Power steering issues

So I’m having issues with my power steering on my 2000 Tacoma with the 2.7L.

Before I bough the truck a few months ago the dealership put a remanufactured pump in for me and it had a whine when warm. I was told that it’s probably just a bad reman so I just went out and bought a new pump online and had that installed and it is still whining. It only does it when it’s warm and I can only hear it when turning the wheel. And you can sometimes feel a slight vibration in the steering wheel. Any ideas what it could be?? Possibly a rack and pinion issue???

 

First step is to check for bubbles/aeration in the PS reservoir. If air gets going through the pump it whines like crazy and makes even more foam. Then you have to basically shut the truck off and let all the air get out of the fluid, if it ever does. Open the reservoir while it's running and shine a light in there.

 

So if there is bubbles what should I do from there? I appreciate the help.

 

Check for leaks in entire system, unfortunatle that could be at the rack too. But if you have air most likely leak would be on return line. Make sure the intake in the reservoir isn't vortexing, drawing air into system. There is/was a screen in there that's supposed to prevent that. In some cases the screen is completely clogged with shit. Time to take it all apart and use a couple cans of Brakleen to clear it out.
I'm not sure what to think of the vibration. Might be the rack control valve.

 

There is bubbles after being ran but no sings of losing any fluid

 

Most new pumps do NOT come with a new reservoir, so it had to be transferred
to the new pump. The internal screen might be clogged.

Remove the reservoir and have it professionally cleaned. It solved the whine that I had. Cheap fix.

 

YES, YES, YES! If I could give Rick 100 likes I would. He hit the nail on the head. BUT, you don't need it "Professionally Cleaned". I don't even know who would do this and what it would cost. The reservoir screen is clogged and starving the steering rack of fluid. I recommend you flush the system and clean the reservoir screen. And lookey here, I have a video for you to use as a reference. For the cost of your time, some brake cleaner and some power steering fluid, you'll be whine-free soon.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/5k61KXRK8bM

 

Tim, thanx for the kind words.

This is the story behind my issue a few years ago: I took my Tacoma in for some work that I was unable to do myself (valve adjust, I think), and told them about the PS whine that I wanted troubleshot (is that even a word ?). I told them that I suspected the screen, but just wanted them to narrow it down for me. When I got it back, they had removed the reservoir, cleaned it, re-installed it and solved the problem , AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE.
So, mine was 'Professionally Cleaned", but I don't know what they did. Most shops have a 'parts washer' so I'm guessing that was what they used.

 

I got the reservoir pulled off and there was no screen in it? Did someone take it out? Should I get a new one put in?

 

If the screen is really clogged and black, it might be hard to see the screen. If you indeed have no screen then yes it was removed. There's another way to handle this. Instead of trying to fix what some idiot did to your power steering reservoir, you could just add an inline magnetic filter in the return line and let that be your filtration. I plan on adding one to mine very soon because it will filter much better than just the screen.

https://magnefinefilters.com/NEW-Ma...ine-Power-Steering-Filter-R038M-P-3810000.htm

Or, you could visit a local PickNPull and just grab a used reservoir off a wrecked 1st Gen Tacoma, 1st Gen Tundra, T100 or a 3rd Gen 4runner.

 

Now it’s time to figure out what else could be making the noise!

 

Well, who knows how long you had zero filtration for your power steering system. Maybe there's some blockage in your steering rack. If it were me, I'd flush the system, add an inline magnefine filter and drive it. Then in a short period, like a 1000 miles, I'd do the flush again and replace the filter. ATF has detergents in it and maybe the fresh fluid will help clear out any blockages. Doing this would only cost you a little time, a few quarts of ATF and a couple filters. It's worth a shot before resorting to replacing another pump or maybe the steering rack.