Power steering loss of power issue

OREO101

MEMBER
1998 CHRYSLER CONCORDE
3.2L
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
160,000 MILES

Hi,

My car lost power steering again.
I replaced the rack and pinion gear like 3 months ago.
I also replaced the power steering pump.
And flushed the power steering system.
So again it was okay for like 3 months and now it's like totally lost power steering assist, again.
And before it lost power steering this latest time, turning to the left was okay but,
it was hard to turn to the right and then something would pop, and it would be easy to turn but now it's totally hard to turn all the time both directions.
I had a mechanic hook up a scanning tool and he tells me that I'm getting no pressure from the power steering pump.
The mechanic did not see any code that was thrown for the pressure switch on the power steering pump.
I'm trying to track down a power steering sensor/pressure switch
But the part is discontinued at the dealership and all I find on eBay is oil pressure switches, not power steering pump switches.
I also think I may have screwed up the new rack gear, though, because I added regular power steering fluid instead of ATF + 4
At least that's what the guy at Napa told me.
Can you find a alternate pressure switch number?
Discontinued Mopar number is 4606269.
What do you think? Replace power steering pump as maybe the last pump went bad already? Or switch or both?

5 Replies

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

Good morning,

If you had power assist to one side and not the other, it is the rack that is bad, not thes no pressure, it is not the switch, as that just monitors the pressure, not controls it. That would be the pump.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-power-steering-pump

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/power-steering-problems

What brand rack and pump did you use when you did the prior repair?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/power-steering-fluid-flush

Roy

Battery Ground Cable At Shock Tower
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1. Remove the battery ground cable from the ground stud on the shock tower. Then correctly isolate the ground cable by installing the cable isolator on the ground stud.
2. Position the front tires of the vehicle so that they are facing straight ahead.
3. Raise the vehicle on a frame contact type hoist until the front tires of the vehicle are just off the floor.

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4. Remove caps from both wiper arms at the attachment to the pivots to expose the wiper arm attaching nut. Remove the nut attaching each wiper arm to its pivot
5. Remove the wiper arms from the pivots. Wiper arms are removed from the pivots by rocking them back and force on the pivots until they can be pulled off the pivots.

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6. Remove the wiper module cover and cowl cover from the vehicle.

Reinforcement Attachment To Vehicle
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7. Remove the 8 bolts, attaching the reinforcement to the strut towers and the 1 bolt attaching the wiper module to the reinforcement. Remove the reinforcement from the vehicle.

In-Line Resonator And Air Inlet Hose
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8. Remove the in-line resonator and inlet hose from the throttle body and air let hose coming from the lid of the air cleaner housing.

NOTE: When locking the steering wheel, the front tires of the vehicle are to be facing straight ahead.

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9. Using a steering wheel clamp, lock the steering wheel from rotating.

CAUTION: Before removing the steering column coupler from the intermediated steering shaft be sure the steering wheel is locked from rotating. If the steering wheel is allowed to rotate freely after it is disconnected from the intermediated shaft, the clockspring will be damaged and will need to be replaced.

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10. Remove the retaining pin and the coupler bolt from the steering column coupler. Separate the intermediate steering shaft from the steering column coupler.

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11. Bend back the retaining tabs on the mounting plate for the tie rod to steering gear mounting bolts.

Tie Rod To Steering Gear Attaching Bolts
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12. Remove the bolts, mounting plate and washers attaching the tie rods to the steering gear. Lay the tie rods on top of the transaxle bell housing.

NOTE: The following step should be done to prevent excessive spilling of power steering fluid when the power steering fluid lines are removed from the steering gear.

13. Using a siphon pump, remove as much power steering fluid as possible from the power steering fluid reservoir.

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14. Remove the power steering fluid pressure hose and return hose from the steering gear.

Wiring Harness Connection To Solenoid
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15. If the steering gear being removed from the vehicle is a speed proportional steering gear, remove the wiring harness connector from the solenoid on the steering gear.

REMOVE
1. Remove the battery ground cable from the ground stud on the shock tower. Then correctly isolate the ground cable by installing the cable isolator on the ground stud.

NOTE: The following step should be done to prevent excessive spilling of power steering fluid when the power steering fluid lines are removed from the power steering pump.

2. Using a siphon pump, remove as much power steering fluid as possible from the power steering fluid reservoir.

CAUTION: When removing the power steering fluid supply hose from the nipple on the power steering fluid reservoir, do not use excessive force. This will result in the nipple being broken off of the power steering fluid reservoir.

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3. Remove the power steering fluid return hose from the power steering fluid reservoir.
4. Let power steering fluid drain from the power steering fluid reservoir and power steering pump.
5. Install a cap on the open nipple of the power steering fluid reservoir to prevent power steering fluid from spilling when removing the power steering pump.

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6. Remove the power steering fluid pressure hose from the pressure fitting on the power steering pump.
7. Let remaining power steering fluid drain from the power steering pump.

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8. Loosen the lock-nut on the front of the pulley for the serpentine drive belt tensioner.
9. Using the adjustment bolt remove the tension from the drive belt for the power steering pump.
10. Remove the drive belt from the power steering pump pulley.

NOTE: Access for the power steering pump mounting bolts is through the holes in the face of the power steering pump pulley.

11. Remove the 3 bolts attaching the power steering pump to the power steering pump mounting bracket.

NOTE: The following step must be performed to have the space necessary to remove the power steering pump from the mounting bracket.

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12. Insert a screwdriver between the power steering pump and the sleeve in the tensioner bracket. Using the screwdriver push the sleeve forward in the tensioner bracket until it is flush with the back side of the tensioner bracket.
13. Remove the power steering pump, power steering fluid reservoir and pulley as an assembly from the engine. Power steering pump is removed from the top of the engine.
14. Transfer the required parts from the removed power steering pump, to the replacement power steering pump.

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