When was your p/s fluid last flushed out? Is the fluid swirling around in the resirvor?
If you can't remember then lack of service is probably killing the pump.

 

Kind of what I was thinking....

Not yet, that's my Saturday project......right after Christmas lights

Mike, I did the "turkey baster" method about 6 months ago with Royal Purple Fluid. We haven't driven it since Wednesday. Also, not sure about the swirling fluid, what might that indicate? Air in the system?

 

Swirling fluid would indicate a functional pump

 

An update :

With the front tires up off the ground :

With the Ignition OFF : There is resistance when turning side to side.

With the Ignition ON : There is NO CHANGE in the resistance felt when turning the wheel back and forth. This led us to the conclusion that the pump is failing/has failed, as there is no additional "assistance" once the ignition is on and the pump should be engaging and "assisting."

Make sense to you guys??? Or are we way off the mark???

I'm going to be pricing out a replacement pump tonight....

 

Duh....can you tell I'm not very experienced in working on vehicles?

Yeah, and the fluid is swirling, but it isn't very strong.

 

Anyone have any input as to what else this could be?

Any other "tests" I could put it through to narrow down WHERE the issue might be coming from?

 

You said the fluid was swirling, but not very strong... I just double checked mine, and just looking through the reservoir, I can see the fluid splashing inside. With cap removed, fluid looks like a whirlpool.

The intermittent binding described earlier leads me to think of u-joints in the steering shaft binding.

Is is possible the pulley is slipping on the shaft, causing the pump not to turn at the correct speed? Yes I know the pulley is bolted on, but it is bolted to a triangular flange which is pressed onto the shaft. About a year ago, my pulley (bolted tightly to the flange) walked forward on the shaft about 1/8" causing belt noise, and finally cut off the outer rib of the belt.

 

My reservoir is 'whirpooling,' but I would describe it as very gentle.

Yeah the resistance does feel very mechanical, but after inspection, nothing in view is binding up, U-joints on the steering shaft are spinning smooth and free.

I'll check the pulley tomorrow.

And thanks, you're a helluva guy for helping me out!

 

Its the pump losing steam. With the cap of and the vehicle running, its shouldnt be boiling over but it should look pretty serious in there. If its a "gentle" whirlpool, then you my friend have a failing pump.

 

It is very gentle...IMO at least...no splashing, not much action. I would think a failing pump would emit some of the classic power steering whines though wouldn't it?