Power steering pump

Tiny
JOHN GREEN4
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 2.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 25,000 MILES
Water in power steering pump.
Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 11:12 AM

2 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
We most likely will get away with flushing the system and putting new fluid in there. Here is a guide on how to do this. I would start with that and go from there.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/power-steering-fluid-flush

If this does not work then we will need to find the source of the water coolant entering the system. However, this is unlikely on this vehicle so we need to get new fluid in there and retest.

Let me know if you have questions. Thanks
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 12:39 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,972 POSTS
Not a common issue, however the easiest way to repair it would be to flush it out. Water will settle to the bottom but in this case that isn't a good thing as that means it can get trapped in the steering rack. There are a few ways to do this but it depends on what you have available. The fastest way would be to remove as much fluid as possible from the power steering pump, then remove the return line from reservoir and block the fitting that is shown in the attached image. Then put the open end into a bucket. Now fill the reservoir with new fluid and have someone start the engine. Keep pouring in new fluid while the old is pumped out. After you have flushed it with a quart or two. Shut the engine off, reconnect the line and top up the fluid, now start the engine and steer left and right, this will force fluid through under higher pressure and should make any remaining water go into the fluid. Now remove the line and flush again. In total you can expect to use 5-6 quarts of fluid to flush it clean.
Next is a variation on this but without removing the line. You use something to remove as much fluid as possible, a fluid extractor or even a common turkey baster will work. Then fill with new. Start the engine and steer back and forth while setting still. Shut the engine off and remove the fluid again, then repeat the removal and refill with clean fluid until you see no evidence of water and the fluid is clean.

I would also try to determine how the water got into the fluid to prevent it from occurring again. It could be condensation or a bad cap as common problems.
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 12:43 PM

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