No Power Steering?

[silverl67]

OK, so I bought my 08 G8 GT with damage on the front clip. I had to replace all the lines for the power steering, the rack, and the pump for collision damage. If you pull a line off, there is no pressure behind it, the fluid trickles out. I will add, the air bags are out of the car at this time, awaiting parts...would this have anything do do with it? Do these cars have varible assist that may need calibrated?? Please help as we are all dumb founded.

UPDATE: Did some further diag this morning, found the pump does not seem to be building any pressure, and the fluid smells burnt. These symptoms are the same as before we replaced the pump. Do I have a bad pump alone or is something in the system that could be taking the pumps out?? I do know that the pressure coming of the pump and the pressure coming out at the rack is the same...a light trickle. Thoughts?
__________________

[Struggle]

Not sure if possible but could the pump be running backwards on the belt. Maybe it is not possible to do that though. Never personally looked at the belt routing on my car.

P/S pumps can be very tough to kill in some cases so I can only think something is hooked up backwards. If you have a large restriction one would think it would bog the motor down at an idle if the pump was not runnign dry.

Have you tried blowing compressed air through pressure side hose at the pump side and see what comes out the return line at the pump?

[silverl67]

Struggle, I had thought about the pump running in reverse, but I just don't see how it could be. The car runs perfect, idles perfect. I have not tried running air thru the system...I was concerned about adding air into the system as that was our orginal thought was the system was air-locked. The car is currently at the dealership getting all the air bag system installed and they are going to look at this as well. Will let everyone know when I know something. Thanks for the reply!

[-Ray-]

According to Holden, after you fill the reservoir to the full cold mark, lift the front wheels off the ground. Turn the wheels with engine off, stop to stop 12 times. Did you do this?

Check fluid level.
Start engine and let run for 3 seconds. Shut off engine.
Repeat last two steps until fluid remains constant.
Start engine and allow to idle.
Rotate steering left to right 8 times. Check for cavitation or pump noise, whining. Ask wife to leave the area. :)
Shut off engine, check level.
Holden has tools to check pump pressure, but I imagine they may be expensive.

[silverl67]

I will say, I have bled the system, but not that way...hmmm. May need to try that way.

[Struggle]

After many rack-n-pinion replacements that I have done I have never done the turn lock to lock. I know it is the correct way but I really doubt this is the issue even though the proper way to do it.

Some Rack systems have an insert that goes into the pressure line side at the rack or at least some do. I know Fords did. I just having a feeling you have a large restriction.

I am very curious as to what you find out with this.

[-Ray-]

The G8's pump circulates fluid to different sides when the wheel is turn left and then right. I'm not sure if this is unique to Holden or not.

[silverl67]

I too think there is a restriction somewhere. I will let you know what is found. Thanks for all the info, keep thoughts coming in-case I need them!! Even if there is a restriction, shouldn't there be a helluva amount of pressure coming off the pump?? If so, there isn't, it barely trickles out of the feed line as well as the return, the pressure seem to be consistant....LOW.

[DRCUSTOMPARTS]

If the pump isn't building pressure it must be defective. If there is fluid inside it and the pulley is turning, you should get more than a trickle

[Struggle]

You will not get any pressure if there is no fluid returing to the pump after engine is running.

[silverl67]

That is what I was wondering...if there has to be a return coming in for the pump to pressurize...

[DRCUSTOMPARTS]

The return line is low pressure, so as long as there is fluid in the pump the feed line should put out high pressure. Here's some info from the service manual that might help you.

In order to help improve customer satisfaction and reduce comebacks, GM recommends the following tips for replacing a PS pump:

1. Low or no pressure from the PS pump may be the results of dirty or contaminated fluid, which could cause the pressure relief valve to stop functioning. Using the proper tools, flush and bleed the PS system. Any residual contaminants will result in pump failure.
2. When removing the pulley, use the proper special tools. Because the pulley alignment is critical, distorting the pulley may damage bearings on the new PS pump.
3. Be sure to use only the new O-rings included with the PS pump. The new reservoir O-ring must be lubricated with OE-specific PS fluid prior to installation. Also make sure that the control valve O-ring is in its exact groove position and is NOT covering the pressure bypass hole.
4. Bleed the PS system according to the procedures/recommendations in SI

Note the part I highlighted in bold, that could be the problem.

[dukeofpg]

According to Holden, after you fill the reservoir to the full cold mark, lift the front wheels off the ground. Turn the wheels with engine off, stop to stop 12 times. Did you do this?

Ask wife to leave the area. :)[/U]


What if she is the high pressure source??

[Struggle]

Also make sure that the control valve O-ring is in its exact groove position and is NOT covering the pressure bypass hole.


Me thinks DR is on to something with this. There is a reason that statement is in there.

[silverl67]

That is a thought...I know that the second pump we installed the valed was sucked all the way down into the pump...everything looked ok in the current one. Will say that I never noticed the o-ring position.

[silverl67]

Well, the dealership service dept called me today and informed me that they thought the pump was bad (I'm on pump #3)...still pretty skeptical....

[DRCUSTOMPARTS]

That's what I thought from the beginning, good luck with this pump.

[silverl67]

Thanks, I'll keep you all informed.

[GRRRR8]

Sounds like a pump issue. These pumps take Dexron 6 fluid and must be bled correctly or they will fail prematurely.

[silverl67]

Now that you mention it, I'm not sure that the fluid that the dealership has been giving me is Dexron....it says power steering fluid on the bottle and it is crystal clear in color...?

[todds87ss]

Dextron 6 is definately red...it's all over my garage floor now...just had my PS pump seal fail. Do you know how much the GM pump is, and perhaps the part number?

[Greg@PacePerformance]

Dextron 6 is definately red...it's all over my garage floor now...just had my PS pump seal fail. Do you know how much the GM pump is, and perhaps the part number?

The part number is 92174214 and runs $95.27 with no core charge

[silverl67]

The pump is around $140...I don't have the part number.

[silverl67]

LoL...beat me to it. Looks like I paid quite a bit too much!!

[silverl67]

So now I'm wondering what kind of fluid they have been giving me...? It is clear but it does say pwr steering fluid on the bottle...? Could this be the whole problem??

[todds87ss]

Sounds like generic PS fluid (basically hydraulic fluid). Hard to believe that the dealership would use the wrong fluid.
Thanks Greg. That's the PN I ordered last night. Dealership price is 157.

[todds87ss]

Finally got the pump (Next time I'll go with PACE). I did not notice O rings in the package. Is it supposed to come with new ones?

[Struggle]

So now I'm wondering what kind of fluid they have been giving me...? It is clear but it does say pwr steering fluid on the bottle...? Could this be the whole problem??

Did this get fixed? What was the final problem?

[todds87ss]

According to Holden, after you fill the reservoir to the full cold mark, lift the front wheels off the ground. Turn the wheels with engine off, stop to stop 12 times. Did you do this?

Check fluid level.
Start engine and let run for 3 seconds. Shut off engine.
Repeat last two steps until fluid remains constant.
Start engine and allow to idle.
Rotate steering left to right 8 times. Check for cavitation or pump noise, whining. Ask wife to leave the area. :)
Shut off engine, check level.
Holden has tools to check pump pressure, but I imagine they may be expensive.

This worked well for me. Thanks for the help Ray. As for an o-ring, I did not find one. I suspect for new pump replacement, this part is already installed. After taking one apart, they are sliding vane type pumps, not centrifugal. Noisey, but very reliable if the suction is maintained. I'll take pics if anyone is interested.