power steering pump question

I have a 2004 tacoma 3.4L. I am on my 4th power steering pump now in 5 months. The org. one that was on the truck then I bought it started making noise and then totaly went me, then 2 used ones after that only lasting 1-2 months, so went out and bought a bran new pump and now that one is making noise after about 2 months. The fulid levels have been bang on every time. Does anyone have any ideas?

 

When you changed the pump did you change the resevoir also? It might be just the screen clogged up. Just a thought

 

You putting in the right fuild?
know mine takes ATF ,the guys at autozone told me normal power steering fluid would work but the cap told me otherwise.

 

sounds like a bearing issue on the pump, was the replacement an oem pump? you don't have to use ATF you can use power steering fluid, and thats per Toyota Care. as long as it's equal quality.

 

First off, did you flush the steering rack? Does your fluid smell burnt? I have been through two of them due to dirty fluid.

 

Funny, I checked my PS fluid yesterday and it smelled burnt. What does that indicate?

 

That you need to flush and replace it.

 

Flush it out and get that crap fluid out of the system. Hopefully it isn't too late for the pump. If you didn't flush it after the degraded fluid will cause it to go up again.

 

Get ready for this...I called the Toyota dealer today...$397.65 for P/S pump with reservoir attached. $321.00 for hose assembly, (both hoses are sold as 1 unit). Ouch.

Flush the P/W ram, this is where the most failed replacement pumps fail. Flush well, P/S fluid is cheap, pumps are not.

Use SYNTHETIC fluid. Resists burning. Resists, but will fail if used at an insufficient level.

Good luck.

Mike

 

Sorry to but has anyone installed a beefer p/s pump. My pump is going out and with larger tires(and planning to go larger in the future) I would like to replace my old one with something that has some more muscles. Any thoughts?? Could be a solution to the OP also.

 

I bought my '04 2.7L new, and after I had it for about 1 1/2 years, the power steering fluid went very low (suddenly) and there was seepage on the pump & reservoir. I refilled it, and it never went low again. I have almost 100K miles on the truck now.

It does whine a little bit, and I assume that it will fail eventually. It whines noticeably around a long, left-hand freeway interchange ramp I used to take every day. You can feel it through the steering wheel at that point.

 

Thanks for your help guys.
I flushed the PS out yesterday and refilled it with ATF Dex/Merc.
Will see how it all works out pump wise...

 

I've gone through one pump already. I flushed and installed a cooler, hoping the longer hose/more fluid will help along with the cooler.

 

For Mike.

 

What is the best way to flush the rack & lines?