2000 s70 power steering pump groaning

grumpy1937 · Post by **grumpy1937** » 07 Aug 2008, 09:25

Power steering pump groaning. Fluid foamy. Sucked fluid from tank. Black and burned odor. Replaced with new fluid, no improvement. How do I know if it's the pump or the rack? Any suggestions?

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 07 Aug 2008, 15:31

If it's foamy, you have a leak in your steering rack system...could be a hose to the rack or the rack itself. Get it checked out. If it's the rack, www.fcpgroton.com sells great rebuilt units that all who I've talked to have had great luck with. You'll need to send your bad one back to them once the rebuilt one is installed.

grumpy1937 · Post by **grumpy1937** » 07 Aug 2008, 16:58

Thanks for the reply. I'll check it out.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 07 Aug 2008, 19:46

I never want to disagree with MIJ but my experience with a rack leak is that all of the fluid leaks out - not that air leaks in.

I accidentally combined ATF and "power steering fluid" in my old Jeep and it turned into a foamy mess. I flushed the system and in that case replaced it with the "power steering fluid" and all was good. The Volvos want ATF but I would never mix Dexron and the Type F. The owners manual is non specific as to which type.

The burned fluid is something that I have never encountered before on power steering.

...Lee

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 07 Aug 2008, 19:59

It's good to know that the rack failure hardly ever lets air in...then it's what Lee said- a mixture of different fluids or (big or) a line with a leak that lets air in...btw, is there any fluid on the pavement?

grumpy1937 · Post by **grumpy1937** » 07 Aug 2008, 20:42

No fluid on the pavement and the tank has never been low. Also, I read somewhere that it is possible for an O-ring on the pump to allow the pump to suck in air, but I don't know where the O-ring would be. I guess I'm looking at a pump replace first. Thanks

Post by **hausmeister** » 10 Aug 2008, 12:19

I have also had problems with the power steering even with fresh ATF.
The reason was simple... inside the reservoir is a plasic pipe that routes the fluid to the bottom. When this pipe is off, the fluid splashes around in there and will eventually foam up.

I think it fell off before i bought it, because I only noticed it rattling in there when I tried to install a hose to do the same thing. Its only held in place by the metal stub that goes in the reservoir.

maybe its just that...