Repair And Fix it

The 2000 model year Dodge Neon uses a hydraulic pump to create pressure that assists the driver in steering the vehicle. The hydraulically assisted steering, commonly known as power steering, is especially helpful at lower speeds when the driver must use more effort to steer. Maintenance and removal of power steering components may require removing the hydraulic hoses that flow to and from the power steering pump.

Instructions

Removal

1

Locate the power steering gear near the front left wheel and determine if you can access the hose attachments well enough to remove them.

2

Remove the negative battery cable to ensure all steering components will be disabled.

3




Jack the front of the car and place it on jack stands. Remove the front wheels. Do this step only if you cannot access the hose connections at the power steering gear from the engine compartment or without raising the car.

4

Siphon as much fluid from the power steering pump reservoir as possible to reduce spillage.

5

Remove all hose clamps from the hose you will replace.

6

Loosen the hose nut at the power steering pump if you are removing the pressure hose. The return hose is only secured with a clamp.

7

Position a small bucket or other container underneath the hose as you remove it. Drain as much fluid into the container as possible to minimize hazardous fluid spills from reaching the ground. If you were able to siphon the reservoir, this step may not be necessary.

8

Disconnect the lower end of the hose. Try to contain spillage in a container.

Installation

9

Install the lower end of the new hose. Tighten the hose nut if it is a pressure or the hose clamp for the return hose. Tighten the hose nut to 25 foot-pounds of torque.

10

Route the hose upward along the same path it ran before it was removed. Install the upper part of the hose and tighten the clamp or hose nut. Tighten the hose nut to 25 foot-pounds of torque.

11

Reinstall the front wheels and lower the car if it was raised for access.

12

Reinstall all the hose clamps that were removed.

13

Refill the power steering reservoir with new fluid.

14

Reconnect the negative battery cable.

Some car owners wonder if a vehicle can operate without a power steering pump belt or if this function is safe. Not replacing a PSP belt may save money and hassle at first, but it will eventually cause huge problems.

Function

The movement of the engine drives the PSP belt. The belt then transfers engine power to the PSP itself, which puts power steering fluid under pressure. This pressurized fluid amplifies steering wheel movement to make steering the car effortless.

Removal

Removal of the PSP belt stops the pumps function, and eliminates power steering. Technically, a car could be driven without a PSP belt, but its not a recommended practice.

Warning

With power steering disabled, the steering wheel becomes much less responsive and more difficult to operate. Without the circulation of power steering fluid, the steering mechanism will lose lubrication over time, ultimately causing the entire steering system to fail, endangering the life of the driver and others.

When a car is leaking power steering fluid, the leak needs to be found and repaired in order to keep the system working properly. Power steering fluid leaks can allow moisture and other contaminants into the system, which can cause further damage.

Leaking Seals

One of the most common sources of leaks in a power steering system is old seals that have dried out and shrunk. Power steering stop leak additives are designed to soften and swell older seals, causing them to seal the leak. These additives are inexpensive and easy to use to correct minor leaks.

Lines and Hoses

Power steering lines and hoses carry pressurized power steering fluid from the power steering pump to the steering rack. The lines and hoses can become damaged and cause a leak. Car owners should inspect these caully looking for splits, cracks, and kinks. Lines or hoses that are leaking should be replaced.

Worn Parts

The power steering pump and other parts of the power steering system can become worn or damaged and cause leaks. To identify the leak, wipe clean the power steering system, then observe it while a helper starts the motor and turns the wheels. These leaks will require the replacement of the defective part.

Dodge Dakotas use a rack-and-pinion power steering system. This system uses a pump to drive power steering fluid to the rack-and-pinion. A pulley that runs on the accessory drive belt powers the pump. If the pulley is damaged, the pump will not move fluid into the steering system and the pulley must be replaced. In order to replace the pulley, you must first remove it from the power steering pump.

Instructions

1

Locate the diagram on the underside of your hood that depicts the drive belt routing. Use this diagram to help locate your idler pulley. This will be the lower of the two pulleys on the far right.

2

On the left-hand side of the idler pulley assembly, locate the tension adjusting bolt. Using a wrench, loosen the bolt until you can move the idler pulley assembly enough to relieve tension on the drive belt.

3

Locate the power steering pump pulley. This is the uppermost of the two pulleys on the far right, located above the idler pulley. Remove the drive belt from around the pulley.

4

Place the pulley puller on the power steering pulley. Place the arms of the puller behind the pulley and align the threaded end with the center of the pulley. Turn the nut on the shaft by hand until it is tight.

