How many of you who have had power steering issues pulled your pump off and cleaned it up and had luck? Mines been randomly shutting off, and im thinking about pulling the pump off, cleaning it out and re-installing it to see if it helps.....How many of you have done this with luck?

 

Some have had good luck but you have to clean out the motor bushings not just the pump.

 

I pulled my pump off when I did a 60k service and cleaned out the brush area. After reading all the posts on pump problems, I figured I'd get a jump on it before I began experiencing trouble. Discovered the pump had been off before since the feed hose had screw type hose clamps, not the factory Oediker clamps. Not much carbon dust in my pump, just a little. Makes me think the pump may have been replaced once already.

Took a couple of hours to remove the pump/fan, clean it and reinstall. Good opportunity to renew the steering fluid with the factory Pentosin fluid. Haven't noticed any steering difference, but then it was working fine before I removed the pump. Some measure of peace of mind in knowing the brushes are clean and have plenty of wear left in them.

Eric

 

worked for me

 

Just got done putting it back on the car, took me a couple hours, not a hard job at all. I think that time will be cut in half when I need to do it again. I got a good 2 in dust pile when I dumped them brushes out. Hopefully this helps with my pump shutting off randomly. Wish I woulda taken some pics.

 

Well, I tried to do good, and i think i made it worse. I drove it into a near city (1/2 hour away) and back. All was good, stopped and got gas, went to leave and had no PS. Nothing the whole way home, let it sit for a few hours, still nothing. Its toast. Im trading this car in, its been nothing but a pain since ive bought it. Going to get something im familar with again, maybe another Miata....Ive been needing a pickup, So maybe ill get another S10 and slam it or something. I can see this cars going to be a money pit though, that i frankly cant afford.

 

check the steering wheel u joint, that might have rusted, apply some lube

 

Ill check it tomorrow. That would be some junk right there, think its the PS failing, and its been the steering joint. I just took it in to see what a dealership would give me for it, and its not worth it for me to do, im going to put it up on the lift tomorrow, verify the PS pump is getting power and i didnt get a wire to close to something hot and melted it when i put it back together or something. I just hope once i get the PS issue and the P1496 issue resolved, it doesnt keep having problems...