Jeep Grand Cherokee power steering problems

[spree]

2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4X4 4.7 L, Here's the problem...power steering pump went out 4 moths ago, replaced it with another pump and it was wining from the start! Not too bad just left it alone to see what happened, and it failed 4 months later..."dumped all fluid on the ground"...no power steering (go figure). I just replaced this pump at no charge because of the "life time warranty" and it is also wining from the start. I was told you shouldn't be able to hear the pump. I can hear it...it's nice and loud. Should I be able to hear the pump?? Could I have got another bad pump?? Is there a heavy duty pump that I should try?? It"s easy to change but I don't want to keep changing the pumps every couple of months or so. WHAT AM I OVER LOOKING???? Any suggestions that you may have will be greatly appreciated. Just tired of the power steering problems.

[danielsatur]

1) Flush the power steering system, and try some lucas power steering treatment.

[spree]

Originally Posted by danielsatur

1) Flush the power steering system, and try some lucas power steering treatment.

I thought Lucas was a stop leak type treatment. Would it make the pump quieter?

[Schrade]

Is there a bleed nipple that needs to be opened, to let out some air in the line???

[spree]

Originally Posted by Schrade

Is there a bleed nipple that needs to be opened, to let out some air in the line???

No...no bleed nipple, but as I was sitting here thinking about it, is it possible that I have a restriction in the high pressure hose or somewhere in the system that is not letting enough fluid go through? The return pressure hose's (2 of them) are clear. Right now the winning is loud, not sure how long this pump is going to last like that! The steering works good even when winning but when the winning stops so does the steering. It's getting worse the colder outside it gets. Where does the other end of the high pressure hose go to (the rack and pinion maybe)? If the high pressure hose is also clear, where do I look from there? This problem is driving me nuts.... Like I said I'm on my 2nd pump in 4 months, I'm having a hard time believing that I got 2 bad pumps in a row with the same symptoms.

[inafogg]

its possible the pump is bad, what brand is the pump?
maybe try a well known, name brand pump

[spree]

Originally Posted by inafogg

its possible the pump is bad, what brand is the pump?
maybe try a well known, name brand pump

Don't think it's the pump, original pump died in July, 2nd pump lasted 4 months, on 3rd pump and all 3 pumps have same symptoms. whines like there is no fluid (loud) but it's full, works for a while and then no power steering....not sure what brand. I think something else is going on...but what? Bought 2nd pump at Auto Zone, 3rd pump was Auto Zone lifetime warranty replacement, but original pump was factory Jeep pump. Pump does hold pressure.

[spree]

Originally Posted by spree

Don't think it's the pump, original pump died in July, 2nd pump lasted 4 months, on 3rd pump and all 3 pumps have same symptoms. whines like there is no fluid (loud) but it's full, works for a while and then no power steering....not sure what brand. I think something else is going on...but what? Bought 2nd pump at Auto Zone, 3rd pump was Auto Zone lifetime warranty replacement, but original pump was factory Jeep pump. Pump does hold pressure.

Is there a way to bleed the pump of all air? Or is it suppose to work itself out as you turn the steering wheel?

[danielsatur]

Are these rebuilt power steering pumps?
There's two formulas for lucas power steering Treatment.

1) Try blocking, and jacking the front of car.
2) Put Emergency brake on.
3) Start car and exercise the power steering, by turning the wheels to the left and right.
4) Check fluid

Caution- Make sure your using the right fluid for the power steering pump, because some might not be compatible.

Power steering fluid, Transmission fluid, ATF mercon, and ATF Mercon 5.

[spree]

Originally Posted by danielsatur

Are these rebuilt power steering pumps?
There's two formulas for lucas power steering Treatment.

1) Try blocking, and jacking the front of car.
2) Put Emergency brake on.
3) Start car and exercise the power steering, by turning the wheels to the left and right.
4) Check fluid

Caution- Make sure your using the right fluid for the power steering pump, because some might not be compatible.

Power steering fluid, Transmission fluid, ATF mercon, and ATF Mercon 5.

Re-manufactured pump, I did #3 and #4, is #1 necessary? I'm using correct power steering fluid, owners manual says not to use trans fluid. Is the reservoir suppose to hold pressure? I was told no.

[inafogg]

no there is no pressure in pump res.does the new pump whine??

[spree]

Originally Posted by inafogg

no there is no pressure in pump res.does the new pump whine??

Yes new pump does whine (loud) just like old pump did before it failed, fluid is bubbly, some people call it milky and cap releases pressure when opened. Let me ask you this, if the pump creates pressure, how would the pressure escape the system if it's not suppose to hold pressure (through the cap?) Could it be possible that my cap is bad? Have you ever heard of that happening before? New pump doesn't come with new cap, been using old cap. Been trying to figure this out for awhile now. I always worked on my own cars and trucks so I'm not car dumb or anything, this one just has me stumped! This is the wifes Jeep, her baby and if I don't quite it down soon I'm gonna end up with a dent in my head.....lol

[inafogg]

this may be helpful, go to the steering section
http://search.mywebsearch.com/mywebs...20kH%2Bw&ct=AR
i also read one about the o ring on pressure hose being the cause

[fredjacksonsan]

After reading the discussion, and I don't mean to be insulting but is the fluid reservoir full to the line? Foaming and noise are symptoms of low fluid.

Also, it might not be the pump, but rather the power steering unit that the pump feeds. Have you checked the fluid in the pumps you've removed from the vehicle, to see if there are any metal flakes?

When you said that there was a puddle of fluid on the ground, what let go and started to leak?

[spree]

Originally Posted by fredjacksonsan

After reading the discussion, and I don't mean to be insulting but is the fluid reservoir full to the line? Foaming and noise are symptoms of low fluid.

Also, it might not be the pump, but rather the power steering unit that the pump feeds. Have you checked the fluid in the pumps you've removed from the vehicle, to see if there are any metal flakes?

When you said that there was a puddle of fluid on the ground, what let go and started to leak?

No metal flakes in the old pump. Dumped all fluid on the ground, reservoir was empty, where it came from is still a mystery? Filled reservoir back up and no leaks but stilled whined, so I replaced the pump anyway. New pump was also whining and bubbly like stated above, after a week of driving and topping off reservoir every day it finally quieted down to a level that I can live with, right now temp outside is zero, no more bubbles or pressure in the reservoir and I can see nice clean fluid pumping, hope it stays this way, very little noise right now. I did fill it to the hot line when it was hot, but how much fluid does the system hold? Put 1 quart in and every time it got low, then I added some more, so far there's 2 quarts in it now.