TMaxxTim

Hi all,

I've read a lot on the power steering pump replacement for the 98-00 LS 400's, I decided to tackle it myself over the last few days on my 1999 LS 400 with 214k miles. I've run into one problem...

I replaced my Power Steering Pump with a remanufactured one (I know...I've heard mixed reviews, but this was the best route for me), and I replaced my alternator also (Reman. Denso unit). The alternator is working fine, however my power steering is not.

At idle, I have NO power steering help at all. Once I rev it to 2-3k rpm's it will assist, but it's definitely not 100%. I'm *thinking* I just need to bleed more air out of the system. I had the front jacked up in the air and turned the wheel back and forth to lock about 30-40 times, and every once in awhile I'd feel it assist at idle, but not always. I turned it back and forth while sitting at idle and while having it rev'd to 2-3k.

In the reservior, I can see some microbubbles when it's idling, but when I give it some gas those microbubbles disappear. I topped off the reservoir once, but haven't had to since then...which is another reason I think there's still air in the system....I guess I just wanted some other opinions to reassure me that's the case.


The only other thing I think could be bad is the Air Control Valve. I didn't replace it because I didn't have any smoke in my exhaust, and since I knew the pump was leaking I figured I'd just wait on that part. I did get some white smoke in my exhaust last night when testing/trying to bleed the system, but that disappeared pretty quickly and I'm thinking it could have just been from me spilling the atf fluid all over while changing the pump.

Are there any other tips or tricks to bleeding the system I should try? It has been sitting overnight now and I'll get to it after work today...I'm hoping maybe some more air bubbles worked their way up to the top by the time I get home.

TMaxxTim

Anybody??? Any tips on bleeding the power steering system???

qewani1

TMaxxTim

Turns out it was a bad pump. Got a Cardone from Advance Auto and it's no good. I put the original back on and everything immediately worked fine again. Not sure I want to try another Cardone although they do have a 2nd one in stock locally. I may just switch it out for now and hope it works and rebuild my original one when I have some time.

sam12345

iTrader: (1)

Yup, lifetime warranty ain't worth much if you have to change it every three months

LsG86

Well I'm currently using a remanufactured cardone power steering pump with a rebuilt rack n pinion with zero issues. Also when I cranked my car to bleed the system, the pump started to automatically bleed itself! I knew because it sounded like it was shredding on the inside. I saw air bubbles in the resovoire. I only turned the wheel like 4 or 5 times and all air was out in less than a minute! Mabey having a rebuilt rack helps.

LsG86

One last thing my rack had 178,000 original miles on and it was in really bad shape when I had it rebuilt. I don't know the condition of your rack but if its the original rack with 214k miles mabey having it rebuild or replace might solve your power steering issues.

Cardone

Hi guys,
This sounds as if there may be something in the system that was not completely flushed out and is causing the PS pressure valve to stick at low RPM’s. The fact that the assist comes back at a higher RPM would indicate that the pump works. Also, you mentioned bubbles which would indicate some air still in the system. All of this together, most likely, could be the reason for the issues.

Cardone

Also, we get a lot of questions about air in the system. Hopefully this video we put together will be helpful.

TMaxxTim

I'm confident the pump I got was bad or had a leak in it. I got one from Autozone and it worked immediately, bled the whole system in about a minute, no noise or bubbles. For the amount of time I spent reconnecting hoses and checking fittings on the first one I got, I'm sure it was the pump itself that was bad.