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The mkiv Supra Owners Club

Problems with steering pump (I think)


VIL

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Can anyone help.

 

I have read through a lot of the other threads on steering pump issues and how to resolve them but I think I need more advice.

 

Scenario:

I use the Supra once a week to do about 50 miles and last Friday completed my journey no problem at all. Later that evening I needed to do another short trip of 2 miles, but when started to drive the car there was a loud mechanical noise (whine) when steering.

 

I read through the forum threads and most of them suggest to try and bleed the system as a first possible cause. This is where I am now needing help:

 

1. Checked the fluid level after leaving the car overnight, the fluid was well down on the stick.

2. Started the car to double check there was still the noise present (it was) so went to fill up the fluid level with DII but now the level is half way up the resevior and within the 'cool' level??? - so did not add any more fluid.

3. Started the slow turning the wheel process....lots of horrible squealing/whining (more so when I turn the wheel to the left?).

4. Looking at the fluid with the cap off was difficult as it was looking to spew everywhere (few bubbles, but like it was trying to push the fluid out of the resevoir?)

 

Questions:

  • Why was the car OK one minute then sounding like its about to die the next?
  • Is it right that the fluid is trying to push out of the resevior with the cap off?
  • Why was the level right down on cold and then OK 2 seconds after I started it?
  • If its making more noise turning left than right does this indicate anything

?

 

Basically the noise is coming from the pump but I dont know if its because the pumps knackered, the bearings knackered or the rack is knackered.....etc

 

Please can anyone help!

 

:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(

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I had a similar issue with the noise and the bubbles!

 

Have you checked everywhere for leaks as i found out eventually that the seals on my steering rack had gone so i needed a new rack so worth a check to see if your losing any fluid anywhere??!!

 

After that it might be worth actually bleeding the system and refilling it to see if that helps?

 

Other than that im guessing you could just change the pump but im unsure on that one but hopefully someone else will come along with some other ideas ;)

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Try this - it worked for me and the symptoms on mine were pretty much the same as on yours.

 

The small metal mesh filter in the bottom of the reservoir gets blocked up with something or other over the years and so needs cleaning out. It's quite possible the fluid isn't getting into the system properly.

 

I took my reservoir off the car and cleaned it out with petrol, using a half inch paint brush gently on the mesh filter. A few good rinses through with petrol, then left to dry out. After that refit, then refill and bleed the system.

 

(I'm not sure if petrol is the best option, but the reservoir is all metal so it shouldn't cause any problems if completely dry when re-connected)

 

Good luck.

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It's a nylon mesh, so be careful what solvent you use...

 

Nylon eh?!

 

It did look to me like it was metal - and I'm sure I read somewhere that it was metal. Oh well, perhaps I should have had some glasses on! It's just as well I was very careful.

 

Petrol certainly didn't have any adverse affects on it at all, fortunately...

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