5

Place a socket and ratchet on the bolt head end of the pulley puller. Hold the ratchet in place and place a wrench on the nut you hand-tightened in Step 4. Turn the wrench counterclockwise to move the threaded shaft into the power steering pulley.

6

Continue to turn the nut until the pulley comes loose from the power steering pump. Remove the pulley from the engine compartment and turn the nut clockwise until the puller shaft comes free of the pulley.

Power steering ers to steering assisted by a hydraulic pump, a pulley belt controlled by engine speed, a rotary valve device and steering gears. There are two types of power steering: rack-and-pinion steering and the recirculating-ball steering.

Steering Wheel

The steering wheel is a wheel controlled by the driver of the vehicle. When the driver turns the steering wheel, the wheels of the vehicle turn. The steering wheel is the user-controlled part of a power-steering system.

Rotary Valve

A rotary valve is a device that senses the forces applied on a steering wheel. It is part of a spool valve assembly. The rotary valve has a torsion bar. Force applied to a torsion bar causes it to twist and rotate the inside of the spool valve. The top of the torsion bar in the rotary valve connects to the steering wheel. Depending on the steering system, the bottom of the torsion bar connects to the worm gear or the pinion, which turns the wheels. When the spool valve turns, a port opens and allows steering fluid to flow to the appropriate lines. The lines connect to the power cylinder.

Rotary Vane Pump and Pulley

A rotary vane pump provides the hydraulic power for the power steering. The cars engine along with a belt and pulley run the pump. Retractable vanes inside a chamber of the pump spin and force hydraulic fluid to the outlet for the rotary valve. The pump runs faster when the engine is running faster. Higher engine speeds create higher pressure on the fluid flowing to the outlet. The pump also has a pressure-relief valve that opens if there is too much fluid pumping, such as with high engine speeds.

Steering Gear: Rack and Pinion

The steering gear turns the wheels. In a rack-and-pinion steering system, the pressurized fluid pushes on the power cylinder mounted on the rack. The resulting changes in pressure from the fluid moves the rack, making steering easier. The rack is a long metal piece with a flat side. On the flat side there are teeth cut into the edges. A steering shaft connects the steering wheel with the rack. A pinion gear on the end of the shaft connects with the teeth of the rack. On each end of the rack is a tie rod, which connects to the spindle of the wheels.

Steering Gear: Recirculating Ball

In a recirculating-ball system, steel balls roll between the steering shaft and the rack piston. With assistance from the hydraulic system, the rack piston moves up or down on a worm gear to turn the wheels.

Return Line

The return line directs the fluid from the power cylinder back to a reservoir on the pump.

The power steering assembly on your Mitsubishi has an input section, a section where work is done and finally an output section. If you know what components are present in your cars power steering system, itll be easier for you to understand how the system works.

The Input Section

Steering input is by way of the steering wheel. When you turn the wheel, a shaft in the steering column is also turned. This shaft is connected -- by way of a steering coupler/universal joint -- to the rack and pinion assembly, where your steering input is translated into side-to-side movement of the steering arms.

The Steering Rack

The power steering rack is where your steering input is translated into the side-to-side motion that turns the front wheels to turn the car. At the end of the steering column is the steering rack input shaft, which has a pinion gear at the end of it. As this gear rotates, it meshes with teeth on the steering rack, moving the rack in the required direction to turn the car.

The Output Section

The steering rack is coupled to the steering knuckle at each wheel by way of inner and outer tie rod ends, which allow for suspension travel and knuckle pivot.

Steering Assist

The addition of a hydraulic fluid is what adds the power to power steering. The pump sends fluid to the steering rack, where valves direct it in the proper direction to work against seals that help push and pull the rack when you turn the steering wheel.

Most cars will eventually develop some sort of noise or fault that will require a diagnosis. The Ford Taurus may exhibit noisy steering, which may have a number of causes.

Power Steering

Your Taurus power steering pump could have become low on oil, which will cause it to make noise; check oil levels, and fill it if needed. You may also have a loose pulley, in which case you should correct and tighten it appropriately. Check the hoses for clogs, which can also cause noise; if none of the above solves the problem, your pump may be defective and need replacing.

Joints

If the steering tends to make noise only when you turn the wheels, you may notice a knocking noise, which may result from a bad universal joint. The universal joint is a sort of knuckle joint that attaches between the wheel and the axle. When the bearing has gone bad, or the rubber cover has worn out, you will hear the knocking noise when you turn the wheels to the far left or right.

