Power steering Issue

[yodawill2000]

I'm befuddled as a mofo here guys.

I check fluid levels almost daily so this happened all at once.

Seem's the High pressure line coming from the pump wraps behind the oil pan.
Somehow mine was rubbing the pan and finally wore a hole into the metal line.
By the time I got home the pump was noisy but I still had power steering ,, But !!!
When I shut the engine off the Reservoir started Belching foamy fluid.
I obviously got air in the system. I'm thinking the reservoir was dry when I shut it off.

Now the Confusing part.
I patched the hole with hose and a heavy duty clamp.
No more leak at all.
But I have ZERO power steering ??
I bleed the system per the specs and if it sits a bit I can check the fluid in the reservoir
And its fresh and proper level.

If I start it up and try to turn the wheel lock to lock then shut off the fluid is once again foamy ??
The pump makes a gurgling sound every few seconds like it passing air and I'm thinking its cavitation within the pump causing the foam.

On jacks with the engine off I can turn the wheel with a pinky, smooth as silk, then with the motor running I get a little resistance but still easy to turn.
On the ground its like steering my Old 63 !!

Ive gone through the whole low pressure circuit and all seems fine.
Even tightened the clamps up a bit more.
Anybody have a clue ??

No leaks at all after a 2 mile drive and sitting in the driveway for 1/2 an hour.
So I feel confident the patch is holding.
But being the high pressure side I cant see it sucking air in anyway.

[J30tChumpCar]

Our track car has a leaky rack(when parked), it behaves exactly the same way if I allow it to empty.
Apparently the problem is trapped air, I removed the filter screen and filled it up(the screen was making me believe it was full when it was not), turned the wheels lock to lock a couple times before starting it then bumped the key a couple a couple turns trying to NOT start the car, top the fluid again, lock to lock again, bump the key, let it start but immediately turned it off, topped the fluid again. if it went foamy I would walk away for several hours then repeat, eventually it will berp and get happy again.

There is nothing wrong with your unit, just keep at it and be ready for the mess.

[yodawill2000]

Thanks bud
Ive gone through several cycles and its not belching out anymore.
Just foamy.
And ZERO power assist.

[J30tChumpCar]

Keep messing with it, have you removed the screen from under the cap to see inside the tank?

Before we made this car into a track car I was driving it daily, it would give me grief EXACTLY as you describe now and again if the fluid got too low, sometimes days would go by with no assist, just make sure the tank is full every morning when its cold, worry less and it should return.

Never has given grief during a race more then topping it off with LUCAS before a event.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LixMWEYIg-U

[swimshark]

i was thinking to check the connector on the high pressure line. when i did my swap i cleaned mine and it made my power steering become better for a bit because the plug had gotten dirty. hope it finally bleeds all the air out. i remember mine being tough the first day after i replaced my pump a few years ago.

[yodawill2000]

I'll keep at it today.
Its on jacks, and yesterday i did several lock to lock turns with the engine off and on.
Could the pump be bad and not make that usual power steering pump howl ??
My other concern is its sucking in air somewhere.

[J30tChumpCar]

There is NO air sucking leak, the fluid would pour out when sitting if there was, forget that idea.
It is not a electrical connection either. It is stubbornly lodged air combined with design that fights any attempt to purge things quickly.

Yes the pump could be bad,(but I really don't think so or there would be no fluid fuzz or movement) I had ours off and was walking around the junkyard looking for one when mine was goofing, burping,fizzing,gurgling and not assisting.
There was none to be had that day and I figured it sort of worked so it got reinstalled and has been trouble free ever since unless it runs out and gets air in the lines.

Reviewing months of personal hindsight I know exactly what you are doing wrong....You are still fussing over it, all it wants is to be left alone , possibly for days. The more I tried the less the damn thing would work, I suspect the frothy fluid has to completely settle to start working again, fords often take me 24 hrs to settle but the J is the worst.
My successful results only came after 2 things , removal of the plastic fluid fill screen, it was obstructing and falsely causing me to believe it was full, filling it and letting it sit, filling it again, running, foaming, filling, ignoring.

IF you are insistent to do this in one sitting you could get 2+qts of fluid 3 feet of return hose(cheap fuel line)a empty gallon clear milk or water jug and a helper.

