Power steering just "goes out"

RUSSELLFROMTEXAS

MEMBER
DODGE TRUCK

I drive a 1996 Doge 1500 extended cab with approximately 186,000 miles. I was backing up slowly and turning to the right with the steering wheel pulled all the way to the left when the power steering disengaged. I think I heard a small "pink". I might be making that up in my head.

The fluid level is fine. All other pumps are wokring. Serpentine belt is not loose.

steerin wheel works but has no power help. Have to be moving so I can manhandle the whee.

have had some slight play issues with the steering over the last few years, but am thinking this is more the result of a some loose tie rod issues.
am wondering if there is a safety vavle feature that I set off, and if so, can I manually reset it by turign the wheel the other way or something. Or maybe reseting the computer by disconnecting the battery, etc.

Russell from Texas

3 Replies

2CARPRO JACK

MECHANIC
11,533 POSTS

Your 96 should have a steering box, instead of a rack and pinion, I would start with the pump, those gear boxes rarely go out, but the pumps do it way more often. Might even have snapped the shaft in the pump, seen that many times, could have been the noise you heard. Does the fluid circulate around in the pump when engine is running?

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Thursday, August 23rd, 2007 AT 8:09 AM

RUSSELLFROMTEXAS

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I don't know how to check fluid circulation. I know there IS fluid in the pump. And there is more showing on the dip stick when it is hot than when it is cold.

On the advice of a friend, I removed the serpentine belt and pulled on the pulley with my hands to see if it had any give to it. It comes in and out of the pump pretty easily. Am thinking it is the shaft that broke off, like you said.

Now I am wondering if I need to buy the pulley arm tool to take the pump pulley off, since the shaft is already broken and I can pull it out some. Advice on that would be appreciated.

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Thursday, August 23rd, 2007 AT 9:55 AM

2CARPRO JACK