Power Steering Pump Questions....
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,713
Likes: 31
From: Shreveport LA
LA Events Coordinator
Power Steering Pump Questions....
The other day, a really hot day, I was driving, for about an hour in town, and I began to make a left turn when I heard a grinding noise coming from the front end. This happened everytime I made a left turn...no noise when I turned right...just left. I thought is may have been the tire rubbing, but it wasn't. I did check the power steering pump level and the level was A LITTLE low (just below the "hot full" mark). I added some power steering fluid (about 3-4 oz) and it put the level about 1/2" above the "hot full" mark. The grinding noise never came back. Now the questions...
1) Does the grinding noise telling me the power steering pump is about to go south?
2) If not, has it been hurt?
3) Will the fluid level above the "full mark" hurt the pump?
4) Where did the fluid go? It's not leaking because there are no stains on the garage floor and the pump is dry along with all the connections (hoses, etc).
Any help will be greatly appreciated!
1) Does the grinding noise telling me the power steering pump is about to go south?
2) If not, has it been hurt?
3) Will the fluid level above the "full mark" hurt the pump?
4) Where did the fluid go? It's not leaking because there are no stains on the garage floor and the pump is dry along with all the connections (hoses, etc).
Any help will be greatly appreciated!
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: Glendale AZ
Grinding noises are usually indicative of impending power steering failure, but in this case, it may have just come from the fluid level going low momentarily while turning.
It probably wasn't hurt, though.
Filling above the full mark may cause the fluid to overflow and create a mess, that's about the only risk.
The fluid may have been leaking out when you couldn't see it happen. When turning for example pressures are very high and some may leak out on the road.
I wouldn't sweat it too much. Even if the thing does go south a rebuilt pump costs less than $50 and takes only about an hour to change .
It probably wasn't hurt, though.
Filling above the full mark may cause the fluid to overflow and create a mess, that's about the only risk.
The fluid may have been leaking out when you couldn't see it happen. When turning for example pressures are very high and some may leak out on the road.
I wouldn't sweat it too much. Even if the thing does go south a rebuilt pump costs less than $50 and takes only about an hour to change .
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
If the pump is significantly wearing, it will make some noise no matter whether it is turned or straight. The noise when set 'straight' will be much less...but it will still make noise. When the pump is quiet at 'straight ahead' position and 'grinding' when turned, the pump is sucking air due to low oil level. It may be that the cap on your pump is not the one that came on it (got lost and someone bought a salvage yard cap...with a different level mark). If the pump does not get overly warm/hot from use with the amount of oil you now have in it....and it doesn't look all foamed up after driving and removing the cap, the level you now have is probably correct for that cap/dipstick. If you can find someone at a car show with the same year pump/cap, see if they will remove it to compare the dipstick marks. In any case, it should be fine with the "new" position on the stick.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,229
Likes: 656
From: Thunder Bay
And if the pump does fail, its not a big deal on a C3. The power is just an assist, and the steering works just fine without the power. When I bought my '79 the previous owner had removed the power steering belt years before because the pump had failed, and never bothered fixing it. Just continued to drive it with manual steering. So don't worry about it leaving you at the side of the road some night.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,713
Likes: 31
From: Shreveport LA
LA Events Coordinator
No, my cap hits the alternator bracket too. The alternator bracket, I installed 2 years ago, is an aftermarket bracket (March Performance)....like the way it fits, looks etc (it seems to be stronger than a stock bracket), so I had to jury-rig a "dip stick" to check my level....looking into getting another bracket, just a good looking and strong but still able to check the power steering unit level....any suggestions?
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Hampton Fl.
St. Jude Donor '11
No, my cap hits the alternator bracket too. The alternator bracket, I installed 2 years ago, is an aftermarket bracket (March Performance)....like the way it fits, looks etc (it seems to be stronger than a stock bracket), so I had to jury-rig a "dip stick" to check my level....looking into getting another bracket, just a good looking and strong but still able to check the power steering unit level....any suggestions?
I guess I'll add fluid (with a funnel),if it makes noise, and it that doesn't work, then I'll consider it on it's way out.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,713
Likes: 31
From: Shreveport LA
LA Events Coordinator
I use a turkey baster....works like a charm. I did have to duct tape the bulb to the plastic stem to form an air tight situation...so the baster won't drip when I turn it upside down to insert it into the pump.
