power steering pump sounds like a blow dryer

How long do I have before it blows up? Lol o well just pissed this happened the weekend of the hollister meet.

 

They make foam earplugs all day long. Ignore it.

Start prepping for manly man steering. Could happen at any time.

Is the fluid scorched?

 

Well I'd get that pump replaced ASAP because when it does blow up it's taking out the rack with it.

 

Check the screen at the bottom of the reservoir. Three bolts and a hose to remove Rez.

 

Gonna flush the system first. Hopefully I don't need to replace the pump.

 

Flushing won't clear the screen.

 

^Try this. It's pretty common for the screen to get clogged and cause the pump to whine. If that doesn't work, then keep an eye out for a good price on a replacement.

 

Got any "tunes" to go with this bad pump ?? Sure its not an idler pulley ??

 

I cleaned the screen but that didn't help so I bought a replacement at auto zone. The blow dryer sound is gone but now I get the common whine noise. At this point I'm hoping it will work itself out because I've cleaned the screen, replaced the pump and flushed the system.

 

The screen is hard to clean if it's really dirty. Mine got detached while I was trying to clean it so I removed it and installed an inline filter in the return line right before the pump. When I got the screen out I saw that there was just no way I would've ever gotten it clean. It was caked with black crap.

The rubber portions of the return line deteriorate from the inside after a while and will destroy a new pump pretty quickly if you don't replace them after they start. I went through two pumps before I figured that out. After I replaced them and yet another pump, I haven't had any more problems and the pump is silent.

 

^^^^
Replacing the pump doesn't do a thing, as the screen is reused. ALL fluid going thru the pump must first pass thru the same dirty screen.
A flashlight is good to use to see if it is squeeky clean enough before putting it back on the pump. Shine it up thru the bottom and you can see no light, or a little, or a lot. You want a lot.
On mine, took ten minutes with a parts washer to see light at all.

 

X2 on the screen - it takes a bit, but not a big deal. I soaked mine in carb cleaner for 20 mins, then while I was outside on a sunny day, sprayed the crap out of the screen with brake cleaner - almost used a whole can.

I had to angle it so I could see it (or use a flashlight) until it was 100% clear of crap, then cleaned out with water, then I let it sit in the sun and shook it a few hours to get it completely dry.

I did this the same time I replaced my Pump and now I have awesome , quiet steering.

I wish I knew about the screen years ago - probably could have extended the life of my pump.

BTW I have a 95.5, manufactured in Feb, 95 and I had to get a 96 pump. The one Napa had for a 95 had the banjo bolt joint on the top of the pump and mine was on the bottom. So check yours before you buy it and you'll save time if you have a 95.