Bleeding power steering tips?

[PirateMcGee]

So I did the timing belt, water pump etc and also pulled apart the power steering pump in order to replace some leaking seals. Lost a lot of ps fluid in the process which was fine because it needed changed. Followed the fsm exactly but can't get the system to bleed. Seems like a continual supply of bubbles or it just pushes large amounts of fluid with no bubbles but level drops and raises too much while turning the wheel. The pump is whining especially above idle but is working since when I crack the supply it pumps readily. Thoughts or ideas? About at my end with it after several days of turning the wheel lock to lock to lock engine on, hand spinning pump, engine on etc. Seems like I am getting no where with easily hundreds of lock to lock

 

[PirateMcGee]

Also fluid isn't foaming and I can't find any air/fluid leaks.

 

[dwh]

New one on me. All the pumps and hoses I've replaced, and coolers I've added...never had to bleed a power steering system.

Interested to find out what the answer is.

 

[mudraider]

Idle? I thought the ignition was to be disconnected and just cranked via the starter?

sent from my pretty good Android phone

 

[mudraider]

sent from my pretty good Android phone

 

[PirateMcGee]

Idle? I thought the ignition was to be disconnected and just cranked via the starter?

sent from my pretty good Android phone

It is. I've done that several times. Didn't make a difference so I tried starting it to see if it would foam up or do anything different and no change. I can't find a physical obstruction but it seems like there is a pressurized bubble somewhere that is just in the right spot....bit clueless at this point as I've replaced pumps, hose etc. in the past and never had a problem like this. Of course I had a brand new NTN tensioner fail as well when doing the timing belt so maybe it is just cursed.

 

[mudraider]

Good luck. I missed the don't start it first time I did one. Foamed like crazy. Let it sit for two days, cranked without power, solved. Don't understand where the issue could be.

sent from my pretty good Android phone

 

[ExploringNH]

Maybe a damaged seal from install inside the pump? If air bubbles come out sometimes, does the fluid level ever drop enough that you have to add fluid?

 

[PirateMcGee]

Maybe a damaged seal from install inside the pump? If air bubbles come out sometimes, does the fluid level ever drop enough that you have to add fluid?

Yep, it drops and I refill before it gets too low, I even rigged up a container on top with a ton of fluid in order to provide more room for bubbles just in case I was matching the reservoir size with the amount of bubbles...no difference. It burps just like very other pump I've seen but it doesn't seem to get better...just stays the same. My only thought is either there is a heavily pressurized bubble stuck some where or the pump is leaking internally. I would think an internal leak would cause bubbles to come out when I crack the pressurized feed line but it comes out at a steady rate with no bubbles, foaming etc. and it readily pulls from the reservoir. I will take a video if I get a chance before I pull the pump apart again.

 

[Buddha.]

I have a similar but not identical experience.

I worked on an accord recently with a power steering pump whine and light foaming. There were no leaks. Google led me to a known issue of an o ring on one of the lines being defective. I believe air was being sucked in at that o ring even though no fluid was leaking. The o ring on visual inspection appeared fine but it's replacement solved the trouble.

 

[PirateMcGee]

Ok so after pulling it apart again and some more prodding I found there to be an air bubble or vacuum o
something stuck in the pressure valve....it bled much better but still not quite completely.

 

[PirateMcGee]

Done and done. Just in case anyone runs across this or rebuilds their pump here is what worked:

-Top off pump with fluid prior to installing rear cover plate while also blocking the in/outlets.
-Install pump
-Top off pressure outlet befor installing pressure line.
-Top off reservoir
-Take a 8mm allen socket and drill and spin the pump clockwise using pulley allen head center bolt
-Turn wheel lock to lock a few times
-Repeat spinning the pump using a drill while a helper turns the wheel lock to lock. Also make sure res doesn't drop too much.

I'm goig to pull one at a pick and pull just to keep around as my pump likely ran dryish for a bit.