Hey Guys,
Just replaced my Power Steering pump on my 2005 Cooper S. per Kurt Hammond's video:
All seemed ok until my test drive... My PS goes out whenever I get semi and/or "hard" on the throttle. Console ,lights up like an X-Mas tree, including the tach which will stick at 4500. ABS lights Brake Light all come on. After a minute or two of just driving gently the PS will come back to normal. Cooling fan works fine.


Any ideas what this could be??? Feels like I just wasted 600 bucks :(

Thank you!

 

Check your crank pulley, especially if stock as they are known to fail and give the symptoms you’re experiencing.

When first failing, the rubber between the two parts of the pulley breaks and slips under acceleration or heavy load. The lights and symptoms are from the temporary stoppage of all systems driven by the belt. The stoppage of the alternator will cut power to the power steering pump. The pulley can/will fail completely and break in two leading to major problems.

A damped aftermarket pulley, either an ATI pulley, or a fluid/gel filled pulley like the PRW is usually recommended as a replacement.