"thebigbossyboss" (thebigbossyboss)
08/14/2014 at 15:27 • Filed to: None
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15|
"thebigbossyboss" (thebigbossyboss)
08/14/2014 at 15:27 • Filed to: None | 0
| 15 |
Watched this video on how to do it. Anything to add Oppo?
Do you guys have any advice on this, or does this video pretty much cover it. Death groan in steering is returning gradually. It's not near as bad as before, but it has occasionally made a noise.
I *think* it's because my steering fluid is old & dirty. My car is a 2003 Cavalier.
crowmolly
> thebigbossyboss
08/14/2014 at 15:32 |
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Got any leaks? Even a small one can introduce air and therefore noise.
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thebigbossyboss
> crowmolly
08/14/2014 at 15:40 |
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Yeah I got a leak in my power steering hose.
505Turbeaux
> thebigbossyboss
08/14/2014 at 15:40 |
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yeah you might have some air trapped in there. Turn it lock to lock 3 times or so to bleed. Top trick toss in a capful of brake fluid which will swell the seals and make sure you are tight (same stuff they put in "power steering stop leak")
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thebigbossyboss
> 505Turbeaux
08/14/2014 at 15:43 |
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Could it just be because my power steering hose is leaking?
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505Turbeaux
> thebigbossyboss
08/14/2014 at 15:45 |
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is it leaking? If so absolutely
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thebigbossyboss
> 505Turbeaux
08/14/2014 at 15:48 |
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Yeah the mechanic said it was. I think it's a *very* small leak though, I almost never see fluid under the car. Would it be the high pressure or low pressure line that is most likely to leak?
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crowmolly
> thebigbossyboss
08/14/2014 at 15:49 |
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That is probably why you are getting noise. Replace the hose, refill, and bleed the system.
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thebigbossyboss
> crowmolly
08/14/2014 at 15:50 |
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Do I gotta replace the low pressure hose or the high pressure one or both?
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505Turbeaux
> thebigbossyboss
08/14/2014 at 15:51 |
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oddly enough it could be either. low pressure lines are often built like crap, and are attached with hose clamps, but the high pressure lines are under alot of pressure (and built better). Low pressure line leak would cause cavitation noises though since it is pre pump. H/P would just run the reservoir down and then cause cavitation
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crowmolly
> thebigbossyboss
08/14/2014 at 15:51 |
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Whichever is leaking!
But if you are keeping the car a while it might be worth just changing both since you are in there.
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thebigbossyboss
> crowmolly
08/14/2014 at 15:53 |
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Not sure which is leaking. Mechanic to me "Your power steering hose is leaking"....lol. That was months ago at a shop I don't frequent so I doubt they'd actually remember high pressure or low pressure.
NaturallyAspirated
> thebigbossyboss
08/14/2014 at 16:15 |
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My method is:
1. Raise front wheels and secure safely.
2. Remove return line from the power steering reservoir. Stick it into a bucket.
3. Remove serpentine belt.
4. Turn power steering pump pulley by hand to pump the old fluid out.
5. Add clean fluid to the reservoir once it's empty.
6. Turn the steering wheel lock to lock a few times, then back to spinning the pulley.
7. Once fresh clean fluid is coming out the return line, you're done. Put the return line back onto the reservoir, and re-install the serpentine belt.
You can start the engine instead of turning the pulley by hand, but that moves a lot of fluid really quickly and can make a huge mess.
EDIT: Oh, and if you're too lazy to replace the power steering hose (like I am sometimes), you might try a bottle of the Lucas power steering leak fix stuff. It's the only Lucas product that I've actually seen work as advertised. I've used it in two different cars that had slow leaks in the power steering system, and it stopped them leaking.
VincentMalamute-Kim
> NaturallyAspirated
08/15/2014 at 21:37 |
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Is changing the PS fluid a scheduled maintenance item? I can't recall seeing it on the factory maintenance schedules.
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NaturallyAspirated
> VincentMalamute-Kim
08/16/2014 at 01:41 |
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I think you're right, I don't think it's a scheduled item for most cars. I tend to ignore it until the pump starts whining. For my cars, I think it works out to about 15 years between changes, except on Fords, which seem to be pretty hard on the fluid.
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VincentMalamute-Kim
> NaturallyAspirated
08/16/2014 at 10:29 |
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Thanks. I was just wondering if this was yet another maintenance item I have to start doing.