Story...
I started the car two days ago. There was a sqeaky noise coming from the engine bay. Popped the hood and located it to around the serpentine belt. I was on my way to work at the time so I just figured I would buy a new serpentine belt after work. Started driving down the highway and noticed steering got really hard. Then my battery light came on so I knew I had blown the belt. I turned it around and got home before my headlights sucked all the power (it was night). So the next day I bought and installed a new belt. Started the car and there was a terrible noise. I popped the hood and smoke started pouring out and the new belt ripped off. Upon inspection I noticed the pulley on my pwr steering pump was seized. I was able to break it free with both hands, but it now has a ton of friction. I checked the fluid reservoir. It was low, but had fluid. I also noticed the fluid was not red, but yellowish, like new oil that you put in your car. Do they make not red pwr steering fluid???? It also smelled burned.

So the million dollar question, which I think I already know the answer to.....
Did my pwr steering pump die????
Is it trash or fixable? How much $$$ do they run?

Thanks CF.
Matt Carriker

 

I have an 89 that I bought a year ago, it had a bad lifter with 120k on it so i let it sit. I finally got it running last week. I noticed that the power steering was acting like it had air in the system. I added fluid and it was fine for about 3 days. Now, it is whining and hard to steer, it tends to overflow constantly. I add fluid up to the hot line ( when its hot) and it just overflows after about 10 min. The whining and hard steering never seems to go away, whereas before when I added fluid it seemed to be fine. Any ideas? Mine was yellow and foamy also.

Mac

 

They call him Hijack Mac.

 

How can a problem that is identical be a hijack? I'm just trying to find out an answer to my problem, and increase visibility of your thread. Sorry if I offended you.

 

No worries. It's all good.

 

$80 at O'reilly. Yours is different than mine, but mine wasn't hard
to replace. Removing the pulley is the hardest part, and it was
easy with the right puller. benny

 

Thanks Benny.
Anyone know about the yellowish fluid? I am wondering if the pump turned it yellow, or if I have just never seen yellow fluid before.
-Matt

 

Most brands have left out the red dye. Your pump failure didn't
do that. benny

 

I would try to replace all of the power steering fluid, disconnect the lines to the rack, or you'll be replacing it soon. Not sure about the yellow fluid, did you drive thought some deep water recently?

 

Sounds like it's time to replace. Red power steering fluid is from the past when ATF was accepted as power steering fluid.

 

Try and use synthetic PS fluid next time. I have Valvoline synthetic fluid in mine, but I'm not sure they still make it.

 

some companies still use atf as power steering fluid, power steering fluid is yellowish and exactly at the op described. I'd recommend simply replacing the pump, its pretty easy and not that expensive to do, shearing belts will get expensive.

 

I am in the process of replacing both the ps pump and the rack on my
'96 LT4. You must have the ps pump puller puller to get the pump out and it has to be the what I call the newer style....just a bolt with a two piece clam shell that goes over the end of the pulley. I had to buy one at Checker Auto for $30.

Take the alternator out to get access to the ps pump. And if you have never replaced your plug wires, at least on the driver's side...now is the time to do it with the ps pump out.

As far as the fluid goes.. The fluid should be clear unless using the Redline brand. Have never seen yellow...unless the stop leak stuff is...have never used it. Best to completely flush the system out.

If you find your steering rack is gone....can tell you first hand how to replace it.

Good luck,
LannyL81

 

Be sure and check the rack-to-reservoir pipe, too. The seals on it are prone to leaking as they shrink from age.

 

Power steering fluid has a yellowish color to it similiar to the color of clean oil, but not bright yellow like a/c leak dye.