Power Steering Problem

[Old Yeller 1970]

I just got the engine in my truck running after about two 1/2 years of sitting in the shop. During that time I had the pump disconnected from the hoses but kept a sock over the hoses to keep critters out. Now my power steering isn't working right. I checked the fluid level in the pump reservoir, which is full, but it acts like it's low on fluid.

When I turn the steering wheel side to side there is a lot of resistance and I can hear the pump whine like it does when one is normally working and you turn it all the way hard to the right or left. I drove it about a mile up the road but it didn't get any better.

The when I cut the engine off, the fluid boiled out of the pump reservoir all over the floor of my shop.

What do you think? Is it the the pump? A blockage in either the high pressure hose or low pressure hose? Or something in the power steering sector? Or throw parts at it till it's fixed?

[FormerMember]

blockage or air in the pump or line.

Lines are cheap enough.

[fastwillie 696969]

air in the system lift the tires off the ground and run the engine and slowly work the wheel back and forth to get the air bubbles to the top also you can get a cap to work with a vaccum source to pull the air out of the system

[Old Yeller 1970]

Thanks guys. I've taken power steering pumps off before but never had this happen. Tomorrow, I'll jack up the truck, turn the steering wheel and try to work the air out.

[72CSTC5]

You can also try to turn the wheels with the truck off of the ground and leave the p/s pump cap off of the resevoir and from the pressure in the system with the wheels locked in a turned position will bleed out some of the air. Try that too.

[Old Yeller 1970]

Roger that. Thanks