Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) power steering pump problem

[CHorton]

I have just encountered a problem with the power steering pump in my 2001 2500 Ram. I started the truck and found I had no power in either my breaks or steering. I was able to narrow it down to the pump. When I checked the fluid I found the steering pump had engine oil in it. I can understand why, as the pump is bolted directly to the engine, and appears to be gear driven. However, I am concerned about failure while driving.



I had my truck towed to the local Dodge dealer. The dealership had the truck for 3 days and have not found a problem,according to them, even upon my showing them the steering fluid which was contaminated with engine oil.



I am concerned over this problem that the Dodge Dealer seems not to be taking care of because if the pump goes on the blink while being driven, it I loose both steering and breaks. I might be able to deal with it but I am concerned for my wife.



Has anyone else experience problems with their power steering pump.

 

[RMcNee]

We had some -35 degree temps in Jan... GF's 97 was started one morning and no steering or breaks... now what seems to happen is a coupling will break that mates the vacuum pump and p/s pump together... . so the local shops were telling her like 1000. 00 to replace both... so i called the local shops... . p/s pump 110. 00... vac. pump 400. 00 so just had them order the p/s pump... . i took out the whole assembly... much easier workin on it on the workbench... i got lucky... coupling was good... just replaced the pump and she was good to go... i had never done it before but it was only like a 2 hr job... and that was looking for bolts for 15 mins or so... . lol... not a bad job to do... so pull the whole asssembly off then seperate the 2 and see whats bad... . hope this helps... Russ

 

[bnbrown]

The vaccum pump is gear driven, and the PS pump bolts to the back of the vacc pump, there is a seal in the vaccum pump that prevents oil from leaking out the back of the vacc. pump, this seal often leaks after a while, but it leaks down the side of the motor and onto the ground. I dont know of a way for engine oil to get into the PS system though (aside from someone grabbing the wrong bottle to fill the PS system), as the PS pump is only bolted to the back of the vacc. pump via the coupling mentioned by RMcNee and a solid shaft extends from the PS pump through the seal into the vaccum pump where gear dogs on the PS pump fit into a notch in the vacc. pump.

I just replaced my PS pump and replaced all the seals in the vacc. pump, not too bad of a job, bought the vacc. pump seal kit from www.fixinrams.com on ebay (seller ID "ramtrans1") for $66 including shipping, worked great, took me about 20 minutes to pull the pump apart and replace all the seals.

found that a set of shorty wrenches made the R & R much quicker... I had to seperate the units when I put them back in (couldnt get the highpressure line on the PS pump to thread for some reason) so i found it was much easier to handle the PS pump if you removed the studs, otherwise you can't turn the pump to get the geardogs to line up in the vacc. pump receiver. If you try to R & R the PS pump alone with the studs in it is difficult to get it to come off the back of the vacc. pump due to a wiring harness directly behind the PS pump. Since then i have not had loss of PS power or groaning, nor oil leaks, of any kind. Removal took about an hour (not including tool locating, or pondering the purpose behind using SAE and Metric size bolts at appearingly arbitrary locations)

good luck with the dealer.

 

[SBall]

Me Too!

I have noticed that in cold weather, my power steering pump would growl and object to any torque exerted on the steering wheel until it had a chance to warm up. Seeing posts here on the TDR regarding this topic, I wasn't too concerned ..... until this week while on a remote truck camper ski trip in New Hampshire. Morning temperatures dropped down to -5 or so and for a time I had no steering or power brakes! Thankfully I noticed that both steering and brakes started to respond when I slowly brought the engine RPMs up to 1200-1500 or so, but then had to deal with the "growling" for about 45 minutes or so until the system warmed up. Now safely home, (whew!) I noticed this thread as I began my search on power steering related posts. What I'm attempting to establish is whether a fluid change will remedy the situation or whether this is indicitive of a failing pump.

Steve

 

[Graphic man]

check the level of the P/S pump if it is down just a little it will make noise in the cold weather my 01 does the same thing if it's down a little on fluid