Went out last night and when I was backing out of a parking spot I lost both power steering and power brakes. I didn't bother to look at it last night. Luckily I just had two or so miles to drive. I look at it this morning and the steering pump reservoir is empty. So I get it that there is either a broken line or hose or whatever. The part that I don't get is why the brakes went too.....any thoughts?

Thanks,
Russ

 

The power steering and power brakes both operate from pressure provided by the pump. These engines don't make enough vacuum to operate a traditional brake booster.

 

Oh... and use Mercon V in the pump, not power steering fluid.

 

Thanks for the quick responses....I forgot to mention that the brake resevoir was/is full. I will get under there later when it dries out some(rain earlier) to see if it is the pump or a line.

 

Hopefully it didn't ruin the power steering pump driving it like that. I've blown lines on 3 PSD trucks. One of them cost me a pump too.

 

Well I found out where the leak was coming from and replaced one of the pressure lines. The o-ring had blown on the old line. I have the power steering and power brakes back, but the pump doesn't sound too good. Looks like that is next..... Kind of sounds like the pump is groaning. Thanks for the help guys.

 

Might just be air in the system. Did you do a full-on flush or just add Mercon when you fixed the leak?

 

I just added the Mercon.

 

Sometimes it takes a couple of days of watching, listening, and topping-off the reservoir to get the whine to go away.

Of course, if you ran it truly dry, you may be in for a pump change, too.

Time will tell. Keep a quart of Mercon and a long funnel in the truck for a while.

Pop

 

I am pleased to report that after a day or so the pump is no longer making noise.....I had to fill it a few times since the repair and all is good...