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Power Steering Keeps Blowing Pressure Lines

vianet

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Quad Cities
Hey Guys,

This is my first post at this site and hope I can get some good information. I have searched this forum and have not found any information that like my situation.

I picked up a 2000 XJ last Saturday and it had a blown Pressure side line from the power steering pump. I bought it thinking I could replace the line, bleed it and get a good deal out of it. Guy drove it around a while with no power steering so my steering shaft is making a little clunk whenever turning but that's another story. So I replaced the pressure hose and bled it the old fashioned way, jack the front up turn the wheel lock to lock, that whole thing. The pump quieted up a little bit but was pretty loud still. I drove it about a mile and couldn't even hear my radio it was so loud. Drive it back and the fluid is real foamy, so I try bleeding it again. Same thing. So my next thought was that the pump is bad.

I replaced the pump with a Reman. and hook up everything, jack the front up, bleed it and yet again after about a mile it just sounds awful under my hood, foamy fluid. The Pump was so hot I couldn't touch it and when I took the cap off, it steamed off. So the next step I did was bought a mityvac and bled it using that method. Worked great, pump was quiet, had power steering, everything was good. Drove about a mile and it kept getting louder and louder. Opened up the hood and there is steam or smoke coming off just like the previous times. The pump gets extremely hot and the smoke smells like sulfur almost.

So now I am at the point of where I am not sure what is going on. All my connections seem fine, no leaks. When bleeding it with the mityvac, it doesn't start making a whole lot of noise until I drive it and come from about 55mph and let of the gas and start to brake then it gets loud and stays loud. I also lose power steering when I am stopped (low rpm). I ordered a new return house and metal fitting, thinking I could be sucking air in through that somehow. If it is not that then I have no idea where to go next.

Has anyone have this same problem before? I have owned 3 XJ's in the past so I know the pump always has a little whine, but this is different.

Replaced the Return line and fitting and it works great until everything gets hot then it gets loud again. Looks like the fluid is boiling almost. Extremely hot. And I get smoke from near the steering box and from the PS pump reservoirs. Bad pump? Or is there a seal by the box that can take in air. Box might be bad. looks like the shaft wiggles a little.

Update since I wrote the above on a different site: I put a better hose clamp on the return and now I blew 2 pressure lines at the fitting. I need to get this back on the Road by Saturday, Any help is appreciated!!!!

Im thinking something is jammed or clogged in my steering box that is causing that much pressure to build up. Anyone ever have this or heard this happening?
 
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I'm assuming the guy just had the pump line dangling after it blew and just let the poor box exposed to the outside elements. If that's the case the pump would have been the first thing to change followed by the steering box. If it wasn't filled with crap before, it's most likely is now.
 
Yea, He said the pump was out for about a month or so. There was an AutoZone pump on it when I got it. He drove it without power steering for that month. I figured after this pump, I'd need a box.
 
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