Power steering went out - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Austin C10 · 02-26-2006, 01:27 PM

I was replacing the top hoses on my radiator and spilled some fluid on the intake manifold where it collected between the mani and the valve covers. With the motor running, I sprayed off the top of the engine. On my next drive, I noticed that the power steering is now not working. I don't think that I even got the power steering pump wet.

The belt is new and tight. The pulley is turning and the fluid is at a reasonable level (maybe a couple of ounces low). Can anyone provide a trouble shooting list? Thanks!

Longhorn Man · 02-26-2006, 02:58 PM

Either the coolant did it, or it just happened to die at the same time you were working on it. Most likely the former, the latter would be just REAL bad luck.

Antifreeze is very slick stuff, and doesn't just rinse off all the time. I would grab a can of carb cleaner or brake clean, and carefully spray the drive belt and the grooves of the pullies while the engine is running. Tie up any long hippie hair or the neck tie...whech ever you may have, we'd hate to hear about a confrontation with the fan and your face.

I would also recheck the belt tension. Those lower mounted pumps are a total pain in the butt to tighten.

76bonanza · 02-26-2006, 02:58 PM

is the belt wet? could be sliping.

Austin C10 · 02-26-2006, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

Either the coolant did it, or it just happened to die at the same time you were working on it. Most likely the former, the latter would be just REAL bad luck.

Antifreeze is very slick stuff, and doesn't just rinse off all the time. I would grab a can of carb cleaner or brake clean, and carefully spray the drive belt and the grooves of the pullies while the engine is running. Tie up any long hippie hair or the neck tie...whech ever you may have, we'd hate to hear about a confrontation with the fan and your face.

I would also recheck the belt tension. Those lower mounted pumps are a total pain in the butt to tighten.

Hippie hair! I wish. I've got more hair on my face than my head.

The pulley on the pump is still turning and the belt is tight. Are you suggesting that when I torque the steering shaft, the pump pulley is no longer being turned? I'll check that out and post the results.

Austin C10 · 03-01-2006, 03:52 PM

The belt on the pulley isn't slipping. We checked it as I turned at idle, and the belt/pulley remain tight.

Any other ideas or trouble shooting lists? Any ideas about what I'm looking at in terms of repair?

02-26-2006, 01:27 PM	#1
Austin C10 1972 C10 Cheyenne LWB Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Redwood City, CA Posts: 41	Power steering went out I was replacing the top hoses on my radiator and spilled some fluid on the intake manifold where it collected between the mani and the valve covers. With the motor running, I sprayed off the top of the engine. On my next drive, I noticed that the power steering is now not working. I don't think that I even got the power steering pump wet. The belt is new and tight. The pulley is turning and the fluid is at a reasonable level (maybe a couple of ounces low). Can anyone provide a trouble shooting list? Thanks! __________________ 1972 LWB Cheyenne C10 350 TurboHydramatic

02-26-2006, 02:58 PM	#2
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Power steering went out Either the coolant did it, or it just happened to die at the same time you were working on it. Most likely the former, the latter would be just REAL bad luck. Antifreeze is very slick stuff, and doesn't just rinse off all the time. I would grab a can of carb cleaner or brake clean, and carefully spray the drive belt and the grooves of the pullies while the engine is running. Tie up any long hippie hair or the neck tie...whech ever you may have, we'd hate to hear about a confrontation with the fan and your face. I would also recheck the belt tension. Those lower mounted pumps are a total pain in the butt to tighten.

02-26-2006, 02:58 PM	#3
76bonanza Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: St robert Mo Posts: 2,001	Re: Power steering went out is the belt wet? could be sliping. __________________ 1968 c10 lowered 3" 4" 355/Th400 built by Hatfield racing in joplin MO

03-01-2006, 03:52 PM	#5
Austin C10 1972 C10 Cheyenne LWB Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Redwood City, CA Posts: 41	Re: Power steering went out The belt on the pulley isn't slipping. We checked it as I turned at idle, and the belt/pulley remain tight. Any other ideas or trouble shooting lists? Any ideas about what I'm looking at in terms of repair? __________________ 1972 LWB Cheyenne C10 350 TurboHydramatic

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