Hi friends, I am wondering what is going on with my power steering. I have a 1996 Dodge Caravan.

In the morning when I go to start my car and pull out my power steering freezes up for a minute then it is fine the rest of the day. It seems like when it gets warmed up or something it is okay. It has done this for a few weeks now and that it is getting worse in the morning to deal with.

Does anyone know what is going on here?

 

Until someone pipes in hisbeauty4ashes - you might want to check your belt tension. It sure sounds like it might be slipping...

 

how long's it been since you had any maintenance done to the PS system? I agree its probably the belt/tensioner but I would still like to know more. Have you ever flushed the PS fluid? How many miles on it now? Ever have any PS work done to it? Are the components (ie... belts, hoses, pump, tensioner, etc...) all original?

Your shared history will help us all!

Thanks,
mrtinker

 

I have had the belt replaced. I have not had any other work done on it. 1,889 miles on it. It is a 1996.

 

time to dump the thing and get a real truck

 

Are you getting a whine from the power steering when it locks? If so then replace or clean the power steering resevoir. The fliter screen in the resevoir may be plugged and when the fluid warms it will supply enough fluid to work once warmed up.

I replaced mine once and but I just cleaned it this time using carberator cleaner. Cleaned up nicely. Just make sure you get all the cleaning fluid out before re-installing.

 

Okay well here is the deal. It totally stopped and i am not having that problem now. I would like to clean the screen is that really hard to do?

 

The hard part to cleaning or replacing is getting it off without making a mess. You will need to siphon or use a turkey baster to remove the fluid in the resivour. Be carefull and do not punch a hole in the screen at the bottom. You will not get all of the fluid out. Remove the two hoses and catch the fluid that comes out with rags. Mine has three bolts holding it on, two 3/8 that are easy to get to on top and a 7/16 that will need to be loosened from the back side. You will need a deep socket and a short extension to just loosen the nut, do not remove. The resivour wil then lift off. I sprayed plenty of the carb cleaner into the lower larger tube fitting. I shook it and emptied the resivour several times. Make sure you get all the cleaner out. It will evaporate quickly but slowly inside the resivour. I use compressed air to help.

The large hose was stuck after I slid the clamp off the hose fitting and out on the hose. I got it loose by useing a large pliers and twisted it to get it loose. It came off easily after that.