took mine 30 seconds.

 

[Sky]

jrobinson2, Welcome to the TDR.

Mike

 

[snowman]

I have had the same problem, once, and the same conclusion (booster). I tried the empty parking lot, but I had brake boost. What gives? Does the booster recharge?

 

[Bigramguy]

The accumulator is nitrogen filled,and has a "bladder" to separate the nitrogen from the PS fluid. When the bladder breaks the nitrogen is released. Once it's gone,it's gone. It will not recharge.



Foaming can be an issue,if you have larger tires,heavy front end,and lots of turning. Mine would do it sometimes when plowing for long periods. Only happens at idle,kinda lose the PS assist. Switching to synthetic PS fluid really helped.

 

[Mac]

Is the hydraulic accumulator replaceable? If so where is it located? I also found a puddle of PS fluid under mine.

 

[Blu-meanie]

Snowman: did you shut the engine off? If you did and you still stopped, it isn't the booster.



Mac: The accumulator is the blue thing on the booster assembly, but it isn't replaceable. The whole thing needs replaced. (Bad engineering).

 

[RichB59]

Had same

problem. Big puddle and no brakes. Dealer replaced PS pump and hi press. p. s. line. I know this is a wrong fix but trying to talk to these people is impossible. Changed over to Syn PS fluid and hopeing for the best.



LOL RichB :--)

 

[BarryG]

This may not address the original question but one thing that happened to mine and many others with puddles of ps fluid was the top plate on the gearbox. It is held on with four bolts. Mine was puking fluid particularily when cold. On mine it only seemed to do it in the morning when I was backing out of the garage. Turned out that the bolts on the top plate were loose. Mine were only fingertight. Once I tightened them up I have not lost a drop since and that was 30k ago.

 

[tstephens]

I had the same thing happen today as happened to Gordon-A large puddle, and no power steering or brakes-the reservoir is over full. Is this the nitrogen cylinder, and does the entire master cylinder really need to be replaced? This is the first real problem with this truck in two years.

 

[Gordon Maney]

As it turned out, my nitrogen accumulator was just fine. Supposedly the fluid got hot, foamed, and overflowed. Yes, I know, that stretches credibility, but the accumulator is fine.



The dealer added a 1 ounce bottle of a Chrysler anti-foam agent, saying that they have seen a fair amount of this. It has been fine since, although I don't think the truck was hot when it developed this problem. A puzzler...

 

[Jammar9082]

If anti-foaming agent is correcting some of the problems then there must be something like that in the new oil. If so, maybe the oil should be changed out on a regular basis. I have been thinking that for a few years based upon my rack and pinion and pump in my 1988 Oldsmobile. I know the fluid in my car is very dirty and I had a leak that was corrected with Lucas Power Steering Fluid Additive. The additive stopped the leak and I have been using it for about five years. I did notice that the additive loaded the pump up more when the weather is cold so it is definitely a thickener of some sort. I probably should change out the fluid but I did't think the R&P would last this long.

 

[tstephens]

Thanks for the info Gordon. I will try adding some of that anti-foaming stuff, and change out the fluid. It just seems strange that I have never had any steering problem, and even when I parked it Sunday it was fine. Next day there is a big puddle under it. Looks like a quart bubbled out-but the pump reads overfull. Very strange. I priced the brake hydro boost with the nitrogen, $ 477. 00 Hope I don't need that. Thanks again.

 

[snowman]

Same case with me. Large puddle, overfilled acccording to the dip stick (nothing had been touched prior to this). I took a little out, drove down the highway about 20 miles and checked it again. This time way under filled. I filled with sythetic and no problems since.