Steering Gear Issues
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Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 469
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From: Oxford, MI
Steering Gear Issues
So here's the latest update on my becoming sad vehicle.
Background:Last week my sister-in-law's boyfriend was leaving for school and apparently didn't see the big blue truck sitting in the driveway and he backed into it...HARD...
I went outside and assessed the damage.
1. Broken turn signal light
2. Dented fender
3. Truck moved over about 18 in
Well, when I went to leave a little later, I jumped in the truck and started driving down the road, the alignment felt ok but my steering wheel was upside down. I later realized that the steering wheel locked when the truck was shut off and when he hit me the tires turned.
I went to the gym and came back out an hour later and fired the truck up and heard the notorious "low power steering fluid" whine. I looked under the truck and there was a huge puddle.
Luckily I was right next to a Meijer so I went in and got a qt and put it in and drove it home.
I then bought a new pump and swapped the two out. I fired the truck up again (of course with fluid in it) and now the steering wheel is tight and I can't turn the tires. I don't want to force it in fear of breaking something. I looked on AutoZone's website and it says: "After adding fluid, carry out the power steering pump "Initial Operation" procedure."
Anyone know what this is? Or where I might have went wrong? The steering was ok before hand, just a heavy leak and I know I didn't cross any lines.
Thanks all,
-Jerry
Background:Last week my sister-in-law's boyfriend was leaving for school and apparently didn't see the big blue truck sitting in the driveway and he backed into it...HARD...
I went outside and assessed the damage.
1. Broken turn signal light
2. Dented fender
3. Truck moved over about 18 in
Well, when I went to leave a little later, I jumped in the truck and started driving down the road, the alignment felt ok but my steering wheel was upside down. I later realized that the steering wheel locked when the truck was shut off and when he hit me the tires turned.
I went to the gym and came back out an hour later and fired the truck up and heard the notorious "low power steering fluid" whine. I looked under the truck and there was a huge puddle.
Luckily I was right next to a Meijer so I went in and got a qt and put it in and drove it home.
I then bought a new pump and swapped the two out. I fired the truck up again (of course with fluid in it) and now the steering wheel is tight and I can't turn the tires. I don't want to force it in fear of breaking something. I looked on AutoZone's website and it says: "After adding fluid, carry out the power steering pump "Initial Operation" procedure."
Anyone know what this is? Or where I might have went wrong? The steering was ok before hand, just a heavy leak and I know I didn't cross any lines.
Thanks all,
-Jerry
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From: Warren, NJ
Thread Starter
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Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 469
Likes: 0
From: Oxford, MI
Thanks for the find TMS. I will make sure to try and cycle the steering from lock to lock. The PS pump should be fine since it wasn't ran dry and I didn't pull it apart or anything. Like I said, I had power steering driving into the garage to pull it out. Just a massive fluid leak!
