P/S Problem=High Pressure?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
P/S Problem=High Pressure?
This is for my 91 Lumina Euro,which has basically the same P/S pump as the Vette as far as I can tell.However,the reservoir is right on top of the pump.Anyways,Ive been having a leak but cant seem to find it.Every now and then,the p/s will whine when it gets low on fluid,and I top it off and all is OK.
The side of the pump and reservoir was soaking wet with fluid running down the accessories.I brake kleened it off and still cant see where its coming from.I then noticed the cap has a small vent and it seems thats where the leak is coming from.When the car is running,it doesnt seem to leak any,but after a long trip,get home,pop the hood and theres some fluid here and there but no real indication where its coming from,except MAYBE the cap.
P/s Pump isnt making any abnormal noises.
Anyone ever have a leak coming through the cap?If so,was it from excess pressure and what was the cause?Pump gonna go anyday?
Ive never seen this before and cant find anything in the manuals right now.
Im thinking to try a new cap,but the spring is intact and the orange seal under it looks fine with no tears or rips.Locks down good and if anything,the leak is possible coming from the overflow hole all GM caps come with.
Any ideas?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: P/S Problem=High Pressure? (olephart)
Thanks for the reply...I have thought of that BUT cant say for sure,since when you open the hood,its damn hot in there being its been 90+ degrees outside and the temps around everything makes it difficult to tell if one part is hotter then the other.
(car doesnt overheat or anything,tems always run in the normal range for the last 2 years I had this car)
Im thinking since this is prob. a rare problem,Im going to try a new fill cap plus ask a mechanic at the chevy dealership nearby tomorrow and see what they say.
I will also run the car to temps,pop the hood open and eyeball it until I can locate the leak better.
I worked in the dealer shops before and never seen or heard of the reservoir boiling over.Usually if a pump went bad,it screamed,grinded like a bastard or seized up etc.I got none of those symptoms yet.
:crazy: :)
(car doesnt overheat or anything,tems always run in the normal range for the last 2 years I had this car)
Im thinking since this is prob. a rare problem,Im going to try a new fill cap plus ask a mechanic at the chevy dealership nearby tomorrow and see what they say.
I will also run the car to temps,pop the hood open and eyeball it until I can locate the leak better.
I worked in the dealer shops before and never seen or heard of the reservoir boiling over.Usually if a pump went bad,it screamed,grinded like a bastard or seized up etc.I got none of those symptoms yet.
:crazy: :)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette LA
Re: P/S Problem=High Pressure? (Bill's86Coupe)
I would expect some noise from the pump too. The only reason I thought of it was because I was following a C3 around the track and the car let a small puff of smoke out as it accelerated out of the corners - thought it was rings.
I told the guy about it and he looked at everything and found nothnig wrong, so he ran the next session.
After ten minutes the car produced a nuclear sized smoke ball. The P/S fluid was so hot the plastic reservoir melted letting all the fluid out. Apparently the small puffs came from fluid being forced out of the vent during the higher stress on the system during turns.
He had no indication that the pump was failing and heating the fluid. He found a metal reservoir and changed the pump at the track and everything was fine.
Good luck - hope it's something simple.
I told the guy about it and he looked at everything and found nothnig wrong, so he ran the next session.
After ten minutes the car produced a nuclear sized smoke ball. The P/S fluid was so hot the plastic reservoir melted letting all the fluid out. Apparently the small puffs came from fluid being forced out of the vent during the higher stress on the system during turns.
He had no indication that the pump was failing and heating the fluid. He found a metal reservoir and changed the pump at the track and everything was fine.
Good luck - hope it's something simple.
