When is your power steering officially dead?

[Don Holg]

Is there a point when you know your power steering pump is done? Does the pump lock up when it is or is the pulley on the pump free?

Mine started making a whine and was super jerky while driving around today. It has been getting worse as it gets colder, I just didn’t know it was the pump. It’s super cold here now (-20 degrees celsius). It will warm up tomorrow (-5!) so it will be less frozen and I’m wondering if it’s worth the time to try the turkey baster and replace the fluid. I don’t have jack stands so that will be a pain. My mechanic put stop leak in a few months ago, I’m pretty sure that’s what is freezing.

Pump done or take a shot?

Thanks!

Topic

[Bill]

Check the fluid level and the belt tension/condition before you condemn anything.

[Don Holg]

The fluid level is good. I haven’t checked the belt. Any suggestion on how tight it should be?

[Bill]

It depends on what kinda car it is but I would say it should be as tight as a fiddle string.

[Lorrin Barth]

Well, it goes like this: you get a leak and the fluid gets low until the pump, which is lubricated by the fluid, is toast.

The fix: fix the leak and then have the fluid flushed out – this to get rid of the stop leak which isn’t going to do any good anyway. Then install a new pump followed by careful bleeding and topping off. You don’t want to burn out yet another pump.

[EricTheCarGuy]

Based on your description my first thought is the drive belt. If it’s loose or soaked with oil it can have an issue similar to what you describe. Also, here’s a video that might be helpful.

Keep us posted on what you find.

[Author]

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