Power steering pump dying?

["Turbo-T"]

Anytime I take the engine above 5k rpms the power steering pump whines very loudly as if it were low on fluid. Yet everytime I check the fluid as it's whining, it shows normal on the dipstick.

If I don't take the engine above 5k rpm it's fine.

When it whines, it can be also be felt thru the brake pedal (hydroboost) as well as thru the steering column.

It whines the loudest when turning corners. Applying brakes it whines a little but not as bad as turning.

Today when it started whining, it also sprayed power steering fluid out of the cap. It's still above the hot mark on the dipstick when the fluid is checked hot.

This is not the first time it's done it either.

I'm beginning to wonder if my power steering pump is getting close to death....or do they not like high rpms?

BTW the highest rpm i took it to today before it started doing it, was 5100 rpm.

Thanks in advance.

 

[aminga]

What reservoir is on it. Is it right hand or left hand threads.

 

[charlief1]

What color is the fluid in it now? GM uses a high viscosity fluid and some will put tranny fluid in instead of actual power steering fluid.

 

["Turbo-T"]

What reservoir is on it. Is it right hand or left hand threads.

It has the stock reservoir on it. Pretty sure it's right hand threads.

What color is the fluid in it now? GM uses a high viscosity fluid and some will put tranny fluid in instead of actual power steering fluid.

The fluid has a reddish tint to it. When I got the car the fluid was red. When i converted to hydroboost, I drained all of the red fluid out of the reservoir and put actual power steering fluid in it...I believe the fluid was a clearish color.

 

[aminga]

It has the stock reservoir on it. Pretty sure it's right hand threads.

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There was a TSB on 86 PS pump to clear up a whine. The replacement had left hand threads.

 

[charlief1]

The fluid has a reddish tint to it. When I got the car the fluid was red. When i converted to hydroboost, I drained all of the red fluid out of the reservoir and put actual power steering fluid in it...I believe the fluid was a clearish color.

Power steering fluid is clear so that's a plus. Usually a whine indicates that there's some air in the system so if you don't see any bubbles in the tank I'd say you need a new pump. You could try draining out all the fluid and putting in fresh but if it keeps whining them it'll need replacing soon.

 

["Turbo-T"]

There was a TSB on 86 PS pump to clear up a whine. The replacement had left hand threads.

Never heard of this...wonder how the left hand threads fix the issue?

Power steering fluid is clear so that's a plus. Usually a whine indicates that there's some air in the system so if you don't see any bubbles in the tank I'd say you need a new pump. You could try draining out all the fluid and putting in fresh but if it keeps whining them it'll need replacing soon.

I didn't mention it, but I did see a few bubbles right after it started whining like a camels moan, and I pulled it over to investigate. However I gave it 30 minutes set time in the garage and started it back up....and there's no more camel moan whine.

 

[aminga]

Never heard of this...wonder how the left hand threads fix the issue?
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It doesn't. The TSB recommended using a reservoir and return line from a skyhawk for the same year. It happened to have a left hand thread reservoir. The bigger return line fixed the problem, the LH cap was just a side effect.

 

[charlief1]

I didn't mention it, but I did see a few bubbles right after it started whining like a camels moan, and I pulled it over to investigate. However I gave it 30 minutes set time in the garage and started it back up....and there's no more camel moan whine.

Try bleeding the system some then and see if you get the bubbles out.

Now that Al brought the jist of the TSB up I can tell you that I've seen more than a few chrysler vehicles develope a whine from starvation of the pump. They put a filter in the reservoir and once it gets clogged then you hear a horrible whine. To fix it you've got to get a new one from the dealer.

 

["Turbo-T"]

Thanks for the info. I'll try bleeding it again and will also look into the Skyhawk reservoir, unless if they're a pita to get....any particular year to look for?