P/S pump smoke!!

[worldspan]

Let me first start off by saying I'm an idiot. Now that that's out of the way, I just got done replacing my manifold and while i had it off i replaced my P/S pump; HOWEVER, my old reservoir was bad (torn filter)so i hooked everything up(new p/s pump) while waiting for the reservoir to come in the mail.

I was impatient and wanted to see if my 60 would run after the "big" job i just did so i capped the return hose on the pump and left the block-off cap where the reservoir fits into.....here's the good part, the truck ran smoothly and i was excited for about 15 seconds but then "POP!" the cap flies off the P/S pump and shoots across the driveway....i turned off the car and noticed smoke coming from where the cap used to be

I got the new reservoir, installed it..started the truck....backed out the driveway but i had no steering. I bled the pump (turning the wheels left and right to work out the air) which seemed fine but once i got moving...no steering.

Should i just replace the pump or is there more screwed up than i think? i.e. steering gear, steering linkage, etc

As always, i appreciate any advice...i love this forum even if no one answers me

 

[High Desert]

try jacking the front end off the ground then turn the wheel back and forth adding fluid as it bleeds down. If you still don't have power (steering) I'd think your pump is toast..

 

[worldspan]

Thanks Desert

I'll try it again when i get home this afternoon.....if it doesn't work, i'll be replacing it with the lifetime warranty w/o telling them what i did to it!

 

[Wile E Coyote]

I'll 2nd the above, the system holds more than just the volume of the reservoir, therefore, if you filled the res on an otherwise bone-dry system, it's just still low on fluid.

 

[worldspan]

Ok...got home and lifted the truck off the ground and began turning the steering wheel (with the car on and off) with ease; however, the fluid is not going down in the reservoir(stays full). BUT when i start the car and lower the truck to drive, it's very hard to turn the steering wheel.

Any comments?

 

[Wile E Coyote]

Ok...got home and lifted the truck off the ground and began turning the steering wheel (with the car on and off) with ease; however, the fluid is not going down in the reservoir(stays full). BUT when i start the car and lower the truck to drive, it's very hard to turn the steering wheel.

Any comments?

Do you hear the pump noise change tones as you steer back and forth? Is the fluid in the res frothy/foamy?

 

[worldspan]

No noise as i steer side to side and i wouldn't call it frothy or foamy......a tad bubblely and i mean small...you can count the number of bubbles

 

[worldspan]

No grinding noise as i sometimes hear on a cold day first starting it up.....i'm thinking that the fluid is just not making its way through the system hence the reservoir level not changing.......

 

[Wile E Coyote]

No noise as i steer side to side and i wouldn't call it frothy or foamy......a tad bubblely and i mean small...you can count the number of bubbles

Based upon all that I've read, I'm guessing you aren't pumping fluid. Now if that's an install error or a result of your recent 'testing' I can't say. Is there an easy way to pull a return line (low pressure side only mmkay) and measure into a container what's getting pumped?

 

[worldspan]

I'm not leaking fluid anywhere on the pump, high pressure hose or return line. There is a slight and i mean slight bead of fluid coming from the pump itself but i don't know why this would cause the fluid not to go through the system.....

 

[worldspan]

Even a leaky pump would recirculate the fluid.......

 

[Wile E Coyote]

That's what I was saying, as well. I wasn't suggesting anything about leaks...unless you were just 'typing out loud', if so, then carry on! hehe

 

[worldspan]

typing out loud.....i guess the easiest way is to remove and get a new one.....now to get out all that damn fluid