Attempt to flush power steering renders it inoperable...!

Biomass · Post by **Biomass** » 05 Jun 2011, 18:23

Good Evening & HELP!, I'm new here....could any one help with my good Samaritan effort that back fired?
6+ months back I made the mistake of topping my wife's car off with traditional mineral based power steering fluid (25% down).
Within a couple months a whining noise started on when turning the wheel on slow and hard lock to lock turns.
The fluid was murky (dark black/brown)and a little foamy. I ran the car this way for the last month+ (smart eh?)with no reduced capacity of the power steering and no additional resistance or effort to turn the wheel...

In an attempt to flush out my Power steering I did the following...
1) pulled the reservoir emptied it and reattached it and the supply hose. 2)I pulled & extended return line into a bucket with a clear line. 3)I started the car and filled the reservoir (with Synthetic Pentosin CHF11S) and started the car and continued to fill till the return showed line was all the new fluid 5)I buttoned it back up and started the car and monitored the reservoir level.

I started the car ran it for about 3 minutes and all appeared to be golden no noise the power steering worked fine!
My wife barley went block ( a country 1/4 mile)and the power steering stopped working!
I then ran the car several miles muscling the wheel and still no power steering.

Observations:
No noises that I can hear from pump(with the car running), no leaking (except slightly around the cap), I see the return line inside the reservoir pouring fluid back into the reservoir, Very, very slightly foaming in the fluid.
has anyone had a similar experience? Is it the rack or Pump and how can I tell? Maybe it's air?
Thank You In advance For your help!
Sincerely,
Desperate Dave

537playing · Post by **537playing** » 05 Jun 2011, 18:29

Did you turn the wheels in either direction when refilling? This creates the system to bleed itself. If you didn't then you need to add more fluid. Sounds like air in the system which is solved by adding mire fluid.

Biomass · Post by **Biomass** » 05 Jun 2011, 21:42

537,
Thnaks!
I did not turn the wheel while refilling but, have turned it quite a few since....I drove it a fair distance as well as turned the wheel lock to lock in the drive many times. The fluid level has stayed the same...
Do you think it may be as simple as a air lock?
Should I try to crack it at the rack?
What do you think?
anyone?

Post by **jimmy57** » 05 Jun 2011, 21:44

Lift the reservoir off the coolant tank so it is higher than the P/S pump.

Biomass · Post by **Biomass** » 05 Jun 2011, 21:54

Jimmy,
It does come off pretty easily...worth a try.
What about air in the system?
Any chance the rack is shot?
If so How to tell?
anyone?
Thnaks again,
Dave

Biomass · Post by **Biomass** » 06 Jun 2011, 19:55

It was the reservoir!
There is a random part that breaks off inside the reservoir (return line side) and causes bubbles.
This in turn causes cavitation in the pump which makes the sound.
$150 all in with travel and fluid and 1/2 hour
A-OK now...
Thank you all!
Dave