Hi all

I've got an old leaky power steering pump i'm going to replace in a week or two. Meanwhile, i'm keeping a close eye on it.

Checked it this morning, the fluid was too low. Went and got some CHF 11S and put it in.
The fluid i topped off with was green, but when i went to wipe off the dipstick (not really a dipstick, the little plastic pyramid attached to the cap -- don't get nervous thinking i put it in the wrong place), it was yellow.
Are there multiple colors, does it change color as it ages, or did i just screw the pooch?

Second question: Power steering fan: Does it run whenever the car is on, or only when needed? Started my car, didn't see it spinning, now nervous.

thanks!
Eric

P.S. 2005 mini cooper convertible, non S. thanks.

 

With respect to the pumps and lines, they share same steering parts no matter which model, S or non S. Was the color yellow actually on the towel you used to wipe off the ds ?

The leak is most likely from the line leading from the tank to the rack not the pump. It's like a 50 dollar part I think. Requires two new clamps too. Part #1 in the
Penske Parts diagram below. They call it an "intake Manifold".



The PS cooling fan should come on 30 seconds after you turn on your A/C if you want to test that. If that's no good I think a vendor in our Marketplace had a new one in there for sale at $130.00. www.minipartsmass.com - It's a MINI dealer near Boston.

 

that fan sits what, 6" from the ground at best?

I just got an MCS and took a look at that fan- if I had to guess, it was siezed solid 6 months after the car left the dealership. small electric fans like that are completely incapable of withstanding road grime.

 

I wiped the dipstick on a clean paper towel. The fluid was yellow but clear, fairly similar to vegetable oil for cooking.
It's pouring out now, if you think it's prudent, i can get a picture of it later. I'll double check the fan then too.

I won't be driving till wednesday, and even then, if i shouldn't drive until i get this fixed, i can take a different car till i can get some garage time, so no worries on that.


Everyone in another thread about this was saying that PS pumps should be changed around 50k miles. I've got 55k miles, 40 or so were mostly local driving, so unusually high wear on the PS pump, i'd guess.

w/r/t the lousiness of the fan, in another thread, i saw someone had a howto where he installed a new under cover that shielded the fan much better. It did look like it would cut down significantly on grime and rocks, but that it would also impede airflow.

suggestions?

 

You could retro fit the oem ps duct kit.....made to go on the cabrio....cabrio/auto
Moss mini sells it....will go on any S (53) for about $79....
replaces one plastic panel under the front bumper, and adds a duct that goes from it to the fan....bolts to the fan...has kept the grit, sand, etc out of my fan.....and ensured a airsupply to my fan....going on a few years....one drawback, you must undo two pop Fastners to change the oil....takes like 2 seconds each....
The other aftermarket shields were mostly made to prevent bags from stopping the fan...something fixed with the added grill to the fan in newer fans and later production....about the same time the ps fan was split from the radiator fan to a seperate fuse in the car (production year 2005, and all cars modified by the dealer).
for the price, the duct imo is a good deal....even if it just extends the life of the fan....
moss mini is the only place I know that sells it....it seems to be a bit of a gray market part....it seems dealers should have it....but not to my knowledge....

 

When I replaced my ps pump the liquid that came out was black. You probably just diluted the old liquid with the new. If your paranoid you can drain the reservoir and refill with new fluid. Check the tube going from the reservoir to the pump. That's where a lot of leaks occur.

 

$130.00 - new power steering pump fan

 

Garbabe in = Garbage out.....Arbitrarily changing the MINI PS pump at 50K miles is sheer lunacy .

IMO stop parusing that other forum, it's full of nit-wits.......

The PS Pump in my MINI lasted 120K miles with just periodic checks of the fan every oil change. But, if you find yourself having to service the fan too often then maybe change the fan, but swapping out the pump ?

 

I agree that is just crazy and too expensive just to replace every 50k.

Also the P/S fan runs when the ecu tells it to, not just when the car is running. The important thing is to make sure it turns freely. The ducts, and covers are really not going to make it last longer the fan will die with or without the covers.

 

Actually, it was here that people were telling me to replace the unit. I'm a bit nervous about that because it seems that $600 bucks gets me a new unit and no warranty. Seems like i might wind up making things worse.

I'll check/replace the fan and hose if it is leaking.

Any word on the yellow versus green fluids?

What happens if the ps pump dies? what does it take out, or do i just lose power steering?

thanks

 

Check out the Great Power Steering Pump Failure thread for the link to the reman PS pump unit. It cost me ~$400 and has a lifetime warranty. It may have been Way that has had some of those fail as well, and I believe he has new units for sale for about the same price. There are a couple ways the pump will fail. It will either begin cutting off power steering while you drive, making it difficult to steer, or it won't turn off at all and drain your battery.

 

but no serious damage to anything else? I've driven cars with no power steering, i can live with that. But if it's going to take something else out with it...

So what's the best bet? Replace a unit that might be fine or leave it?

 

If it ain't broke, don't fix it......the old addage I think is right....

If one are to swap out a good pump for a "lifetime" rebuilt unit, just for peace of mind,the thing to remember is, the physical hydrolic pump is rebuilt,warrenteed, but the electronics that turn it on/off, etc are not replaced/rebuilt.....so the reman pump you get could be crap......
the pump has a few different failure modes..
leaks...
turns off....or on...off.....on....off...
stays on....kills battery....(if this happens, pull the fuse).
Some folks read the burning mini thread about a few mini car fires (may have been attributed to a chafed wiring harness or run on ps pump....but kinda the thread that won't die..car fires do happen..all makes/models...
I think the color is fine....fluids change hue as they age.....don't get overly ocd over any one issue....these forums can inspire folks to spend $$ on issues they don't have....and can make folks think things are broke.....when all is fine.....
so fix the leak, and go motor!!

 

Well said Zippy.



On a side note, can you pull a fuse and get the pump to turn off once it is stuck in the on position? I pulled every related fuse I could find when I was having problems and couldn't get that thing to turn off. I ended up disconnecting the battery.