i have a 2000 durango with the small v8. it has 92,000 miles on it.yesterday coming home from work my power steering stopped working. if i revved the engine i could turn the wheel ok but if i let it idle it would be almost impossible to make a bend. this morning i tried it again but it is still hard to turn the wheel.i thought it was the cold . it was in the 20's yesterday but this morning it was 39 degrees when i tried it.

i have in the past had a little stiffness in the wheel when i start out on a cold morning but as soon as i get moving it's fine. this is brand new to me.

i know it has the power steering pump and rack and pinion steering. i would replace the pump myself but not the rack. my mechanic will be doing that.

any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated .

 

Just out of curiousity and was not mentioned in your post, I thought I would ask if you checked the power steering fluid levels?

 

i don't know what happened to the first message.

i added fluid to the resevoir once and i have not seen it fall below normal. maybe the previous owner had a leak fixed before i bought it andthey did not top it off. everything is dry that i can see. i'm hoping it's only the pump not the rack but i'm prepared for whatever it is. i have a good mechanic.

thanks for the reply.

 

if you have to replace the rack, just FYI to have the mechanic thouroughly drain and possibly flush the lines and the power steering pump just to make sure there is no debris or comtaminants. Otherwise, you'll shorten the life fo the new rack.

 

thank you. i'll pass that on to my mechanic.

 

Hi:
I assume you checked your serpentine belt to make sure it has not broken or is slipping for some reason. Sometimes when the water pump leaks, it drips on the belt and the belt slips.
Otherwise, I would say it is your PS pump or rack. IIRC, the pump is $300-400 repair at a shop, and the rack will be $800-1000.


Good luck Don

 

It sounds like the pump might be going out. I would start with that. Either way, I replaced the rack and pinion completely in a little over an hour. It is a very easy job! I didn't even need a picklefork and I drove that truck for 4 years in Detroit. I would highly recommend doing the work yourself if your rack and pinion need to be replaced. I can help you through the whole process if you need. I got my new rack and pinion on eBay for about $300 shipped. I would first start with the pump though.

 

I know it has been 3 years since you were on here, but I am trying to find my Mother, Pearl Swisk Panza's cousins. Carol Gladish and Michael Pachulski. If this is you please email me at Sherry0809@aol.com. I have an address for you and Cynthia in Pittsburgh But a phone call is so much easier. Please let me know if this is you. Sherry.