Fluids

Power steering fluid plays an essential role in the smooth operation of the steering system. If the power steering fluid levels have become excessively low, top them off immediately and check them on a regular basis.

Ford released the Mustang late in the 1964 model year. The 1965 model year brought about the elimination of the 260-cubic-inch V-8 engine in favor of the 289-cubic-inch V-8, which had 36 more horsepower. The 1966 model year brought few changes to the Mustang. The most famous change was the addition of the "floating horse" to the grille. Replacing the steering wheel on 1995 and 1966 Mustang is a fairly straightforward process.

Instructions

1

Disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery, using a combination wrench.

2

Rotate the horn button assembly -- horn button and three chrome arms in the center of the steering wheel -- counterclockwise to unlock it and pull the button assembly from the steering wheel. Make certain to catch the horn spring if it pops out.

3

Remove the steering wheel retaining nut, using a ratchet and a 15/16-inch socket.

4

Draw a matchmark line on the steering wheel and the shaft it mounts onto, using white marking paint. This allows for correct alignment of the steering wheel when reinstalling it.

5

Install a steering wheel puller on the steering wheel and use the puller to free the steering wheel from the column. The exact instruction for the use of the steering wheel puller depends on the type of puller, so refer to the pullers instruction for specific details.

6

Pull the steering wheel off the column slowly, as to not disturb any components in the steering column. Remove the steering wheel puller once the steering wheel is off the column.

7

Draw a matchmark line on the new steering wheel, if applicable, as closely to the line on the old steering wheel as possible.

8

Position the steering wheel so the lines match, and push the steering wheel onto the shaft. Tighten the steering wheel retaining nut to 20 to 30 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and a 15/16-inch socket.

9

Set the horn spring behind the horn button. Set the horn button assembly back on the center of the steering wheel and rotate it clockwise to lock it in place.

10

Reinstall the negative battery cable and tighten it to 11 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and socket.

Power steering pulleys are usually fitted on the pump shaft by pressing and the assembly is held together with friction. Hence, if you wish to remove the power steering pulley, it cannot be done by hand. The specific tool to be used is a puller that can remove the pulley from the pump shaft. This puller is different from the usual gear pullers with jaws. Various brands of the puller are available; there may be slight differences in the parts, but they function in a similar manner. A few brands also come with tools that can be used to fit back the power steering pulley.

Instructions

1

Study the parts. A power steering pulley puller consists of two half-parts that make up a split collar, a metal sleeve to retain the collar and a threaded bolt which is the puller. If your kit consists of tools to re-install the pulley, therell be a bolt nut assembly, too.

2

Fit on the puller by inserting the half-part that projects more inward below the pulley lip. Close the two parts so the pump shaft is held tight. Fit the metal sleeve over the ring formed by closing the two parts. Push the rounded end of the threaded bolt inside the pump shaft, until it touches the pulley shaft, and tighten it.

3

Position a wrench at the bottom of the threaded puller assembly. On the top side, near the threaded shaft, use a ratchet. Tighten the nut and bolt parts by screwing the puller assembly into the bottom portion; this will cause the pulley to move off the pump shaft.

4

Fit back the pulley by positioning it to sit squarely on the pump shaft. Use the bolt nut assembly provided with the puller kit. Insert the bolt inside the pump shafts internal threading and screw it on until the bolt touches the lower surface. Push the pulley on by rotating the nut assembly along the bolt. When the pulley has reached down completely, the nut assembly stops moving; remove the assembly and check that the pulley is flush with the level of the pump shaft.

Chevrolet is one of General Motors most popular brands. The company manufactures 17 models of cars, trucks, crossovers, sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and vans. Some steering issues with 1998 models have been reported.

Complaints

Steering complaints regarding 1998 Chevrolets center on power steering features. When vehicles are turning, the steering wheel feels as though its stuck. Then the vehicle jerks violently in the direction of the turn. Some models have been recalled.

Recalls

The following 1998 Chevrolet models have been recalled to repair or replace steering components: Venture, Tahoe, Cavalier, Corvette, Monte Carlo, Lumina, Malibu and B7. If you own one of these vehicles, contact a local authorized dealership to make sure that the recall has been addressed. If buying used, ask for a vehicle history before purchasing to verify the repair has been made.

Considerations

Drivers of other models which have not be recalled still report issues with steering. One recommended fix is to unplug and then clean or replace the steering wheel position sensor. Another suggestion is to check levels of power steering fluid and look for leaks. If you feel the car is not safe to drive, it is best to contact an authorized dealership. Keep copies of all records and maintenance reports so future issues may be accurately addressed.