1976 power steering testing
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
1976 power steering testing
Car acts like it has no power steering at all, but with the wheels off the ground and the engine off it steers easily through the whole turning range. How do I tell if it's the pump, switch, or something else? thanks in advance.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 516
Likes: 72
From: Modesto California
Does the pump have the correct amount of oil in it?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
1. Where did the information surface on a EPSON pump? Quite frankly, I have never heard of a pump with the EPSON name. Saginaw Steering Gear Div produced 100% of the C2 and C3 power steering pumps. I have been retired for 16 years now, so I am just not familiar with what is available today in the marketplace.
2. Did the PS system ever work correctly? How long have you owned your 1976?
3. Does your pump make noise when you steer the car, engine running, while stopped on dry pavement.
4. Do you have power assist in one direction but not the other? If you have assist in one direction and not the other, your problem cannot be the pump. The power steering pump does not know which direction you are turning. The problem would have to be in the assist cylinder or in the control valve.
Jim Shea
2. Did the PS system ever work correctly? How long have you owned your 1976?
3. Does your pump make noise when you steer the car, engine running, while stopped on dry pavement.
4. Do you have power assist in one direction but not the other? If you have assist in one direction and not the other, your problem cannot be the pump. The power steering pump does not know which direction you are turning. The problem would have to be in the assist cylinder or in the control valve.
Jim Shea
Last edited by Jim Shea; Oct 9, 2017 at 11:12 AM.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
The pump tank has the correct level of fluid, there's no assist in either direction, pump makes no noise when turning, belt is turning the pump, had the car about a month and power steering has never worked for me.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Jim
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
It is possible to actually break the driveshaft where in engages the pump rotor inside the pump. However, the belt and pulley will keep the driveshaft in place. If you remove the power steering belt you will be able to pull the pulley and broken driveshaft right out of the pump. If you are able to determine that a broken driveshaft is actually the problem, you should just replace the entire pump rather than trying to replace the driveshaft, rotor, plates, and vanes that have most likely seized and are badly scored.
Jim
Jim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Here is another possible cause for your pump not creating pressure.
There is a discharge fitting on the rear of your pump. Remove the PS pressure hose from the fitting by holding it and turning the nut with a tubing wrench. With the hose removed, now unscrew the fitting from the pump. Reach into the pump with a probe such as a screwdriver blade. You should feel the face of a plunger (actually a flow control valve). Depress the plunger and determine if it moves smoothly in the pump bore. If the plunger sticks, that could be the reason that the pump is not creating pressure.
Jim Shea
There is a discharge fitting on the rear of your pump. Remove the PS pressure hose from the fitting by holding it and turning the nut with a tubing wrench. With the hose removed, now unscrew the fitting from the pump. Reach into the pump with a probe such as a screwdriver blade. You should feel the face of a plunger (actually a flow control valve). Depress the plunger and determine if it moves smoothly in the pump bore. If the plunger sticks, that could be the reason that the pump is not creating pressure.
Jim Shea
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
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From: Baldwinsville, NY
My spell checker got the best of me!
1. Where did the information surface on a EPSON pump? Quite frankly, I have never heard of a pump with the EPSON name. Saginaw Steering Gear Div produced 100% of the C2 and C3 power steering pumps. I have been retired for 16 years now, so I am just not familiar with what is available today in the marketplace.
2. Did the PS system ever work correctly? How long have you owned your 1976?
3. Does your pump make noise when you steer the car, engine running, while stopped on dry pavement.
4. Do you have power assist in one direction but not the other? If you have assist in one direction and not the other, your problem cannot be the pump. The power steering pump does not know which direction you are turning. The problem would have to be in the assist cylinder or in the control valve.
Jim Shea
2. Did the PS system ever work correctly? How long have you owned your 1976?
3. Does your pump make noise when you steer the car, engine running, while stopped on dry pavement.
4. Do you have power assist in one direction but not the other? If you have assist in one direction and not the other, your problem cannot be the pump. The power steering pump does not know which direction you are turning. The problem would have to be in the assist cylinder or in the control valve.
Jim Shea