2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission To the Dealer on the HOOK

[AlFischer]

Was making a u-turn. Hard left. Heard a chirp and lost power steering a power brakes. What can be the cause? Had Dodge tow it in. too late for tech to diagnose. In motel in Yuba City Calif.

Had to unload camper a dealer took us to motel.

 

[SS]

Al - sorry about your bad luck. Stinks to have the camper with you and not be able to use it. :{



I suspect the chirp was the serpentine belt. Don't know the cause in your case, but when you get it back, check the power brake accumulator (the anodized blue cylinder next to the brake master cylinder). A few members have lost this while the truck is sitting overnight, so I don't know what it might do while driving. When it's refilled with fluid the steering is fine, brakes are fine. But... with engine off, no brake assist! Check this by starting the truck, turning the wheels back and forth a few times, shutting the truck off, and applying the brake pedal 3 times (says to wait 1 hour before brake check in the manual). Should have good assist - if the pedal is hard immediately, then it is suspect. It can be driven like this (read: $expensive$ to replace), but is not safe if the engine dies.



Could ask the dealer to do this, but I got when I asked for that (even showed them the page in the manual). Standard "that's how it's supposed to work" response.



Hope you're on the road soon.

 

[AlFischer]

Everything seemed normal until the chirp while hard left turn. Then catastrofic failure. The belt is fine, everything seems to be turning. No indication of any problem till now.

 

[Sean Flanagan]

It sounds like the hydraulic pump failed. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think it is a gear driven pump, not driven by the serpentine. The power steering pump also is the booster for brakes. The brakes are not vacuum assist like other vehicles.

 

[illflem]

Either the pump failed or you had a major leak such as a hose bursting that drained the system.

 

[AlFischer]

Thanks for the response.



Well, no sign of a leak so the pump must have failed. 50 years of driving and I have never had a vehicle that a u-turn would over stress the power steering pump to the point of failure.



Now I am concerned about time for repair and the dealers level of expertise. Just called Hertz. back on the road to my next appointment.

 

[Hohn]

Look at the bright side-- You're right there in Yuba City, so why not get a Reunel front end?



Justin

 

[JR2]

Hohn -

Runell may be in Yuba City but that is about all thats in Yuba City... . Now if you are younger (say college age) you could go up the road about 60 miles and stop in Chico. There is definitly some fun to be had in Chico.



As for the problem with the truck, I am guess that the pump went South too.



JR2

 

[Jack in Alaska]

Too much fun !!!

JR2,



When you went off to college in Chico I always wondered if you were having TOO much fun..... ha



Dad (John Rathert Sr. )

 

[willyslover]

Hope you get this on fixed quick. . keep us posted on what the issue was.





Jack Senior. . it's not if he had to much fun. . it's when had the fun did he still do well in school



JR2 did you major in Sierra Nevada 101

 

[AlFischer]

and now for the rest of the story...



Called the 800 number for a tow. Truck responded within 30 minutes. Towed it with cabover camper on board to the dealer in Marysville Calif. Too late to get it looked at but dealer provided a place to offload the camper. Truck in shop overnight.



When I got to dealer about 11AM they were ready to road test.

The power steering pump had failed. They had one in stock. They replaced it, road tested and washed and vacuumed my filthy truck. At 12 I loaded the camper and drove on. returned the Hertz rental.



So there ARE true 5STAR dealers. and 5STAR Service Advisors too.



This was Don McCullough Dodge in Marysville Calif. Steve Ellis was the Service Advisor. I am a satisfied customer. I suspect this may be the norm for them!!

 

[Bob Wagner]

Al ,Thanks for reporting back, its nice to hear a happy ending