91LS400LEX

Most know I recently plugged the idle-up valve on the power steering pump of my car. I didnt notice ANY change whatsoever in doing this as far as the feel of the steering went. I was told that it would be harder to turn when at a stop or low RPMS, but this didnt happen... it still turned so easily. It was like this for about 2 weeks/400 miles. Today was a different story. I had a dentist appt and wanted to take the Lex, so around 1:50 I started the car and let it run for about 30 seconds and placed it in drive and started out only to discover that the steering wheel was rather hard to turn. Fluid was checked and its still full and there were no noises, growls, etc. Once on the road, it basically steered as normal and once completely warmed up to normal operating temperature it was easier to steer at lower speeds, but was still noticably harder to turn.

I am sure this may be normal since its plugged now, but wondering if it being quite that hard to turn is normal and why would it take it almost 2 weeks before it started doing this after the idle-up was plugged? I still have that steering shudder/vibration and shake on certain low speed/low rpm turns.. I am sure that the screens need to be cleaned, so dont know if thats part of this entire issue or not... or if the pump itself is just shot to heck.

I must say I HATE the power steering system on this car. Absolutely hate it.

avalon42

iTrader: (1)

How dirty is your fluid? If yours is shot to hell, you could always do what me and skperformance did. Add a inline filter to clean out the junk in the power steering fluid. I've noticed considerable performance return to the rack. I still haven't cleaned my screens or changed fluid, but that's on the to-do list.

trukn1

Could be a combo of dirty fluid as well as a shot pump. Hard steering is not normal, my guess is that your pump is pretty much shot.

91LS400LEX

Thanks...

all of the fluid is fresh, as I had a leak for several months (return line). I plugged the valve, re-routed the vac lines, replaced a leaky return line (didnt know that simple replaced hose is what was leaking). Refilled with new fluid (Dexron). It was fine until this morning... it was like someone flipped a switch. I normally let the car run for about 60 seconds before I take off. Today I was late for a dentist appt, so it was more like 30 seconds and this happened. Its was OK after it warmed up, but even at low speed turns it was harder to turn than before, which I was told could be normal since the valve is plugged. I was just confused why it took 2 weeks for this to start. I will see if it happens again in the morning.

91LS400LEX

... throwing my hands up in the air...

It was fine today! Turned with complete ease and smoothness, even when stopped at idle.

Totally baffled. Oh well.