Power steering problems
 

Now that it's getting colder I have a weird p/s problem. When I first start the truck I have no power steering for about 10 or 15 seconds and then all of a sudden it works normal. The reservoir shows to be full of fluid. The pump doesn't make any unusual noises but could it be going bad anyway? Any ideas?

So I guess that because the resevoir is full you don't have a leak? Sounds to me like somehow you're losing pressure. But if you were losing pressure, you'd think there would be a leak involved. Guess it could be the pump, not much else I can think of.

My truck is doing the same thing, only it lasts for a few minutes, until the fluid is warmed up. I'll have a little power assist when I turn the wheel at idle, but if I rev the engine up, all power assist goes away. After driving a few miles, everything is normal again.

I'm pretty sure it's the pump. Mine got low on PS fluid a while back, and I kept forgetting to add any. After topping it off, it made noise for about a week. I think I ruined my pump. Doh!!!

Seals are starting to go. Reason it only does it when cold is the seal expands when the fluid gets warm and stops any internal leaking of the pressure.

Easy fix, install a new pump.

Thanks Mike, I suspected that the pump was the problem but that was just a guess. Another project for this weekend.

Did you get your problem fixed?

The reason I ask, is that my problem was just a loose belt. It was acting strange like yours, but I never heard the belt squeal at all. The old belt was stretched, and couldn't be tightened anymore. A new belt solved my problem. I guess it was slipping most of the time, even though it never squealed.

You might just need to tighten your belt.