2000 dodge dakota 4.7, code P551. Last night my steering went out and fluid was low. Replaced sensor and filled with fluid, works somewhat. When I hit the brakes it doesn't. It's now sounding like it is sucking in air when I turn the wheel. Didn't do that before. Still getting code. Don't have money for mechanic, did I really mess things up?

 

P0551 Power Steering Switch Failure

Probably still have air in the system. Are your brakes vacuum, or hydraulic boost?

Moving this to second gen dakota forum for ya.

 

Umm, Don't know. How do I tell?

 

To get any air out make sure you do have a full power steering fluid tank jack the front end up off the wheels. Now with engine running then turn the steering wheel all the way left then right a few times check the tank again now turn the wheels left then right again a few times.

This is how you get any air out of the system.

I will say usually if you run out of fluid you trash your power steering especially if you have already got the system Hot now if this happened just as you started driving and the system is still cold you may be ok.

Checking all your fluid system levels every week is a very good habit to get into saves you a ton of money and hassle.

But a power steering pump is not expensive if you replace it yourself.

 

Thank you. I guess I will just replace the pump in the morning and go from there. Hopefully I won't run into anymore problems.

 

Get one with the pulley attached way simpler and WAY less hassle to replace as removing the old pulley is not easy and putting it on the new one is not easy in fact very much a pain to do.

You can get them with the pulley attached