today my power steering failed. I looked for any mechanical binds and didnt see anything. the resevoir is full, but fluid is coming out of the top of the cap; i assume when pressure is applied. i disconnected the return hose to the pump and nothing runs through until the wheel is turned with extreme effort and then only a small amount of fluid comes out. should this system constantly circulate fluid even when the wheel is stationary. this failure was immediate and i have another pump i can replace it with tomorrow but i wanted to ask if i was looking in the wrong place. i have a 2001 1500 5.9 if thats of any significance. thanks a lot.

wyatt

 

sounds like your pump siezed... since it takes alot of effor to turn the pump, that would be the 1st place to look. disconnect the other hose and see if the pump continues to take effort to turn... if it does, then yeah, your pump siezed. you could place both hoses in a bucket of fluid to watch the pump work, leave the source hose out enough to watch it pump, then leave the return line in the bucket so you dont starve the pump.

 

Unless you have hydroboost, there are only three options.

1. restricted high pressure line

2. bad pump

3. bad steering gear

I am not familiar with the PS pumps on gas engines. If you have the Saginaw series they are pretty easy to replace. If you need to replace the pump, I suggest the AGR-822256 super pump. If you have hydroboost, then I would bump up to the AGR-822257 super pump. Same pressure but more gpm flow.

Good luck