Friday, July 14, 2006 - 05:00 pm, by: Blair Walsh(Dirkmirk)
Im pretty sure my power steering pump is F##Ked as I looked underneath my car and their is oil everywhere and all over my new damn reconditioned alternator, are they the same pumps as the soarers and would I expect a similar cost to fix it or get it reconditioned?
Friday, July 14, 2006 - 05:34 pm, by: Joe Nebl(Spineregy)
Blair, just a thought? sounds like you have had the power steering pump out some time when the alternator was reconditioned?? Do you think maybe it's just a ruptured line?? or the seal on the power steering case has gone?? Sounds like an awe full lot of oil all of a sudden? Just a thought Cheers Joe
Friday, July 14, 2006 - 06:05 pm, by: Blair Walsh(Dirkmirk)
I got the alternator fixed in february or march and the auto electritian told my dad who had organised to get it fixed that their was a leak from the power steering pump, when I got my car complianced last year the mechanic said he was going to recondition the power steering pump because he thought their a was a leak, he did'nt recondition it because he said it was just a loose hose or something, I did'nt get the car looked at when the new alternator went in which I should have done Because the car sounds weak to start now and I've possibly thrown $700 down the drain because I did'nt get the power steering pump looked at, I assumed the damage had already been done to the alternator when it died because the power steering pump had been looked at a year ago, Im not feeling very good right now as I might be up for the power steering pump to get reconditioned and possibly to fix the alternator which is only 5 months old
Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 10:57 am, by: Blair Walsh(Dirkmirk)
MY pump is in getting rebuilt but they are having troubles with it, I cant exactly remember what they said but they resealed the pump but after taking it for a test drive some sort of valve opens up and does'nt close properly or some sh!t, anyway that means all the fluid is just pouring out, they took it apart again, gave it a clean and it did the same thing apparently, I think those guys are stumped and have still got my car over the weekend.
Don Bagnall Moderator New Zealand I have LESS Soarers than Hayden :-(
Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 11:41 am, by: Don Bagnall(Baggs)
Blair, This was posted by Roger Costello, and may be very relevant.
This is a common problem on Lexus LS400's, it probably is on Soarer's and Celsior's as well. The basic system is the same on both the V8's and Six's. Does anyone else have PS fluid disappearing without a trace?
A few years back our 1991 LS400 started using a little and eventually a lot of PS fluid even after new hoses plus a full pump reseal. The cause was a leaky diaphragm inside the vacuum pressure switch that lifts idle speed when the PS load increases. This lets PS fluid from the high pressure side of the pump seep/dribble/piss into the inlet manifold via the vacuum hose. Symptoms were a puff of smoke at startup and PS fluid disappearing somewhere. Lexus said it was a very common problem along with the PS Pump needing rebuilding and owing to the cost of the part, not cheap to fix. From memory I think it was about $450.
My 1991 UZZ31 Soarer recently started using PS fluid with no apparent leaks and when I pull the relevant vacuum hose off the inlet manifold there is PS fluid dribbling out of it. For a 1991 UZZ31 p/n for the valve is 17630-70020, description is "valve assy, air control". The same part number valve is used on everything from Celica's to Crown's. It lives on the union connecting the outlet of the PS pump to the high pressure hose. There are different p/n's for later/other Soarers so check first if you are ordering a replacement.
Given the ridiculous price of the switch at almost $400 and its small size it could be worth sourcing them from Japan. I will probably have to go and get one from Toyota because it is a bit too urgent. The problem does start at just a few cc's per month and get's progressively worse over time. I can only find one unresolved reference to this in the ALSC archive and a few on US sites. Lexus of Perth tell me they have had this happen on many of the older LS400's in WA so this could be a problem we should all watch out for. Some good news. The local Toyota substitutions guru has come up with an option!
17630-16040 Valve Assy, Air Control @ $170 inc GST
New version of the part which is a direct replacement with an improved diaphragm and more realistic price, in stock!
Monday, July 24, 2006 - 01:46 pm, by: Blair Walsh(Dirkmirk)
Got my car back and it all works fine now.
This is the report I got back
"Removed leaking Power steering pump, stripped, inspected, resealed, fitted new shaft support bearing. Note after repair, relief valve kept sticking in bottom of tunnel reducing output pressure considerably - replaced spring with slightly longer spring (ex saginaw pump) to correct fault. Problem was not evident before repair, can only assume higher pressure acheived after repair has caused relief valve poppet to move deeper into housing to worn/damaged area of tunnel. Road tested OK".
The bloke reckons they took the pump out around 3 or 4 times before they fixed the problem changing the spring over because it was too loose, the mechanic had never come across this problem before and did'nt charge me for all the extra labour (Still charged $300 for labour).
At least the problem is now fixed and the steering feels much firmer, he said their is no evidence of the alternator being damaged, all up the job cost $400 and they did'nt replace the serpentine belt.
On another note, Ive got a orange rear warning light on in the dash, one of the rear number plate lights does'nt appear to work anymore, would that be enough to cause that light to come in the dash? I hope it is'nt the start of dieing alternator.
Monday, July 24, 2006 - 04:20 pm, by: Ken Bruns(Uncle_ken)
Thanks for that excellant information Don, my own darling Celsior has just started to confuse with the slow disapearence of power steering fluid, your post has given us a direction. Cheers
Don Bagnall Moderator New Zealand I have LESS Soarers than Hayden :-(