Tight Steering To Right Only

My 1997 Pontiac Transport Van has no power steering when turning to the right, when at a standstill. It turns easy when traveling to the right until the last half turn of the steering wheel. I installed another power steering pump, but have the same problem. The problem started about a week after we had the engine replaced and I thought there was air in the lines, but it does not go away.

Wally

Welcome to AF, no more guess work here, the pump would never cause this, binding steering linkage, damaged or bad rack are the usual suspects. Tight or improperly installed strut mounts, if this only occurred after the engine change, any or all of the mentioned areas could have been worked on during that process.

My 1997 Pontiac Transport Van has no power steering when turning to the right, when at a standstill. It turns easy when traveling to the right until the last half turn of the steering wheel. I installed another power steering pump, but have the same problem. The problem started about a week after we had the engine replaced and I thought there was air in the lines, but it does not go away.

WallyThe problem started two weeks after the engine was swapped, so there probably is no relationhip to that. How many hydraulic cylinders are actuating the power assist to each wheel? Is there one for each wheel, or is there one double acting cylinder that pushes both wheels? I thing a cylinder stopped working, or there is air in one cylinder and not something that was installed wrong, because the problem did not happen right after the engine was swapped.
Wally

The p/s rack is what controls the lt /rt assist.

The p/s rack is what controls the lt /rt assist.
I went to rhe local Pontiac Garage, my friend Dan told me my Steering Rack was definetly bad, so I went to the local Bone Yard and purchased a used Rack and Pinion for $50. Now what I need to know is, will I be able to replace this unit easily and what problems might I have? Is there anything I have to take special care with and do I need any special tools?

Wally

My 1964 Chevrolet one ton truck, with a small six cylinder gas engine, does not have any spark. The truck has been sitting for 20 years, was started once in that time, had vinyl cloth under the tires, so they all have air in them, but there is no spark. I pulled the coil wire out of the distributor cap, turned the engine over, with the coil wire close to a ground, but got no spark. Thinking the coil was bad I purchased a new one and a new distributor cap, because I had to destroy the old one, to get it off. I put the new coil and cap on, turned the engine over, but no spark came out of the coil wire to ground. I pulled a spark plug wire, turned the engine over, but no spark came out of it to ground. Turning the engine over with the cap off, no spark jumps across the points, so what is the problem?
Wally

About truck:Check the whole ignition circuit for continuity of voltage. With breaker points open, you should read 12v on the ungrounded side. Check ballast resistor. Make sure breaker point rotates on shaft. If all that checks OK, check condenser...a rare culprit but ...
ABout the steering rack, I removed mine a few years ago....you have to disconnect the steering column shaft at the rack, then lower the rear of the subframe 4 to 5 inches, disconnect the outer tie rod ends...hoses to rack...need patience and a lift/pit or equivalent.
www.avigex.ca/xport/rackremoval.jpg
www.avigex.ca/xport/steering3.jpg

EDIT:...I just noticed you are talking '97...and all I said before is about 90-96 model....sorry...

What and where is the Ballast Resister ??? I allready pulled the condensor and will get a new one today, because I do not know how to check the old one.
Wally

THe ballast resistor is used to lower the current delivered to coil ; it extends life of points, and it has an effect on the electrical resonnance and time constant of the circuit . Usually the ballast is a whitish component about 3 in long and 1/2 x 1/2 " body size. However, some cars used a resistor wire instead...that is the lead to the coil IS the ballast resistor....not sure which was used on the Chevy....however, make a voltage reading at coil with breaker points CLOSED: it should read around 10 vollt...not 12, on the hot side, because of the ballast resistor, and near zero on the breaker side. At startup, a special contact on the starter solenoid bypasses the resistor and feeds 12V direct to coil, to help have a better spark since with the starter running, actual voltage is less than 12V.

My 1964 Chevrolet one ton truck, with a small six cylinder gas engine, does not have any spark. The truck has been sitting for 20 years, was started once in that time, had vinyl cloth under the tires, so they all have air in them, but there is no spark. I pulled the coil wire out of the distributor cap, turned the engine over, with the coil wire close to a ground, but got no spark. Thinking the coil was bad I purchased a new one and a new distributor cap, because I had to destroy the old one, to get it off. I put the new coil and cap on, turned the engine over, but no spark came out of the coil wire to ground. I pulled a spark plug wire, turned the engine over, but no spark came out of it to ground. Turning the engine over with the cap off, no spark jumps across the points, so what is the problem?
WallyHow did this wind in the middle of this thread, this should be in Chev. classics, please repost there and continue if you want.

How did this wind in the middle of this thread, this should be in Chev. classics, please repost there and continue if you want.
I went to Chevrolet Classics like mw told me to do, because he thought I should do what he wants me to do and this is the same page I was on before he got annoyed with me.

Where is the timing mark on my 1964 Chevrolet one ton truck, with a 230 straight six cylinder engine. It has been 30 years since I checked the timing on this engine and an idiot neighbor decided it would be funny to turn the distributor hold down bolt, out 10 turns. I hope that is all he did, so I can correct it by re-timing the engine.

Wally