1998 Infiniti Q45 power steering

JUAN RIOS

MEMBER
1998 INFINITI Q45
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
155,000 MILES

It started with a racheting noise and some times a belt squeel when staring. I thought it may low P/S fluid. I check the leve and look full. Not long after that I noticed and oil spot. I touch and smelled the oil it was P/S.
I checked the fluid level and the top chamber was full the bottom looked empty.
iI started the car and added fluid. The fluid was sucked in and a churrinng noise could be heard. The power steering was easy to turn but a frothy oil appeared at the resevour.
I turned the car off and the oil flowed over outis the resevour with pressure.
What could cause this the pressure relife valve in the pump? The presure selinoid at the steering box? Or a restricted return line.
I am not a pro mechanic but can fix thing if I know what to look for.
Juan Rios

1 Reply

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,815 POSTS

Hi Juan,

Thank you for the donation.

The frothing is due to air in the system and you need to bleed it by making full turns on the steering, left to righ a few times and keep topping up till it is stable and no more frothing.

However if the frothing continues after bleeding, then the pump or its delivery hose from the reservoir is leaking. If delivery hose or pump is bad, it would suck in air together with the fluid and cause the frothing.

Since fluid was low, there should be a leakage somewhere and you need to check where it is coming from, pump, hoses or the steering rack assy.