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My 2006 subaru forester x (normally aspirated aka non-turbo), is having a power steering issue. It is very choppy when I first start the car and pull it out of the parking space, as it warms up, it becomes less choppy. the fluid level is good, right in the middle of cold min and max. No leaks that I can see.
I am about to just swap out the Power Steering pump and belt with a fluid change. Just wanted to see if anyone else has had this issue before I drop 100 on a re-manufactured pump.
I also tend to cheat on cleaning out old power-steering fluid, I disconnect the pump, put a bottle on one of the lines and blow compressed air through the system force out all the old fluid. Is this a good practice, or not?
thanks everyone
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I would not use the compressed air method. Either put the
return hose in a pan or bucket disable the fuel pump and
crank the engine in short bursts and watch the fluid come
out as you feed new. otherwise jack up the front end and turn
the wheels lock to lock without the engine running and the return
line in the pan /bucket.I haven’t had much time to work on this lately. I have diagnosed it to the issue with the suction hose (the hose from the reservoir to the pump) that these cars have. The hose gets hard then leaks. The hose is 40 bucks from subaru, but I am wondering if anyone has just used bulk hose to go from the pump to the reservoir? I don’t see spending 40 bucks on a 10 inch long hose.
Just out of curiosity, have you checked the belt tension? A loose belt can cause the exact symptom you describe.
Yep, I have one of those krikit gauges and its in spec.
I found through digging through subaru forums that the line to the pump can get hard like plastic over time and starts to leak air into the system. This happens at the O-rings too. So I checked my lines and the one running from the resivoir to the pump is hard and covered in fluid.
So I ordered a new line from the dealer as it is a dealer only part. Once I tear it down, I’ll run to the local hardware store for a new o-ring and put it back together. I’ll let you know the result. Though I have a feeling that I left this go long enough that the pump is shot anyway. I’ll let you know how it works out.
I just bought a pressure hose kit for my Subaru – $350. The service manual states the hose can leak if ambient temperatures are too hot or too cold. I think that’s another way of saying we know there’s a problem and are doing nothing about it.
I’m wondering, if there’s enough leakage to oil the drive belt, now I’ve never tried this, but maybe straying it with brake clean would work.
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