After many years of "high pitch whining" during the cold winters and only at start-up for a few seconds, the power steering has stopped working. Did its normal whining for a few seconds this AM, then stopped and started again. Only this time, the noise got louder and I could hardly turn the wheel. Got out to look under the hood and noticed a large puddle of fluid just beneath the steering box. Couldn't tell if it was the steering box leaking or a hose/tube going to the box. Seems like a major problem. I'm ticked! Just got my Jeep back on the road (new starter), now this. Anyone had any experience with this problem before? Is the dealer in the near future—again? Thanks
Its most likely that the pump shaft seal blew out after your description of the noises. Yes, it IS a job for the shop. Avoid the dealership and find a REAL shop to do the work. This particular repair project would be 4 digits at the dealer...
Its unfortunate that nobody introduced you to Lucas Rack & Pinion conditioner and stop leak...it WORKS ! The stuff would have posponed this for years.
The stiff, hard steering when cold is called "morning sickness" and common to Corvettes and the rack & pinion steering system.
The Lucas product ends this instantly.
When the steering is 'stuck' the pump output is not freeflowing as it should be and the excess pressure builds in the pump case and eventually escapes thru the shaft seal. Dirty, worn PS fluid is the cause. People change the motor oil, even the trans fluids, but nobody ever thinks of the PS fluid as something that has to be changed....until its too late.
(rear-axle, hint hint)
The PS pump CAN be rebuilt but whats the point when a new pump cost as much as the seal kit....and the level of work is horrible either way.
I just did mine after at least 8 yrs of denial and delaying with Lucas. When you hear that whine, thats called cavitation and that is very destructive to hyd pumps. Its like tiny little super compressed air bubbles that beat the pump to death internally,. When the whine is there even after warm up, its terminal. Go buy the parts,.
This is the scenario....
IF you have to replace the pump, PLAN on replacing the hoses also. If you risk not doing hoses, this job is such a B**** that you are gaurenteed to blow one within a month and you have to take ALL that apart
again to get a tool on the hose fittings.
Also, If you had morning sickness or whinning you were also sending debris thru the whole system, so you will also need a new or rebuilt rack. About $250...not too bad. Pump will be $50-100 and hoses about $25-40.
Heres the bad news.....the labor cost will be between $300-$500. I paid $385 labor to install a new rack. The pump is even more difficult. Its a MAJOR pain in the a$$ job to do the pump and hoses, and the rack cannot be done at home.
In a C4, one portion of the power steering dooms the rest when there is a failure or some damage. If it was sticky, thats the rack. If its howling, thats the pump, and the hoses get changed just because you have to take everything else apart to even get a wrench on the fittings.
