97 Cav keeps blowing Power Steering system O ring

[idontknowcars]

I want to state right up front that I am just a girl, and know about cars only what I have learned from my mechanic dad and mechanic husband, so please bear with me if I use the wrong terms, etc. My daughter has a 1997 Chev Cavalier that keeps blowing O rings in the power steering system. She has had the rack and pinion recall done, but was having this problem before then, and still is. It seems like the system must be building up too much pressure? Sometimes the O ring will last for weeks, sometimes the 250 mile trip from her house to ours will cause it to go. Then the PS fluid leaks out and she has to fill the reservoir every day or so. Has anyone had this problem, and if so, what did you do to solve it. We thought it was a faulty PS pump, but have changed that 3 times, to no avail. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks from a newbie.

[quake61]

Originally Posted by idontknowcars

I want to state right up front that I am just a girl, and know about cars only what I have learned from my mechanic dad and mechanic husband, so please bear with me if I use the wrong terms, etc. My daughter has a 1997 Chev Cavalier that keeps blowing O rings in the power steering system. She has had the rack and pinion recall done, but was having this problem before then, and still is. It seems like the system must be building up too much pressure? Sometimes the O ring will last for weeks, sometimes the 250 mile trip from her house to ours will cause it to go. Then the PS fluid leaks out and she has to fill the reservoir every day or so. Has anyone had this problem, and if so, what did you do to solve it. We thought it was a faulty PS pump, but have changed that 3 times, to no avail. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks from a newbie.

after u change the o ring bleed the system form any remaining air

that may be building the extra pressure, also be carefull, do not overfill

[muff34]

Originally Posted by idontknowcars

I want to state right up front that I am just a girl, and know about cars only what I have learned from my mechanic dad and mechanic husband, so please bear with me if I use the wrong terms, etc. My daughter has a 1997 Chev Cavalier that keeps blowing O rings in the power steering system. She has had the rack and pinion recall done, but was having this problem before then, and still is. It seems like the system must be building up too much pressure? Sometimes the O ring will last for weeks, sometimes the 250 mile trip from her house to ours will cause it to go. Then the PS fluid leaks out and she has to fill the reservoir every day or so. Has anyone had this problem, and if so, what did you do to solve it. We thought it was a faulty PS pump, but have changed that 3 times, to no avail. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks from a newbie.

First off there is nothing wrong with being a girl ,I`m married to one and she is great.. This may sound silly but anyway Check the reservoir cap to see if it is crapped up,better yet get a new one . I AM not sure but would think that it should be a vented cap and may be plugged up. Any system that builds presure when warm should be vented I would think. May you will get lucky and solve the problem yourself Mom. Good luck Hope this silly info solves it .

P.S. what are the chances that she may be turning the wheels all the way and hitting the end of the travel at times or maybe turning the wheels when car is not moving . little surge of pressure when hitting the end possibly blow them out? turning the wheels when car is stationary is also hard on the system ,but your Dad and Husband would know that.

[idontknowcars]

Thanks to both of you for your answers. I think we have tried both, but I am still going to pass the information on. Lots of times, two (or three) heads are better than one!!

[idontknowcars]

P.S. what are the chances that she may be turning the wheels all the way and hitting the end of the travel at times or maybe turning the wheels when car is not moving . little surge of pressure when hitting the end possibly blow them out? turning the wheels when car is stationary is also hard on the system ,but your Dad and Husband would know that.[/quote]

I don't really see her doing this, but I will mention it to her just the same. Who knows??!!??

[muff34]

Originally Posted by idontknowcars

P.S. what are the chances that she may be turning the wheels all the way and hitting the end of the travel at times or maybe turning the wheels when car is not moving . little surge of pressure when hitting the end possibly blow them out? turning the wheels when car is stationary is also hard on the system ,but your Dad and Husband would know that.

I don't really see her doing this, but I will mention it to her just the same. Who knows??!!??[/quote]ya probably not it but just a thought. run this buy the hubby.......I have buddy who is a mech, one day he had a brake caliper seize up or so he thought went a put a new one on everything was great. A couple days later it seems the new one has seized also . what it turned out to be was (and maybe this is your problem) the rubber line going to the caliper(your rack )was going bad inside and what would happen is that it would act as a one way check valve .let fluid go one way but would not go back . then your car could be building this pressure and blowing the o ring hope this helps . ya and don`t tell your daughter I mentioned the steering thing ,she`ll be ticked off at me .....LOL Good Luck ,let us know what you find it may come in handy someday Thanks

[idontknowcars]

We're gonna keep working on this............something's gotta show up sooner or later!! I'll pass the hose information on to hubby. And I'll keep you all posted!! Hope we find the cure before we all go nuts!

[Doc Blazer]

Sounds like my daughter,she could break anything. Try checking the lines, one pressure and one return, perhaps the pressure line is kinked or dented where its a solid metal line or collapsed where its a flex line. Any restriction can cause it to over pressure. Over pressure is blowing out the seal.As often as it fails I would go ahead and replace lines.