A power steering pump is an important part of your car’s engine and it helps you steer. To keep your car running smoothly, it’s important to regularly check the condition of your power steering pump. In this article, we’ll show you how to test a power steering pump and tell if it needs to be replaced.
Tools Needed
To test a power steering pump, you will need the following tools:
-Power Steering Pump Test Kit
-Wrench
-Torque wrench
-Test light
-Cable clamp
-Jumper cables
-Piston ring gauge
– Piston removal tool
– Power steering fluid (If equipped with an automatic transmission)
-Can of compressed air
NOTE: Always wear safety goggles when working with power steering fluid and other hazardous chemicals.
Preparation
Before you begin testing a power steering pump, be sure to gather all of the necessary supplies. You’ll need a power steering pump tester, a voltmeter, and a brake fluid reservoir.
Step 1: Connect the power steering pump tester to the vehicle’s electrical system.
Step 2: Start the vehicle and let it idle for at least five minutes. This will allow the pump to reach operating temperature.
Step 3: Check the voltage reading on the power steering pump tester. The higher the reading, the better.
Step 4: Pumpfluid should have a temperature of about 110 degrees F (43 degrees C). If the temperature is below this limit, add more fluid to the brake fluid reservoir until the desired temperature is reached.
Step 5: Pumpfluid should have a viscosity of about 3000 cps (centipoise) at 100 degrees F (38 degrees C). If the viscosity is too high or too low, add fluid until the desired viscosity is achieved.
Procedure
When testing a power steering pump, you will need to gather the following information:
-The make and model of the power steering pump
-The engine type and size
-The amount of fluid that the pump is supposed to be pumping (in liters)
-The pressure at which the pump is supposed to be working at (in millimeters of mercury)
-The type of test equipment that you will be using
Once you have gathered this information, follow these steps:
1. Start the engine and let it idle for a few minutes. This will warm up the system.
2. Check the fluid level in the power steering reservoir. The reservoir should be full enough so that when you tilt the wheel, fluid comes out of the dripping nipple. If it’s not, add more fluid until it is.
3. Connect your test equipment to the engine and reservoir, and turn on the power.
4. Check the pressure in the system by reading the gauge on your test equipment. It should be reading around 15 mm Hg or higher. If it’s not, increase the pressure until it is.
5. Start driving and let the car take
Results
There are many ways to test a power steering pump. One way is to use a pressure test gauge to measure the pressure in the system. Another way is to use a hydrometer to measure the amount of water in the system.