Power Steering Blues

[phat_toaster]

So I bought an '89 7MGTE a month ago, drove it over 700 miles from California where I picked it up, and then parked it. I was finishing my college career and didn't have the time for it. So yesterday, I decided to go on a Sunday drive, and the power steering pump seems to have disappeared. I have it parked over concrete and there's no evidence of leakage. Is it the pump?

[cre]

Have you actually checked the fluid level? Do so, add fluid if needed, turn the car on and turn the wheel to each side until it stops a couple times each directions to warm it up. Also wouldn't hurt to replace the belt.

[CanadianBak'inSupra]

i havnt had much trouble with these pumps other than leakage.
do what cre said check fluid level and bleed.
http://www.cygnusx1.net/Supra/Librar...aspx?S=SR&P=42

[phat_toaster]

Cool, and thanks guys. I'll be replacing struts on Wednesday, so I'll dig into it then and post an update.

[Green7mgte]

since were on the subject of PS. I wanted to ask the opinion of Lucas Ps treatment.
Im in the camp that doesn't like using fixes in a can. But I used this once on my moms eclipse. I think its more of a band aid then an actual fix. I wounder what problems it is actually making. Like burned out pulleys cause of the extra force due to higher viscosity on an already out of spec pulley.
Im not De-railing this topic Just saying if you were thinking of adding any of that it would be nice to know the pro's and cons.
Like I said I always try to fix something outright.. Most things in a bottle cause more harm then good, Just because the squealing goes away for a month dosnt mean its magically solved.

[Ranma]

Am against all things that come in a bottle for a "quick fix". I was taught they do not work. While it may "work" for a bit, you are setting yourself up for failure. Then most of the people in this forum push their cars past their designed limits.

If one of them says to add some brake fluid to the transmission. Go ahead and hit them, it is a sure fire way to destroy it. Quality is doing thing right, shoody is doing things wrong because it is "cheaper". Actually in the long run doing it right is cheaper.

[CanadianBak'inSupra]

i was actually lookin at the tsrm and there is not much to these pumps.
if you cant get it working try looking for a rebuild kit for it, or even better just buy a used pump, there are plenty of totaled mk3's sitting in yards.

[Green7mgte]

yea ranma Im against it to. her eclipse is a side facing motor.. as everyone knows im no mechanic. every job I do is the first time im doing it.. when I was growing up I just threw money at my problems and let someone else fix it.. This is the first car that I cared about enough to learn how to work on it. (long story.. ) anyhow It was the middle of winter and she just had a small squeal. I did bleed it and refill it. still kept the same squeal so I added the lucas.. Im fully prepared to replace the pump / pulley if need. I dont know shit about her eclipse tho. Im learning.

[phat_toaster]

So, as promised, I jumped into the struts and replaced all four corners today, but that's a topic for a different thread. I found what I can only surmise is the the filler for the power steering fluid, but it's a tube on the driver's side that routes directly into the firewall, and the cap says "Use only DOT 3 brake fluid." And there was also some strange black plastic disc inside the nozzle, beneath the cap. Almost like a perfect plastic stone. Is that the filler for the power steering fluid? If not, what the heck IS that thing?
P.S. -- After about 50 miles of not working, the power steering pump seems to have come back from its leave of absence, at least temporarily.

[cre]

This? http://www.cygnusx1.net/Supra/Librar...spx?F=3103&P=1