2008 chrysler town and country power steering pump replacement

About 30K miles ago I had a lot of groaning and noise form my power steering. Following advice from this forum, I replaced the PS reservoir and it got rid of most, but not all, of the problem. I still have some growling for the first minute or two after a cold start and I can feel it in the steering wheel.

On top of that, when it has been raining, the belt slips and I have no PS for about the first minute after a cold start. I replaced the belt and tensioner and still have the problem.

My next step is to replace the power steering pump. I got a rebuilt from my local parts store for about $58. I figure the problem is either that or the rack - and the pump is easier and cheaper to change. The van has 134K on it.

There is a question here: Will it make it easier to change the pump if I remove the windshield wiper/cowl assembly first? While I'm there I have a new belt idler pulley to install and maybe a water pump if I see anything at all wrong with the original one.

Bill

No one ever changed a power steering pump on one of these and can give me some tips?

Bill

The Haynes Manual says to go in from the top (remove wiper tray) I believe.
Here's another method (for the 6 cylinder. 4 cylinder is worse to do):

Disconnect the negative battery cable.
Remove the windshield wiper module. (wiper tray, I would say)
Raise and safely support the vehicle.
Remove the drive belt splash shield. (drive belt = serpentine belt)
Loosen the through bolt on the pump bracket.
Remove the pressure hose routing bracket. (that's underneath on a cross member, the hose goes across to the rack on the Driver's side)
Lower the vehicle.
Remove as much fluid as possible from the power steering fluid reservoir using a siphon pump. (turkey baster or squeeze bulb siphon pump will do. I like the siphon pump - faster and gets more fluid out)
Disconnect the pressure hose from the pump. (I would expect fluid to spill out here, you could drain by disconnecting a hose at the cooler)
Disconnect the fluid supply hose from the pump. (that's the larger one from the reservoir)
Remove the rear pump mounting bolt. Make sure not to loose the spacer between pump and bracket.
Remove the front mounting bolts through the pulley.
Remove the pump (with pulley) through the engine compartment rocking it over the aluminum bracket.

To Install:

Install the power steering pump on its mounting bracket.
Install the front power steering pump mounting bolts. Tighten the bolts to 40 ft. lbs. (54 Nm).
Install the rear mounting bolt and spacer. Tighten the bolt to 40 ft. lbs. (54 Nm).
NOTE: Inspect the o-ring on the pressure hose and replace as needed.

Connect the pressure line to the power steering pump. Tighten the pressure line to pump fitting to 23 ft. lbs. (31 Nm).
Connect the supply hose on the pump supply fitting. Make sure the clamp is secure.
Raise and safely support the vehicle.
Install the routing clip on the pressure hose.
Tighten the through bolt to 40 ft. lbs. (54 Nm).
Install the drive belt and splash shield.
Lower the vehicle.
Install the wiper module.
Connect the negative battery cable.
Fill and bleed the power steering system.
Check the system for leaks.

Any help?

I've not had to replace mine before, but I remember thinking to myself when I was replacing my water pump something along the lines of, "I sure hope there's some magic way to get in back by the power steering pump, because it looks darn near unreachable..." or something like that. But that was before I knew much about removing the wiper tray. Having seen that done now, I think I'd most definitely remove the wiper tray to open up a bit more access to the power steering pump. Depending on what things looked like next, I might also remove the hood.

Nate

Thanks Jeepman, that helps a lot, especially with your added comments. Nate: I've looked at the pump from underneath and felt the same way you did (can hardly see it from above). That's why I wondered if I should pull the wiper tray (something I've gotten good at after a few sessions).

I'll probably back-flush my reservoir while I have the fluid out. Is the outlet the big or small pipe? I got some ATF4 to refill things with.

Bill

Thanks Jeepman, that helps a lot, especially with your added comments. Nate: I've looked at the pump from underneath and felt the same way you did (can hardly see it from above). That's why I wondered if I should pull the wiper tray (something I've gotten good at after a few sessions).

I'll probably back-flush my reservoir while I have the fluid out. Is the outlet the big or small pipe? I got some ATF4 to refill things with.

Bill

The big pipe is the return to the pump ie the reservoir outlet.

I've not had to replace mine before, but I remember thinking to myself when I was replacing my water pump something along the lines of, "I sure hope there's some magic way to get in back by the power steering pump, because it looks darn near unreachable..." or something like that. But that was before I knew much about removing the wiper tray. Having seen that done now, I think I'd most definitely remove the wiper tray to open up a bit more access to the power steering pump. Depending on what things looked like next, I might also remove the hood.

Nate

Wonder how far back that hood will go. On my Jeep, the hood can go back and rest against the upper rail above the windshield.