Air getting sucked into power steering; where!?
#1
Air getting sucked into power steering; where!?
Had the steering rack replaced in my car over a year ago and it was flawless for the first 10 or so months. Now I've noticed a distinct "whirring" noise when I turn the wheel at slow speeds; kind of like running a zipper up and down quickly. Checked the fluid and there are miniscule bubbles in it; so small they are hard to see but it makes the fluid look cloudy. I looked at the obvious plumbing on the rack and don't see any leaks; where could the air be getting sucked in? I don't know much about how this thing is plumbed but what connections should I check?
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
#3
Forgive my ignorance, but I'm not sure. The car is a 2000 Z/28; I do not see any lines heading towards the radiator or anything that appears to be a cooler. I will do a google search and get you a better answer.
#4
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (33)
There's a picture in this thread: https://ls1tech.com/forums/pontiac-f...ng-cooler.html
#5
Look on one of the radiator hoses for a silver pipe about a foot long. That's the stock cooler.
There's a picture in this thread: https://ls1tech.com/forums/pontiac-f...ng-cooler.html
There's a picture in this thread: https://ls1tech.com/forums/pontiac-f...ng-cooler.html
Just to clarify; after the car sits overnight it is perfectly quiet in the morning. Not until I've been driving for 10 minutes or so does it start making noise. I believe it's leaking an incredibly small amount of air into the system.
#6
Save the manuals!
iTrader: (5)
Can you post some pictures? If air is indeed being sucked in, I'd expect your reservoir to overflow, which should come with a corresponding fluid level drop. If your impeller in the pump has broken, you could be seeing the effects of cavitation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavitation
How old is the pump and how many miles are on it?
The fluid is under much higher pressure than the outside air, so having air sucked in would be really difficult to do, unless its at the pump shaft seal. (I did have this happen to me on a failing water pump, as have had other members here but I haven't seen anyone post a similar problem related to the PS pump.)
How old is the pump and how many miles are on it?
The fluid is under much higher pressure than the outside air, so having air sucked in would be really difficult to do, unless its at the pump shaft seal. (I did have this happen to me on a failing water pump, as have had other members here but I haven't seen anyone post a similar problem related to the PS pump.)
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#10
Can you post some pictures? If air is indeed being sucked in, I'd expect your reservoir to overflow, which should come with a corresponding fluid level drop. If your impeller in the pump has broken, you could be seeing the effects of cavitation. Cavitation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
How old is the pump and how many miles are on it?
The fluid is under much higher pressure than the outside air, so having air sucked in would be really difficult to do, unless its at the pump shaft seal. (I did have this happen to me on a failing water pump, as have had other members here but I haven't seen anyone post a similar problem related to the PS pump.)
How old is the pump and how many miles are on it?
The fluid is under much higher pressure than the outside air, so having air sucked in would be really difficult to do, unless its at the pump shaft seal. (I did have this happen to me on a failing water pump, as have had other members here but I haven't seen anyone post a similar problem related to the PS pump.)
#11
Save the manuals!
iTrader: (5)
I honestly can't remember what I was thinking when I asked that...
Lots of signs here that it could be the pump. I'd put a metal rod or mechanics stethoscope to it in order to confirm that's where the noise is coming from. If so, then its time for a new one or a rebuild of what you have.
Lots of signs here that it could be the pump. I'd put a metal rod or mechanics stethoscope to it in order to confirm that's where the noise is coming from. If so, then its time for a new one or a rebuild of what you have.
#12
I honestly can't remember what I was thinking when I asked that...
Lots of signs here that it could be the pump. I'd put a metal rod or mechanics stethoscope to it in order to confirm that's where the noise is coming from. If so, then its time for a new one or a rebuild of what you have.
Lots of signs here that it could be the pump. I'd put a metal rod or mechanics stethoscope to it in order to confirm that's where the noise is coming from. If so, then its time for a new one or a rebuild of what you have.
#16
Teching In
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Brighton, MI
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I have similar issue. The dealer had my car, went through two pumps, new hoses, power steering cooler. Noise still comes back after car is hot. It is quiet for a while, then gets noisy when hot. Embarrassingly loud. I have heard theories of pully/bearings and intake manifold sucking air when it gets hot. I will probably pull my car out of storage next week and dig into it again. If anyone learns or knows anything, please post up! Thanks!
#17
Fluid does not "bubble"; there are extremely tiny bubbles held in suspension (they barely rise to the surface). Pump does not make any strange noises when not turning the wheel, only when I go to turn the wheel does the noise present itself. You can "feel" the noise through the steering wheel as though the air is causing the rack to cavitate. Very difficult to explain thoroughly, but definitely points towards something disturbing the steering fluid. Noise then dissapears once things are allowed to cool down; I believe this has to do with the bubbles making their way to the surface (but this is just a wild *** guess). No loss of fluid; haven't had to top it off in the year and a half I've had the new rack.