There is a power steering cooler in the grille, a loop of steel line with hoses coming thru the core support on the passenger side, disconnect and plug the one that keeps draining ,extend the other to drain in the clear jug. disable the ignition by removing a wire from the CAS or PTU. Have your helper bump the starter to verify flow (as in you extended the correct line)now as you continuously keep the fluid filled crank the starter, it should be pumping your foamy stuff into the jug, stop cranking when it runs clear.You have now flushed all the air impregnated fluid out and in theory it is fixed .

Or just fill it every morning and drive with less/no assist until it fixes itself several days later.
I suspect this exact issue is why everyone replaces their pumps, there was 6 J30s at the junkyard when I was searching, none had a pump.

Good luck

[yodawill2000]

Thanks for the Insight bud .
I'll just keep driving it and see if it sorts itself out.

[J30tChumpCar]

Ok , please come back with a update.

[yodawill2000]

I think Im getting close !!!! Woot !!!
Fluid looked clear . Took the screen out and started it up.
Turned the wheel lock to lock about 5 times.
Fluid went dang near to the bottom !!!
Filled it up some while it was running and the pump stopped making that intermittent gurgle sound.
Shut it off and the fluid rose back up and over flowed a tad.
But it wasn't foamy !!!
I owe ya a beer Chump dood !!!
Still on jacks, and will try again in a hour or so.
If fluid still is pink and clear I'm going for a Drive !!
I think the whole issue was not having a helper.
All the times before it was probably emptying the reservoir, and by the time I shut it off
and looked in it was foaming back to the top.

[J30tChumpCar]

You are starting to see where I am coming from,I blame the screen.
Keep at it you are almost there.

At 1:33+ you hear the gurgle buzz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8CLHX1D2pM

[yodawill2000]

I got ALL the air out , But now my original prob is back.
The hole in the Metal high pressure tube.
I suppose when I was moving foam instead of fluid it held up. lol
But now i have a pretty good drip going on around the patch.

I'm going to try some wider heavy duty clamps now to see if it can hold me over till I replace the hard line.

[yodawill2000]

I got ALL the air out , But now my original prob is back.
The hole in the Metal high pressure tube.
I suppose when I was moving foam instead of fluid it held up. lol
But now i have a pretty good drip going on around the patch.

I'm going to try some wider heavy duty clamps now to see if it can hold me over till I replace the hard line.

Holy Moly !!!
the price for that metal tube is 290.00 !!!!!!
That's the price at everythinginifiniti.com but it doesn't mention the metal tube.
Just 2 wheel steering high pressure hose.

[J30tChumpCar]

Slit cover and clamp a piece of fuel hose right over the injury rather then each side , using one clamp will work .

[J30tChumpCar]

Junkyard or hydraulic hose repair store , either will cure things.

[yodawill2000]

That's exactly what I did.
One right over the hole and two more on each side.

But the clamps I had were the cheapo's and I couldn't tighten them enough.
Must be some uber pressure on that line !!!

[J30tChumpCar]

Uber = 1500ish PSI get the good clamps and dont lay into the steering lock.

The guys at a hydraulic hose store could weld a repair cheap.

[yodawill2000]

That my plan.
Temp fix then when time permits pull the line and get it tack welded.

[GerryO]

I check fluid levels almost daily so this happened all at once. Seem's the High pressure line coming from the pump wraps behind the oil pan. Somehow mine was rubbing the pan and finally wore a hole into the metal line.

Hi Yoda,

Next time you are under the car, can you snap a picture of where the line was rubbing on the pan, so I know exactly where to check? Thanks!

When I was doing my plenum and stuff, I disturbed the lower hose on the PS reservoir. It was so old, cracked and stiff that I couldn't tighten it enough to seal things. Finally had to replace it and fortunately didn't have any foaming/PS performance issues.

[yodawill2000]

Back drivers side corner of the oil pan.
Ive clamped the shizz out of it and it still leaks when I turn the wheel.
Pondering just cutting the belt and going manual till I can pull the line and get it fixed.
Being On Call at work this upcoming week means I wont be able to deal with it till he 20th.
Supporting 300 stores gives me no slack time. lol
Gave it heck but I'm tired of fighting a 1400 PSI leak.
Its the metal line that runs to the rack.
Not the Rubber hose.
I need to check the motor mounts as well because this rub shouldn't have happened.