Power Steering Suddenly Quit

97 Tacoma 2.7 4WD 220K miles

I went to the car wash today and pulled into the stall. Washed the skid plates which I had removed earlier. Hosed off the underside of the oilpan, steering rack, etc. Started up and pulled out of the stall, turned left and the power steering started squealing and did not want to return to center. Now it takes extreme effort to turn either direction. Fluid level is fine, never had even a minor issue or leak in this system. I cannot see any fluid movement inside the pump when the GF is attempting to turn the wheel for me.

Does anyone have an opinion on the cause of this?

 

Is the belt slipping on the pulley or is the pulley still spinning?

 

maybe your pump...you do have 220k miles...did it ever make sounds like a wookie

 

Negative on the belt slippage. The pulley is spinning as it should be.

 

I have not had any problems or noises before. No hint of problems.

 

Sounds like your pump went bad.

 

IIRC someone was selling a power steering pump for a 4cyl on here cheap the other day...or it may have been for a v6...i dont remember

 

FOUND IT!


http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacoma-marketplace/206829-power-steering-pump.html

 

Thanks for the replies on this. I have solved the issue now. It seems that debris had clogged either the screen in the reservoir or the flow control valve. I removed the pump assembly from the truck and performed the following:
1. Separated the reservoir from the pump.
2.Sprayed carb cleaner through the return line into the underside of the screen until the screen was clean.
3. Sprayed carb cleaner into the high pressure fitting while turning the pulley.
4. Sprayed carb cleaner into the pump where the resevoir fits into it. Again turning the pulley while spraying. I used two full cans of carb cleaner total.
5. Re installed the pump assembly on the vehicle without connecting the return line.
6. Attached 4 feet of old garden hose to return line with loose end in 5 gallon trash can.
7. Started vehicle with front end on jack stands.
8. Poured 6 quarts of Dex/Merc ATF into the reservoir while the girlfriend turned the steering from lock to lock. Nasty looking fluid came out of the return line when we first started.
9. Shut off vehicle and reattached return line.
10. Power steering restored and working better than before.