Power steering flush gone wrong (1 Viewer)

[Tips Up]

2006 GX470, 168k miles, steering has been moaning and groaning, so I figured I would flush the power steering fluid.

Basically followed this method:


Pumped out the dirty nasty smelly old fluid, likely original. Added about 1.25 quarts of Valvoline MaxLIfe ATF synthetic. Dexron II or III is on the cap, this says it is compatible.

Put it all back together, took it for a test ride around the block, steering is terrible. Feels like there is no power steering, but sometimes jerky. And still noisy. I'd hoped this would be a quick cheap fix, now I'm worried its about to get a lot more expensive! Any ideas?

 

[GXO]

I wager you have air in it. Easy way is to put the truck up on a jack (front only) and turn the wheel back and forth VERY slowly with the cap off. Let it burp and top off as needed as you likely got air in your line.

 

[Tips Up]

I'll give this a try today. The local shop quoted me $260 for a synthetic flush. So far I'm into it for about $20, so really hoping I didn't mess this up!

 

[CO_Hunter]

You can accomplish a full flush in the same manner Dan described above. Just put the return into a waste bucket and fill reservoir as fluid goes onto the system not allowing air to get into the line. Depending on the age of hose it may be hard and a bit difficult to remove. If you see tiny bubbles while doing this slow down the wheel turning and let the fluid settle down. By the way, that is all done with the engine not running.

 

[ArBrnSnpr]

I'd bet money there is air on the line. I had the same thing happen to me. Just cycle the wheel and purge the air as others have said.

 

[Jstawgn]

If your return line is brittle it would suck air and make the flush worthless. The canister and return line are pretty cheap to replace.

 

[Tips Up]

Jacked it up again tonight, turned air out. It did improve a bit but its still rough. I wonder if the steering pump is the next step? Gonna probably take it in to the $hop...this is going to delay sliders.

 

[GXO]

I agree with @Jstawgn . If the pump is making noises the lines are more of a culprit than the pump as a troubleshooting step and "spending less on your way in." You are down to the lines and reservoir or the pump at this point. I haven't seen many pumps go bad.

 

[alia176]

You can accomplish a full flush in the same manner Dan described above. Just put the return into a waste bucket and fill reservoir as fluid goes onto the system not allowing air to get into the line. Depending on the age of hose it may be hard and a bit difficult to remove. If you see tiny bubbles while doing this slow down the wheel turning and let the fluid settle down. By the way, that is all done with the engine not running.

Let me clarify this statement. We're turning the steering wheel from lock to lock slowly while the wheels are up in the air AND the engine is shut off. This will suck in fresh ATF from one hose and expel old ATF out of a different hose. Correct?

 

[Tips Up]

Key is turned on, but engine is off. Last night, with fluid already filled to proper level, I jacked it up, with key on engine off, remove power steering reservior cap and turn from stop to stop 10x. Still drove rough. Jacked it up again and did the same thing with engine running. Still noisy, still driving rough.

 

[GXO]

driving rough isn't steering though. What do you define as rough? Huge whining? If it is whining check the serp belt and see if the pump pulley is wobbling.

 

[Tips Up]

Whining, does not feel like power steering, tough to turn, unpredictable movements.

 

[GXO]

THAT sounds like a pump. When you do the above and drive it, it seems different...then when you burp it again, do you get air? If so, you have a bad line allowing air in. If it doesn't have air at all and it is clean and bubble free...the pump isn't making pressure.

 

[vwynn]

feel free to provide a video of whats going on so itll be easier to diagnose n pinpoint.

 

[CO_Hunter]

Let me clarify this statement. We're turning the steering wheel from lock to lock slowly while the wheels are up in the air AND the engine is shut off. This will suck in fresh ATF from one hose and expel old ATF out of a different hose. Correct?

Correct. Sucks fluid from reservoir and expels from other end of the system into a bucket.

To OP, if you try bleeding the system with engine running and turning wheels while up in the air you will not remove air. The pump is running just mixing any air in the system. Turning the wheels slowly while engine not running cycles fluid through the system and will bleed out trapped air. You can find many YouTube videos on this topic.

 

[Tips Up]

Took it in. Sure enough, power steering pump. $420 parts and labor. I asked the wife, "I can buy a pump for about $100 and youtube my way through it!" The shop will have it done tomorrow.

 

[Tips Up]

The shop replaced the power steering pump. And fluid (which I had just changed in the old pump). $414, running great again.

 

[psilocyBen]

The shop replaced the power steering pump. And fluid (which I had just changed in the old pump). $414, running great again.

Glad to hear you got yours fixed. I’m having the same problem. Very loud whine, steering is getting difficult and feels like it’s making unpredictable movements. So far I’ve flushed, bled air, and replaced reservoir. Do you guys think the pump is next in line? I know bad lines can cause problems but from what I can see everything’s fine and I’m not losing any fluid.

 

[psilocyBen]

The shop replaced the power steering pump. And fluid (which I had just changed in the old pump). $414, running great again.
Also did you have some trouble controlling the steering at all? Or was it just a bit harder to turn the wheel and you had the whine noise? I’m afraid that I may need a new steering rack also and I just had an alignment and my steering feels like s***. Can’t tell if it’s just a bad pump though