Jimbo

I had my power steering go out last night while I was merging onto a
highway. It almost felt like something popped but that could be what
it feels like when the power steering pump went out. I need some
advice on whether its the pump or whether it could be the gear box.

The pump isn't making its regular F-150 power steering pump noises, so
that is what immediately presented itself as the problem. I pulled
over to check it out, rolled my window down and watched as I turned the
wheel. Gave me tons of resistance and then "groaned" a little. I
released the wheel and it started spraying fluid out of the cap vent
hole.

The truck is a 88 F150 L6 4.9L.

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

CJB

This may sound like a simple question, but did you check the belt?

CJB


"Jimbo" <eaglejfm@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1133281043.654457.117820@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> I had my power steering go out last night while I was merging onto a
> highway. It almost felt like something popped but that could be what
> it feels like when the power steering pump went out. I need some
> advice on whether its the pump or whether it could be the gear box.
>
> The pump isn't making its regular F-150 power steering pump noises, so
> that is what immediately presented itself as the problem. I pulled
> over to check it out, rolled my window down and watched as I turned the
> wheel. Gave me tons of resistance and then "groaned" a little. I
> released the wheel and it started spraying fluid out of the cap vent
> hole.
>
> The truck is a 88 F150 L6 4.9L.
>
> Thanks in advance for the help.
>

Jimbo

CJB:

I did check the belt. I installed a new one last night because it
looked a little looser than it should. Very easy repair compared to
replacing the pump. I also replaced that last night. I used a little
different technique than the repair manual had. They had me removing
the entire mounting bracket which the power steering pump and the A/C
compressor is attached to. I just removed the radiator and fan cowling
to give me room for the puller. I borrowed a pulley puller from
Advanced. Either they really skimped on their setup, or the pulley was
really on there. I ran out of time last night so tonight I will be
pressing the pulley back onto the new pump. Hopefully, my steering
symptoms weren't telling me the gear box went out.

I'm a little fuzzy on priming the pump. I let fluid soak in and then
manually turned the pulley until it started pressurizing. Then I was
told (other newsgroup topic) to move the wheel from stop to stop a few
times.

Jimbo

Spdloader

The pump will self bleed when turning the wheel, just be sure to have it
full to the mark with fluid.

Spdloader


"Jimbo" <eaglejfm@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1133362759.789532.54720@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> CJB:
>
> I did check the belt. I installed a new one last night because it
> looked a little looser than it should. Very easy repair compared to
> replacing the pump. I also replaced that last night. I used a little
> different technique than the repair manual had. They had me removing
> the entire mounting bracket which the power steering pump and the A/C
> compressor is attached to. I just removed the radiator and fan cowling
> to give me room for the puller. I borrowed a pulley puller from
> Advanced. Either they really skimped on their setup, or the pulley was
> really on there. I ran out of time last night so tonight I will be
> pressing the pulley back onto the new pump. Hopefully, my steering
> symptoms weren't telling me the gear box went out.
>
> I'm a little fuzzy on priming the pump. I let fluid soak in and then
> manually turned the pulley until it started pressurizing. Then I was
> told (other newsgroup topic) to move the wheel from stop to stop a few
> times.
>
> Jimbo
>