Power Seering problem

[rdybala]

I am having troubles with my power steering on my 1994 q45. I believe it has normal p/s. The p/s fluid is dark brown (looks like coffee) and gets tremendously foamy and bubbles out of the reservoir when i try to purge it.. In addition I am getting noises at idle (like the belt is slipping) especially bad at full turn right and left. Also, at times, I can feel jerkiness in the steering wheel as I turn it. I put new belts and pulleys on at 150,000 miles - presently the car has 170,000 miles. I also loosened the gatorback belt and tested the pulley on the pump and the tensioner pulley and both seemed okay. I know the system should be flushed but I don't think it will resolve the problem. I think the pump is bad. Does anyone have a procedure on how to replace the pump? I have the service manual that came with the car, but i don't see any mention about removing the pump. Am I overlooking something?

[OwnerCS]

Welcome to NICO!

The club has a full set of Field Service Manuals available for downloading at the following internet address. Within the FSM there is a Steering (ST) section. I believe it is ST.pdf

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM

Also, check out www.q45.org for more Q45 ownership information.

Also this thread may help.

power-steering-problem-t519073.html

[rdybala]

Thanks for the information.

[rdybala]

Well it has been approx. one month and a fair amount of effort and I still have problems with the power steering. I replaced the pump and the small return line to the reservoir, flushed and purged the system and I am still getting a lot of air in the system - large bubbles when turning the wheel with the engine off and foam with the engine on, also lots of pressure forcing p/s fluid past the reservoir cap.Also the groaning noise is still present while turning the wheels with the engine on - just not as bad as before. I did use p/s fluid not atf. I would like to get this car out of the garage and on the road were it belongs Hope someone has a solution for me. I have the factory service manual but it has been little help to me re; this problem.

[maxnix]

I am having troubles with my power steering on my 1994 q45. I believe it has normal p/s. The p/s fluid is dark brown (looks like coffee) and gets tremendously foamy and bubbles out of the reservoir when i try to purge it.. In addition I am getting noises at idle (like the belt is slipping) especially bad at full turn right and left. Also, at times, I can feel jerkiness in the steering wheel as I turn it. I put new belts and pulleys on at 150,000 miles - presently the car has 170,000 miles. I also loosened the gatorback belt and tested the pulley on the pump and the tensioner pulley and both seemed okay. I know the system should be flushed but I don't think it will resolve the problem. I think the pump is bad. Does anyone have a procedure on how to replace the pump? I have the service manual that came with the car, but i don't see any mention about removing the pump. Am I overlooking something?

www.bgfindashop.com

You need the complete low pressure flush hook up, not just the simultaneous suck and fill. You can use M1 ATF. Probably a gallon will do it.

[rdybala]

Brian, I am not familiar with a complete low pressure flush hook up. Can you give me an education?

[BadQ45t]

You need to find a shop that has a system which can suck out all of the old fluid and refill it with fresh new fluid. You mentioned your old fluid was like coffee, that is a bad. If you just bought this car obviously the previous owner didn't give much of a crap about this car. Find a shop that can do complete FLUSH of fluids, they use a machine to perform this. Given the condition of the power steering fluid I would have your brake fluid, rear end fluid, transmission fluide and the power steering all done at the same time with at least Mobile 1. I used either Red Line or Amsoil which are all one grade above Mobile 1, but that is a baseline.

[rdybala]

I bought the car at 150,00 miles. I changed the anti freeze, hoses, belts, idler pulleys, trans fluid, brake fluid, and brake pads before I even put license plates on. However, I did not change the p/s fluid. I've owned nearly 100 cars in my life (all used) and never changed p/s or differential fluids unless there was a failure.I do all the work myself - never have my cars been into a shop unless under wauranty or safety recall. I flushed the p/s system by removing the return line to the reservoir using 4 quarts of fluid before I put on the new pump. The fluid is crystal clear now I took some out and put it in a clear container to verify this. What mystifies me is were all the air is coming from? Ps. I have placed the p/s fluid on the list of things to do when I get another car - never too old to learn. I also followed the method outlined in the service manual for purging with no noticeable improvement. I am still curious about Brian's comment.