power steering air pressure.

[Teardrop]

My PS is leaking but I can't find from where, have not looked real hard yet...

Anyways after the car has been running and I pull off the PS cap, it like pops off from air pressure. I have bled the system a few times..

Anyways is it suppose to be like air tight? I was contemplating putting a small hole somewhere around the cap seal just to let air pressure escape.

Given the rate I am losing it (slowly) I am guessing it is in the low pressure end. So, do I have a good idea as a "rig fix"? Is there something else causing the air pressure in the reservoir?

BTW it stays full of fluid, between the marks.

[andrewgp2000gt]

i have problem with my power steering just building too much pressure randomly then it is hard to steer til i pop the cap idk if its related id like to know wat u find out and see if it works

[brandonl2000]

well i can't say that it's hard to steer but it does feel pressurized. and when i popped the cap the other day it made a loud popping sound so it must be under pressure.

you said you bled the system, how did you do that?

[kfish]

with the cap off, you crank the wheel from lock to lock 15-20 times

[brandonl2000]

with the cap off, you crank the wheel from lock to lock 15-20 times

so lock to lock is all the way to left and all the way to the right??

engine is running, right?

[Teardrop]

Engine running yes while bleeding the steering. Extreme left & right.

I don't know if it really takes 15 to 20 times but I guess it cannot hurt. Maybe try to park the front wheels on something besides pavement as to not wear bald spots. Just don't dig into a hole.

I am kind of going on the thought that the PS in a GP just sucks. Mine never feels quite right, and I fully changed the fluid. Of course when cold it is still noisy.

But yeah mine has done that, I pull the PS reservoir cap and it pops.

[brandonl2000]

apparently the pressure (the pop we hear) is common because the power steering system is hydraulic. the sound we hear when it is cold is normal due to the hydraulics not lubricated at a cold startup.

as far as bleeding the system, under which circumstances would you need to do this? all i did was top off the fluid because it was very loud and appeared to have nothing in it; not a drop of fluid was touching the dip stick. so, would i need to bleed the system or is it fine?

[Teardrop]

under which circumstances would you need to do this? all i did was top off the fluid because it was very loud and appeared to have nothing in it; not a drop of fluid was touching the dip stick. so, would i need to bleed the system or is it fine?

If you drain most or all of the PS fluid as if to change it, then you need to bleed it. Say like changing a line or the cooler
If the reservoir is pretty much empty, it would not hurt to bleed when filling.
Honestly, it is an easy process that take but a few minutes and you will not hurt anything.

My PS system has some kind of leak somewhere I think cause things are getting worse with it like when engine is cold, the pump makes a lot of noise and forms a lot of bubbles. I have no idea where the problem is now originating.

[brandonl2000]

alright, thank you! well i know when we got it was whining really loud, but it pretty much steered fine. so i added some fluid to it until it was at the full hot line and it got quiet as a kitten. well later than same night, a huge puddle of PS fluid appeared and we couldn't really find a leak. and i haven't seen any leaking since and it still has plenty of fluid so idk. ill probably bleed it just to make sure..

but i really hope you find your leak i know its a pain

[Vegas~Blown]

Maybe try to park the front wheels on something besides pavement as to not wear bald spots.

a couple of tricks that work --- put a 8 * 8 chunks of aluminum down and drive onto it -- the other is to put a little kitty litter / speedy dry down and drive onto it -- either will give the tires something to turn on that's not so sticky.

[Teardrop]

If I didn't know any better, I would have thought this was MY post.
Yep, the leaking, but doesn't seem to lose as much fluid as it leaks, the noise comes and goes, etc...
Thing is, my first thought was maybe the PS cooling line was cracked but I don't see any evidence of fresh fluid at any contact points. I have not investigated it but I wonder if the reservoir is leaking, why with the pressure building up. I wonder how hard it would be to just remove the reservoir without pulling the pump?

Now that I am a GP owner, I am learning all the little quirks of these damned cars.

alright, thank you! well i know when we got it was whining really loud, but it pretty much steered fine. so i added some fluid to it until it was at the full hot line and it got quiet as a kitten. well later than same night, a huge puddle of PS fluid appeared and we couldn't really find a leak. and i haven't seen any leaking since and it still has plenty of fluid so idk. ill probably bleed it just to make sure..

but i really hope you find your leak i know its a pain

[brandonl2000]

yea, well mine hasn't leaked but that one time. so i think i solved that problem. but i thought my line was rotted as well but i guess not.
idk about removing the reservoir or not.. haven't attempted it.

and yea i know what u mean. i think all the reading im done im pretty prepared for problems and im ready to troubleshoot haha.