The daily grind (power steering related)

[BigggWilly]

Well, it started with a small leak that "wasn't major, i'll fix it later" around the power steering resevoir. I guess it got a little more serious, without me knowing, and on a recent trip to montreal ('bout 700km) it got much worse. When I got to my destination I noticed that there was a fair amout of PS fluid on the side and back of my car. You guessed it, the PS pump now grinds a fair amount under load. I filled it back up with PS fluid, but it still seems to grind.

The main question I'm asking is did I damage my PS pump by potentially running a small amout of air through it, or is it just not purged properly? Is there a purging procedure I should follow just to make sure its the pump?

Thanks guys, you always know the answer.

 :wink:

[Centurion]

Hi Big -

Well if you need the PS - then yes! - if they are tossing oil - and grinding - you have trouble! - Shortly - your rack may leak and then your in for a fix.

My solution was to pull the PS belt off both of my jetta's - I had just changed the belts -alt and PS, both and then left for Toronto - On the way back - about 36 hours later - the alt belt vapourized - but not before it got going around the PS belt - and wrapped itself around the crank - that broke the Timing belt -

Well - I was 6 hours from my garage - and had already put 26 hours driving by that time. Took me another 12 to get home -

Then another 14 hours to get the car hauled by myself back to my garage to see what had happened.

$1000 later and I was back on the road - No head damage - but I don't give a darn about a PS belt or pump. And when I pull the engine next the rack gets a no oil rack.

Just my humble opinion - mileage varies - Centurion

[Northern RD]

Well, it started with a small leak that "wasn't major, i'll fix it later" around the power steering resevoir. I guess it got a little more serious, without me knowing, and on a recent trip to montreal ('bout 700km) it got much worse. When I got to my destination I noticed that there was a fair amout of PS fluid on the side and back of my car. You guessed it, the PS pump now grinds a fair amount under load. I filled it back up with PS fluid, but it still seems to grind.

The main question I'm asking is did I damage my PS pump by potentially running a small amout of air through it, or is it just not purged properly? Is there a purging procedure I should follow just to make sure its the pump?

Thanks guys, you always know the answer.

 :wink:

What car is this? I ask as I seem to recall a procedure for purging the power rack from the A2 manual,... :?  :?  :?

[BigggWilly]

What car is this? I ask as I seem to recall a procedure for purging the power rack from the A2 manual,... :?  :?  :?

Right... Its an A2 NA Jetta

Well for simplicity's sake I lied and I said that I drove the car to montreal; well really it was my brother and he is still there. I am in Ottawa waiting to be picked up tomorrow (thursday). Our bently manual is still in London so I don't exactly have access to it...

Perhaps somebody could describe the purging procedure in breif for me? I'd like to do it when he picks me up in ottawa tomorrow so it doesn't have to grind for another 600kms.

Thanks guys!

[srivett]

I would turn off the car and cut the PS belt off with a knife.  My pump started to leak, 3 minutes later it started to rattle, and 6 minutes later it exploded!  Powersteering is not necessary and I haven't had it for 23,000 km.  

Steve

[BigggWilly]

Well I don't think its the pump's fault, I think its just the fact that it might have some air in it. The leak was around the low pressure side, at the resevoir.