Power Steering Pump Overheating

Tiny
COHZ
  • MEMBER
  • JEEP WAGONEER
I have a 1978 Jeep Wagoneer with a 360 2bl carb. 5.9L. The Jeep is lifted 6 inches and has 35x17.5 inch tires, they are huge. I just bought it, so the history is not there. The power steering was horrible and fluid was leaking. I didn't even investigate it really I just bought two new hoses and a new power steering pump. Installed them and the power steering worked great. However within 2 or 3 minutes of it idling the power steering fluid got so hot I could not touch the pump without burning my hand. The pump is brand new, so my thinking is either I hooked something up wrong ie the supply to the return and the return to the supply, or the pump is faulty. I really don't think the pump is faulty because the steering was great. The lines were not labeled and I didn't take the time to really look at it before I took the supply and return lines off. Then I was thinking if I hooked it up backwards wouldn't the wheels turn the wrong way. Meaning if I turned the steering wheel left the tires would go right. Just an idea I had. Thoughts? Thanks
Thursday, September 20th, 2007 AT 4:39 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
WRENCH
  • MECHANIC
  • 57 POSTS
If you hooked it up bacwards (and I dont think you can) it would not change the direction of the wheels turning, as far as getting hot hard to say alot of new cars have coolers to help keep the temp down, and they will get hot when using them, just how hot is okay not sure, but there should be a level on the stick that has cold and hot level, if yours is in that range (not going higher in the hot level when hot), then just keep and eye on it. And also smell it and see if the fluid is burning. That is smell the measuring stick.
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Thursday, September 20th, 2007 AT 5:48 PM

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