hi everyone,
my 04' cooper is up for a new power steering pump, or so it seems,,,the steering failed once so i figured it's time to replace it. However after I let it sit for 30 minutes i started driving it again and it was fine. could i please get some advice from you all if it is perhaps the fan going out....i guess it only comes on when the power steering fluid has reached a certain temperature...?
would you replace the pump and/or the fan ?

thank you

 

In the majority of cases, when you shut your ignition off, the ps pump resets, and it may go back to working again, albeit usually not for very long. Usually just a matter of minutes and few miles then back to circa 1970 steering.

There are three rubber mounts for the PS pump where it mounts to the bracket. When replacing the pump, I suggest replacing those as well as it dampens vibrations from the car to the pump, and visa versa probably prolonging it's life. They are cheap.....

 

pull the fan off and see if it works, if so then more then likely your pump is failing, just sent mine in for the rebuild, not a hard project to fix for a somewhat mech inclined person. i tested my fan on the bench, works just fine, so i have the well known pump failure issue!