I’m sure someone at our shop has a vacuum pump. I’ll get it figured out. I think regardless I’m doing a pump on it and flushing the lines. Should be able to get fresh fluid in here and have my light ps back

 

I owe you an apology. I did check and that vehicle does specify Mercon V for power steering fluid.
"Power Steering Fluid" is manufactured to withstand higher operating temperatures . Is there a power steering fluid cooler on your vehicle?

Between what heiko suggested and what you plan to do, sounds like it should get rid of the problem.
Please let us know how you make out with this,thanks.

 

It’s not a problem most vehicles do take specific ps fluid. This is honestly the only car I’ve ever had that takes atf.

So I checked the car for a cooler, looks like the same pressure line goes difrwctly from the pump to the rack, and the return goes from the rack to the ps reservoir. There are no leaks.

guess I’m gonna throw a pump in this, flush and bleed the whole system and report back! Give me about a week to get it all ordered and I will let you know if it fixes it or not. Thanks for the help guys

 

After further research I have found that these systems are notorious for holding air and the only way to properly bleed them fully is with a handheld vacuum pump (the procedure on alldata). I will now replace the pump, both lines, and vacuum bleed. Will reply back in a week.

 

Thanks for the update.

 

Ok so I tried increasing engine rpm as someone in this thread suggested, when cold it steers light at idle, lock to lock is feather. Hot, it’s hard to steer, feels tighter. Increasing rpm has no effect… what?

 

Did you replace the steering rack with a new or rebuilt unit ?

Can we ask from where it was purchased ?

I know you believe it can't be the rack, but sometimes replacement parts don't measure up to our expectations.

 

New unit, edelmann rack, shop purchased it from worldpac

 

I see that they also sell remanufactured parts
.Agree,best path to follow will be to replace pump, flush lines purge air out and see what you get.
Hope foreign material can be removed from replacement rack unit.
Might be a little touchy !

If you can manage to check,is there any fluid inside the bellows? Sometimes you can tell just by feeling if there is "stuff"side.
If after you replace the PS pump and still have the same problem, , if there is internal leakage at the rotary valve of the rack assy,it could prevent the correct path for assist. All these things are could bees.and hope you get it straightened out,

 

No fluid in the bellows, also checked again but no leaks anywhere at all. I’ll give that procedure a go. Just didn’t want to waste time/ money if unneeded. Checked again but it was a new unit so I guess less of a chance of it being defective but not 100%

will report back thanks hanky