Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Power steering pump growl

[Texas Diesel]

I know this has been discussed before but mine just started doing it this winter.



I had tried, ATF4, Royal Purple PS fluid, OEM, Valvoline (or Pennzoil) Synthetic, Amosoil PS fluid. The one that growls the least is the Pennzoil Synythetic PS fluid.



It sounds like cavitation which would be very hard on the pump.



Any ideas?

 

[hammersley]

Mine did the same thing until

I had the PS oil changed... ... believe it or not that took the problem away.....

 

[JAlmon]

ps growl

Mine growled at me yesterday for the first time---but it was very cold. It growled less as it warmed up. I was going to look for syn. fluid today---looked on the amsoil page but didn't see any ps fluid listed. Anybody recommend a syn. fluid to use?



Thanks,

Joe Oo.

 

[JGK]

Valvoline fully synthetic power steering fluid.



-Jay

 

[Texas Diesel]

That is what is in there now and works the best of any I tried, but still growls.



Just wonder how Chrysler can screw up a PS pump???? They have made them for decades with no problems, I have had them go 200k miles in other gasser RAMS with out a problem.



Good ol Chrysler, "it it works, redesign it till it wont"

 

[johncameron]

Mine has growled every winter since I got the truck in fall 2000 and it hasn't destroyed itself yet! It's amazing that it can make alot more noise than the mighty cummins when it goes below -25F or so.

 

[JGK]

Mine growled too with the Valvoline synthetic in it. I decided to replace it. This was last spring I think, not during the cold of winter. Got lucky and found a new one on ebay for about half price.



There was a thread on here a year or so ago about the relief valve on the back of the pump where the lower hose connects. The valve was removed and disassembled. It is a ball valve with a spring. A tiny washer was put in to shim the spring and increase pressure slightly. For grins I did that on the new one before installing it.



It still growled a little for a while after install. I began to think it was something else. Eventually it went away. Its been working fine since. Don't know if the shimmed relief valve helped anything, but it didn't seem to hurt!



-Jay

 

[rholcom2]

Same here, Valvoline Synthetic. I used a suction gun to draw out all the fluid I could get. Then ran it a few minutes and sucked out the fluid again. I think I went through this about 4 or 5 times. As many as I tought that I had 99% synthetic oil in it. All is well now, and that has been 2 yrs ago. Good luck!!!

 

[ntillm01]

Mine has been doing it this winter too in 10-20 deg F startups. I read that someone topped off their fluid to take care of their problem. Didn't show up as low until it gets really cold, then the contraction effect takes it low.



Anyway, I checked mine in the balmy 14 degree day we had this weekend. The engine had been warmed up, and I had gone for a short trip. Enough that the pump wasn't squawking anymore. Fluid level was at the "add" mark. I filled it to about a third way up between "full cold" and "full hot". I used Mopar Power Steering Fluid (All Climate).



It was cold (20 deg?) yesterday and I didn't hear a thing from it. It was plugged in though, so I don't know if that is valid. I have had it plugged in overnight with a single digit low and it was making noise before though, so I may have just been low. I'll know later this week when we drop temps again.

 

[Dieselram]

i have looked everywhere for syn PS fluid, where do you guys find it?

 

[johncameron]

It was cold (20 deg?) yesterday and I didn't hear a thing from it. It was plugged in though, so I don't know if that is valid. I have had it plugged in overnight with a single digit low and it was making noise before though, so I may have just been low. I'll know later this week when we drop temps again.



20-Deg cold!!!!!!!! Heck it's -17 as I write this post up here!! And yes my power steering pump growls! :{

 

[Forrest]

How much PS fluid does it take for a change out?

 

[JGK]

i have looked everywhere for syn PS fluid, where do you guys find it?

Schucks, AutoZone, etc.



-Jay

 

[rholcom2]

Advanced Auto.

 

[ntillm01]

Check your level, cold! It might work for you too!

It was cold (20 deg?) yesterday and I didn't hear a thing from it. It was plugged in though, so I don't know if that is valid. I have had it plugged in overnight with a single digit low and it was making noise before though, so I may have just been low. I'll know later this week when we drop temps again.



20-Deg cold!!!!!!!! Heck it's -17 as I write this post up here!! And yes my power steering pump growls! :{

Awww.. .come on... 20 degrees can be called cold



Follow-up on my growl: Cold start this morning (7 deg F) with no block heater last night. Not a sound out of it this morning. Before, it was complaining at 14 deg F startup. Bringing the fluid level up fixed it. Oo.

 

[CEpp]

changed fluid on mine about month ago, dure to the same problem, went to valvoline synpowr p/s fluid. flushed about 5-6 x's with a turkey baster and the growl was still there, but since i installed a coldfront and kept the heat in the engine compartment it really doesnt growl anymore. i still does it when it gets cold and i dont let it warm up.



pm me if u want the directions on who to make the coldfront, its easy and u cant tell its even in there from the outside.