I need some help 1997 Q45

[joaquin12345]

Hello,

Im knew to the forum but I would like to say Hi and Im jumping right in. I bought a 97 Q45 from the original owner. When I got the car it had 196k miles. Starts and runs as it should, I have a check engine light which Ill diagnose later. Fixed the ac system as it was full of air and hardly had any Freon. Bled the air, filled with Freon. Ice cold air now.

The problem that I am having is the power steering. When I got the car the steering did not work. I filled the reservoir up raised the car turned side to side but I always seemed to get frothy fluid and would over fill when car was turned off and the PS never improved. I bought a rebuild kit and completed that, there were some orings that needed replaced. I put the PS pump back on but did not fix the problem. I think the pump was run low too long, so I purchased a new one. Replaced that but it seems that my problem still exists but I may be my problem as well. After installing the pump and making sure all connections are tight I fill the reservoir pretty much to the top. Start the car and the fluid gets sucked in instantly so fill up again. Pretty much put about 20 ounces of the prestone Asian PS fluid from autozone which is $9.99 a container so trying not to spend too much on this stuff because it seems a bit expensive. Wish I could use something else and spend $5 a quart instead of 12ounces. My question is this. I can tell when the car is running that the reservoir is empty. If I look hard enough I can see fluid coming back from the return line and immediately sucking back into the feed line, when the car is turned off tho the reservoir fills all the way to the top with frothy fluid and bubbles. What I am wondering is do I continue to fill the reservoir while the car is running until I have an inch or two fill on the reservoir? I almost feel like im answering my own question but am stuck since it over fills when turned off. My idea now is that it overfills because I don't have enough fluid in there and its sucking air mixing with the fluid then causing it to froth up and expand then pushes it out the reservoir when I turn it off?.

The favor I was going to as is if someone can post a picture or better yet a video maybe to here or you can even send it to me on my phone 806-392-8384. What I would like is if someone would turn on their car open the hood and video the power steering reservoir while the fluid is pumping. What Im trying to see is how much fluid is actually in the reservoir while the car is on. This would help me tremendously.

Thank you.
Joaquin

[my12by60]

I have a 2000 and the reservoir has a dipstick attached to the underside of the reservoir cap. The dipstick has a hot and cold fill line. The difference between the hot and cold fill amounts is not much fluid. So to answer your question, my reservoir is almost completely full even when filled to the lower cold fill line on the dipstick. The power steering system does not need nearly as much fluid expansion capacity does the cooling system. The foaming and frothing of the fluid indicates as problem and is not normal for a properly functioning system.

I have read here that you need to follow a certain procedure to get the system filled with fluid. I think you might need to block up the front end so that you can work the steering wheel side to side while you add fluid. This will let you get the system full before you head out for a drive. But I am no expert, so before you try what I am saying I would do a search of this forum and/or wait for somebody that is more expert than me to respond.

[joaquin12345]

I did everything everyone has posted on here as far as filling and bleeding the system. You jack the car up put fluid in your reservoir with car off turn lock to lock a few times. Check reservoir which will suck down some of the fluid. Then fill again. Start the car and fill as its sucking it down. Turn wheels side to side 15-20 times. This is where im sucking air in just haven't pinpointed it but that's why im asking if and when the car is running how much fluid is actually visible in your reservoir. At the moment when my car is running I see fluid sputtering in there so pretty much none. Only shows full and overfills when I turn the car off but it comes with foam and bubbles.

[my12by60]

When my car is running the fluid level in the reservoir is not visibly different than the level when the car is not running. Sounds like you followed the right fill procedure. If you are getting the system properly filled, then I don't see where the fluid could be going if it is not on your garage floor. If air is replacing fluid, then fluid must be leaking from somewhere in order to allow room for the air.

[EdBwoy]

I think you might have air in the rack as well, depending on how long it was run with an empty reservoir/ bad pump.

But I don't know why you'd still have a bubbling, frothing reservoir after repeating the procedure. Air does eventually work itself to the surface after all. Try leaving the cap off overnight and see if the level drops at all.

Another thing I'd try is to drain and refill the system again, pouring in very slowly so you don't trap air as the fluid goes in. I'd disconnect the PS system hoses both at the PS pump and at the steering rack as well during draining & maybe pour some in at the rack before reattaching the tubes... space permitting.

Since the "correct" fluid is pricey but also sometimes hard to locate in a pinch, I have been using Valvoline Max Life. Opinions differ on using non-OEM fluids so please read the specs, see if they match the OEM requirements and do what's comfortable for you.
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[joaquin12345]

First off I would like to thank the two of you for responding so quickly. This is what I figured out

First off I was not filling up the reservoir enough. I filled it to the correct level when the car was off then I would start the car and let it suck everything in then I would turn it off and do the same procedure again. Well after the second time, when I would turn the car off it would spill over and the fluid was frothy. I couldn't figure out where I was sucking air, gsince everything was tight and I had no leaks. The problem I was having was that when the car was running the fluid level would drop all the way in the reservoir and I would see some fluid sputtering at the bottom but I took that as circulating like I had read before. I would also do my turn to turn all the way to lock positions but all I was doing was continuing to suck in air.

Today I did it different. I jacked the cart up on jack stands. I turn the wheel lock to lock with the engine off about 20 times. Then I turned the car on and began to fill the reservoir until I had about an inch from the opening and it wouldn't suck down anymore. I did the lock to lock turns about 20 times. I then turned the car off. The fluid wasn't as frothy and almost spilled over but I sucked a little out. I then turned the steering wheel lock to lock about 20 times and while watching from the drivers side I could see tons of bubbles coming out from the reservoir. I think with the car off is when I actually purged the most air.

Anyways long story short everything worked out and my power steering is back to working again. No more looking like a retard when trying to get out of a tight parking lot. Thanks a lot for the comment that the reservoir did not change much whether the car was off or on. That made the most sense to me!!

Joaquin.

[my12by60]

Isn't it amazing how a simple thing like getting ps fluid into your ps system can require so many little bits of knowledge?
I have received plenty of good tips from this forum so I am glad that I was able to chip in on this issue for you. Glad you got it figured out and you are back on the road again.