How to turn engine without starting it...installing new power steering lines

Hey all,

I am replacing my power steering return line and the manufacturer says as part of the procedure to turn the engine over a few times without starting it (Step 3a). How does one do this?

Rather than type all the instructions, Here's a picture of what was on the bag...sorry it's sideways.

 

Remove your ignition fuse..i.e. take away power to your coil and plugs

 

I thought that would be the case but I wasn't able to find it...I'll look again. Thanks!

 

to bleed the system, jack the front tires off the ground fill the PS reservoir. using the steering wheel turn back and forth lock to lock and pay attention to reservoir level. No need to crank the engine and subsequently pump without fluid.

 

Just pull your 20A EFI Main fuse then turn over the engine to ensure you bleed any residual fuel pressure.

 

This is a much better and more controlled method to bleed and flush the system. Unless you like to live dangerously and have a partner helping I would use this method.

 

I think this was more to flush the system than to bleed it. I can't do anything anyway until can get to the parts store to get some power steering fluid. I have an almost full one somewhere but after the move to Missouri, it got lost along the way.

As soon as my wife gets back from work. I'll take a run into town.

Thanks all!

BTW, I did find the IGN fuse. It was in front of my left knee. I keep forgetting about that location.

 

right-o! thanks!!

 

Drain and remove return line on ps reservoir. Cap the return on the reservoir. Route the removed return line to a bottle. Raise both wheels off the ground.

Starting with the wheels locked in one direction; fill the resi then move the wheels to the other lock. Refill the resi and repeat until clean fluid comes out of the disconnected hose.

Reconnect the hose, refill, and move the wheels again to work out any air

 

I know this might be rare but when I did my steering flush this way I broke my clockspring and I was pretty careful when going lock to lock with the wheel

 

Is this done while the engine is running? I assume it is as the pump needs to be turning, correct?

 

No engine off.

 

Your clockspring was likely on its way to breaking anyway. Just going lock to lock isn't enough to break it. If that were the case, clocksprings would be breaking all the time just driving in and out of a parking spot

 

FYI the power steering system on our trucks uses Dex 3 ATF i believe, should say right on the rez filler cap.

 

Out of curiosity are these trucks supposed to fire if the ignition is bumped and that’s why people are pulling the fuses? I can bump the key and it will crank without firing.

 

Well yeah a quick bump isnt going to start it but sounded like OP wanted to crank for multiple seconds. Rather than pull the fuses you could also just use a non chipped key (if you are a v6) in the ignition and crank till your hearts content.

But again, do not crank the motor to bleed the power steering, do as described previously.

 

Understood, was just curious if mine was doing something out of the norm. I’ve flushed my ps system twice using the method you and larzz described. I believe there is a sticky or thread that has the whole write up with pictures. Followed it to do mine the first time around.

 

OK, Gents and droids! I'm all set...I ended up buying some red ATF which was great because I was able to see when the old clear(ish) fluid was flushed out and the new red stuff was coming through. I took it out for a spin and everything seems to be in working order. Thanks again all.

 

Great news. Never quite seen instructions like that before and as most have noted it is quite a bit safer and easier as a one man job without using engine pump.