[grumpy56]

Hello All. I have a 1998 Deville De'Elegance and my power steering pump is howling. Need to repace it and need some help. It appears that I cannot remove the inlet pressure line to the pump with the pulley attached. As I only have about 1 inch clearance between the pulley and air conditioning cannister, I do not know how to remove the pulley. Also, there is no way to get a wrench on the inlet fitting that I can tell with the pulley attached.

Any help would be appreciated and thank you!

 

[Ranger]

I think you are going to have to dismount the pump first. The pulley is removed by pulling on the snout with a special tool (there are several versions). DO NOT use a 3 jaw gear puller.

Isn't there a hole in the pulley to get a socket through?

This is on a Jeep, but the principle is the same.
http://www.stu-offroad.com/steering/pspump/pspulley-1.htm

P.S.
Check the Tech Tips section. There may be a tutorial in there.

 

[grumpy56]

Thanks Ranger, but I don't think I can remove the inlet pressure fitting to let me remove the pump. If there was some way to remove the resevoir, I could probably get to it, but I think the pump needs to be removed before the resevoir can be removed.

 

[98eldo32v]

To remove the pump from vehicle...

Remove pressure line from pump fitting.
Remove return line from reservoir.
IF planning to remove fitting at pump for the pressure line, a deep well socket that fits the fitting and a 1/2 drive socket wrench will be utilized. REMOVE THE FITTING BEFORE TAKING THE PUMP OFF THE MOTOR. Once fitting is removed, loosen attaching bolt that secures pump to motor.
Remove pump from motor.
Attach power steering pump pulley removal tool to remove pulley.
Remove two bolts that attach pump to pump bracket.
Remove power steering pump bracket.
Remove reservoir retainer clips.
Remove reservoir. Make note of any seals on pump or reservoir, save or replace as necessary.

Installation of pump is reverse procedure.

 

[grumpy56]

98eldo32v: Can I remove the line (unscrewing it) without breaking the fitting (looks to be about 7/8 inch or so) at the pump? I thought I would have to loosen the fitting beofre unscrewing the line. Thank you.

 

[98eldo32v]

The fitting at the pump is on there TIGHT.

To get the line loose use the correct size wrench. I normally use line wrenchs on a fitting like that. I would advise spraying the base of the line with a little PB Blaster.

You're not going to have a lot of "swing" room to loosen the line due to the receiver dryer and the size of the reservoir. So, whatever room you have you have to utilize it wisely to turn the nut that secures the line.

Once you have loosened the line, you'll be making small turns to free the line from the fitting. Once the line is out of the fitting, if you must remove the fitting, NOW is the time. Again, that fitting is on there TIGHT. Make sure nothing flys out of the pump once the fitting is removed. I believe there is a spring in there.

When replacing the pump make sure when the fitting is installed, you can press the plunger inside the pump fitting and it moves FREELY. If it doesn't DON'T use that fitting. If the plunger sticks in any position you may not build any pressure from the pump and you'll be doing the job all over again.

Good luck.

 

[Ranger]

If there was some way to remove the resevoir, I could probably get to it, but I think the pump needs to be removed before the resevoir can be removed.

Don't quote me on this, but I think the reservoir may simply be pressed on with an O ring seal and maybe a retainer clip or two.

 

[Mojo88]

Just a suggestion, but have you tried simply flushing the fluid? I had some noise coming from mine and I used a siphon pump to drain out the reservoir, and then re-filled with Royal Purple synthetic P/S fluid. Obviously, this is not a complete flush, so I had to do this about 5 or 6 times. Anyway, my noises went away, and the steering is definitely smoother too.

 

[grumpy56]

I actually siphoned out the reservoir and added some Bars Leak fluid last night. Mine is really bad though as the noise sounds like the world is coming to an end and I really don't have any power assist when the car is idling at anything past half a turn. I would love to be able to correct this via a fluid flush, but I have a feeling I've already dropped "over the edge". It's unfortunate because I bought this 1998 new and it only has 80K miles. Maybe that is part of the problem.

 

[Mojo88]

Wow, with only 80k miles, it's hard to believe the P/S pump is shot.

Did you run it dry? Is it leaking?

 

[grumpy56]

Nope, never run dry and never leaked. I have never added any fluid in all those years, so it is strange, huh? Perhaps it is because I haven't run it much and the seals are shot.

 

[Mojo88]

Well, this may be a silly question, but is your drive belt in good condition? Perhaps something oily leaked onto the belt and it's slipping?? A worn tensioner perhaps? I use belt conditioner spray regularly on all my belts in all my cars.

I dunno, but based on the info you are presenting (low mileage especially), I am leaning towards something basic, like bad fluid or slipping belt. Anyway, I always like to look at the most basic things before I start tearing stuff apart.

Good luck, Dave

 

[stoveguyy]

My pump whined like a mofo. I put on a used one, same whine. Yes, new serp belt. New fluid. Had trans out last fall and took off pump for various reasons and dumped out all fluid. Than the rack drained out most of the fluid since I had the lines off and when I reinstalled everything, the pump was empty so I put in more new fluid and whine is gone. It has never been this quiet.

 

[grumpy56]

Thank you all for your help. Will be ripping it apart this weekend and hopefully get it all back together.

 

[grumpy56]

sorry...another question...is there only one bolt holding the power steering pump to the motor? I loosened a 13mm bolt near the pulley which seems to attach the pump to some sort of bracket, but I don't think that is the right one...is the attaching bolt angled downward at the side of the pump closest to the rear cylinder head? Its down "under there". Thanks.

 

[Ranger]

Without even searching I'd bet there has to be more than one bolt.

 

[98eldo32v]

There should be only one bolt retaining the pump to the motor.

It faces toward the rear head, 13mm sounds correct. Once that bolt is loosened, you can slide the pump forward then up for removal.

----------

The base of the pump has a "wedge" shape to it that slides into a "notch", therefore only needing the one bolt to secure it.

 

[Ranger]

Well I'll be dipped. That would make sense though.

 

[grumpy56]

The new pump is on and everything seems to be working fine. Had to buy a new pulley though as the the "lip" on the old one broke off as I was removing it. Thanks for all your help, it's appreciated!

 

[98eldo32v]

Glad everything worked out fine.............