I finally got the Rover all buttoned up and running. I decided to take her for a test drive tonight to celebrate, but I couldn't make it out of the drive since the power steering wasn't working. I thought I made it out of this job issue free, but nope....

While doing the HG I also did the timing chain and oil pump, so I had the PAS pump (still connected) and sitting in the airbox for most of the time. I did notice the fluid was a little low. Would that cause it to stop functioning? It has been a big leaky mess, but it was working prior to starting the job. Any ideas before I start looking into replacement parts?

 

Fluid low? Add fluid, start engine, turn full right then full left if you can. If not, pump not pumping fluid enough. Top, fluid, then bleed. Also, check belt tension

 

Might be a long shot, but check that the filter/screen inside the PS Fluid Reservoir is not blocked. Once you remove some of the PS fluid you will see the filter at the bottom of the reservoir directly below the fill cap. Like I said "long shot" but I had something very similar to this happen on a 2001.

 

Rotation of the serpentine belt.

 

I checked the serpentine orientation thanks for that suggestion. I put a full small bottle of PS fluid and that just got it to the MIN line on the reservoir. After starting it up I was able to turn full right and left easily but there was a very strange noise. It's still a little low, but I'm going to try and driving it to the auto store down the road to get some more PS fluid.

 

Did you bleed the system? Even a small amount of Air can give you all sorts of strange sounds/performance.


How funky was the reservoir and the fluid? If that screen is clogged in the res the pump gets fluid starved, pressure drops, and again more groan sounds. The '01 I had a PS issue with was a combination of a clogged res screen and an old suction hose. As the pump was trying to do its thing I could see the hose "squeeze" down on itself. That was how blocked the screen was and how old the hose was.

 

I topped off the fluid and the noise has gone away. It is pretty dirty in there, and I didn't bleed it.

I knew during reassembly I really should replace the PAS pump and hoses, but I ran out of budget/time/wife's patience. I'm going to keep it topped off until I get back in my wife's good graces and then replace the pump and hoses.

Thanks for the input everyone.

 

" I knew during reassembly I really should replace the PAS pump and hoses, but I ran out of budget/time/wife's patience."


Man I know that feeling/PAIN! If you have an extra 10 minutes remove the hoses at the reservoir and the reservoir.... flip the res over and backflush it through the hose ports. You will be amazed a how much funk comes out. I used some foaming engine cleaner and a garden hose. And a tip from Capt. Obvious: LET THE RESERVOIR DRY! I just put the thing in front of a small house fan for about an hour, installed, filled, bleed.... & then BACK to Happy Town!

 

I know some think this is overkill, but changing all your fluids every year has its benefits.

Brake fluid, AT, PS, Transfer, Diffs.

The brake fluid is a little iffy, I don't really get down with it...but I do open the bleeders, let some drain out and refill with fresh.

 

X1 .......... if you have problems turning the steering from lock to lock jack up the front and put the axle on stands.