Help with power steering fluid change

[nitrous9200]

Last night, I went to change the PS fluid, so I pumped everything out of the reservoir, then undid the hoses from the reservoir and pulled some more out of there. Put it back together, filled it up, and when I started the car to bleed the system, I couldn't turn the wheel (no power assistance at all) and the pump was whining. Shut the car off after about five seconds and pushed it back in the garage.

This afternoon, I raised the front wheels and turned them for a while. The fluid level dropped, so I filled it back up, turned the wheel some more, then started the engine. The wheels were easy to turn (because they were off the ground), but the pump still whines horribly, so I only ran the engine for about 5-10 seconds again. When I turn the wheel now (engine off), the fluid level stays the same until I hit full lock, then it rises & some small bubbles come out.

The only thing that just came to mind is that maybe the clamps on the hoses into the reservoir aren't tight enough; I'll have to check them later, but hopefully there's something else I can do (and that I haven't killed the pump). Any advice?

 

[phucheneh]

Is it a Ford?

Solution: Drive to Detroit and punch someone in the face for not knowing how to make power steering pumps.

(seriously, make/model helps. And yeah, the design Ford generally used on their cars through the 90's and 2000's is awful)

 

[nitrous9200]

Whoops, I should know better - it is not a Ford, but a 2003 Saab 9-5.

 

[fstime]

It is whining because there is still a ton of air in the system, you probably just need to drive the car for a few miles to bleed it out by turning the steering wheel back and forth assuming it is easy to turn after adding fluid.

The way I've done it is first pump out the reservoir. Then disconnect the return hose from the reservoir, attach a smaller hose to the return hose and run it into your oil collection container. Start the engine and turn the wheel lock to lock to pump the remaining oil out of the system.

I suggest doing all this while the wheels are off the ground.

 

[phucheneh]

Welp, then I'd give it a solid 'I dunno.' You could have an issue with the rack, a clogged line, or just a faulty remanned pump.

...if it was a Ford, I would tell you to pull the return line off, plug the hole in the reservoir ('cause they put it on the bottom like retards), and stick the return into the hole for the fill cap. This gets the returning fluid away from the actual pump and generally reduces headaches. With the hose secured in place (be creative- just make sure it's not going anywhere...it's not fun when it whips out and spews fluid everywhere), you then bleed the system by cutting the fuel and cranking the engine while you turn the wheel back and forth.

That gets you a good 'prime' by making the system less turbulent. Idle speed is too high to do it right, but the ~200rpm cranking speed combined with putting the fluid return as far away from the pump inlet as possible generally gets it done.

This may still work for your case. If nothing else, it lets you observe whether or not the fluid is returning properly (should be a steady stream).

edit: Starting the engine and letting it puke all the fluid while you turn the wheels is a good way to burn the pump up.

 

[nitrous9200]

I haven't tried turning the wheels while still on the ground, so I don't know if it is possible, as it was not last night (before the level dropped & I refilled it today).

You're probably right though, I have to suck it up & just drive it around. I just want to make sure it's OK to do so even with the pump making noise (don't know how long it takes before it would be damaged).

I should also mention that there were no problems before, other than the fluid being seriously dirty (brown instead of light green). I did not change the pump, and hopefully I won't need to do so.

edit: so you're basically saying pull the fuel pump fuse and crank the engine while turning the wheel?

 

[fstime]

edit: Starting the engine and letting it puke all the fluid while you turn the wheels is a good way to burn the pump up.

Well, I guess the Honda service manual all dealerships use is wrong.

OP, the noise is probably 100% normal for a system with air in the lines after a refill. The only way to get rid of the noise bleed the system is by turning the wheel back and forth. Like I said, it should be easy to turn, just like before, only it will be making noise until all the air is bleed.