power steering still stiff after fluid-leak fix

[rh71]

95 Rodeo V6 @ 112k mi.

So my mechanic cut out rotted sections of the power steering cooling line that was leaking and replaced with "10mm compression fittings". There's no more leak but the steering is still extremely heavy when at slow speeds and idle. Put it this way - doing a 3-point turn gives a nice workout. It moves pretty freely when at speed though. Is it the pump that possibly got affected because it had been running with little/no fluid for a few miles? The resevoir is full now. What else can it be?

 

[JulesMaximus]

It's probably the pump...and like most things on that piece of shit it will probably cost you more than the entire vehicle is worth to fix.

 

[herrjimbo]

there's a good chance some rust worked it's way into the pump. i would replace the pump as well as flush the lines.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
It's probably the pump...and like most things on that piece of shit it will probably cost you more than the entire vehicle is worth to fix.

The pump refurb'd goes for < $100, and the vehicle is worth over $1k. I see some craigslist sell their '95s for over $3k. This "piece of crap" lasted 14 years problem free (until my tranny problem last year). You bought yours 2nd hand and god-knows how they took care of it.

Originally posted by: herrjimbo
there's a good chance some rust worked it's way into the pump. i would replace the pump as well as flush the lines.

Is there a lifespan for these pumps anyway? The lines were already flushed, so if I throw in a new pump I'm guessing they need to be re-flushed? Someone elsewhere said air may still be in the lines and to try the full-left, full-right a few times and see if that takes care of it... will have to try come sunrise.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
It's probably the pump...and like most things on that piece of shit it will probably cost you more than the entire vehicle is worth to fix.

The pump refurb'd goes for < $100, and the vehicle is worth over $1k. I see some craigslist sell their '95s for over $3k. This "piece of crap" lasted 14 years problem free (until my tranny problem last year). You bought yours 2nd hand and god-knows how they took care of it.

Originally posted by: herrjimbo
there's a good chance some rust worked it's way into the pump. i would replace the pump as well as flush the lines.

Is there a lifespan for these pumps anyway? The lines were already flushed, so if I throw in a new pump I'm guessing they need to be re-flushed? Someone elsewhere said air may still be in the lines and to try the full-left, full-right a few times and see if that takes care of it... will have to try come sunrise.

Does "problem free" include the couple thou you put into replacing the transmission...oh wait, you put that disclaimer in there already. I guess that doesn't count.

BTW-I paid $2500 for the one I bought over 4 years ago, I was lucky to get $1000 for it when I finally got rid of it. I find it hard to believe that yours is worth more than that now...with 50k more miles on it.

Dealer retail might be $3000 but you'd be lucky to get half that private party...on one without any problems, which yours isn't.

 

[rh71]

Stop raising my postcount for this crap... 13.5 years problem free dude - better? And it's worth more than the $100 it'll cost to fix this which is already contrary to what you said about the pump. The $1k figure I mentioned is the private seller value of a car with some mechanical defects already. And if 4 years ago you paid only $2500 for yours it obviously wasn't all kosher to begin with. It wasn't even a 4WD you said. Bye.