Power Steering Pump failure

JARMSTRO

MEMBER
MAZDA 626

I have a Mazda 626 v6 2.5L '98 120K. The power steering pump bearing failed and the pump eventually blew a seal and wasn't working. We put a new pump on but after about 15 minutes it would only work when the engine was revved. We thought that the pump was bad because it was a rebuild so we exchanged it for a new pump. Afer going down he highway about 150 miles with the new pump, then stopping for gas, the pump is not working again, or at least something is preventing the steering from getting power. When we put the pump on, we flushed and bled the system, put a new o-ring seal in and replaced the copper washers with the new ones that came with the new unit, and turned the steering wheel the 20x as recommended to get the air out. The system is not leaking and I have washed off all the oil that might have gotten on the belts during flushing. Do you have any idea what might be causing the power steering to not work? Thank you for your help.

4 Replies

COSMO

MECHANIC
347 POSTS

1. Did you use auto tranny fluid or power steering fluid? The system uses tranny fluid and will turn to jello if power steering fluid is added.

2. Was the pressure switch plugged in on the top of the power steering pump?

Cosmo. Mazda TEch

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Tuesday, January 30th, 2007 AT 5:56 AM

JARMSTRO

MEMBER
3 POSTS

1. We used power steering fluid. After I read your response I went and looked at the owner's manual to see what it recommends. I'll be darned if it doesn't say ATF fluid Dextron. Etc. You think this might be the reason then?

2. The only plug tip on the top was called the "PSP switch connector". If this is what you mean then yes, we plugged it in. We were wondering what that does, but did make sure it was plugged in.

Thanks for the ideas!

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Tuesday, January 30th, 2007 AT 12:38 PM

COSMO

MECHANIC
347 POSTS

The PSP switch is the power steering pressure switch.

You might want to make sure that the wire going to this sensor is good and clean and has no rot to it.

Get that powersteering fluid completely out and re-fill the system

Cosmo. Mazda TEch

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Tuesday, January 30th, 2007 AT 5:00 PM

JARMSTRO

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Well, we took of the pump again and flushed the system and put ATF fluid in it but the pump still only works intermittently. We have it off again now and have been examining the pressure switch. We have traded in the pump twice but have kept the pressure switch because the new pumps don't have them included. The connector on the switch is a little loose. Could this be the problem? What exactly does the pressure switch do? It doesn't seem to open or close anything in the pump. It only looks like something that would maybe send a signal to turn on the "check engine light" if the pump isn't getting enough fluid pressure. Any thoughts?

Thanks again for working with me on this!

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+2

Sunday, February 4th, 2007 AT 12:15 PM