VN Power Steering Pump leaking

[Muse7707]

Hope someone can help!!

I've replaced my power steering pump 3 times in the last 3 weeks!. Yep, that's 3 in 3 weeks and another one crapped itself this morning.

Can anyone help!! I have no idea why they're going. We drive the car once or twice, and they're fine, then they just start pissing out fluid. It's not the hoses, it's the pump itself.

WE drive a VN commodore, but it's recently had a new motor and gear box installed. (VR series II engine) We've only had the problem since then. Luckily, the first 2 pumps have been replaced free but this one isn't covered. My son has just gone off to buy another one; a reco one, but if this ones dies, I don't know what we'll do.

Does the VN have a history of this?? Or am I just unlucky

[1991_Vn2nV]

All commodores have power steering issues. My VN had 2 leaks and a broken high pressure hose connection (just a few months ago), my VS and our VT. Even my old VL.

Power steering is a commodores achilles heal... That said... Its better than not having power steering

But 3 in 3 weeks... I say theres a hidden problem. Either its NOT the pumps or something else is causing the pumps to fault.

[5speedcalais]

is it noisy up untill it shits itself

[BlackVXGTS]

Sounds like you might have some contamination in the fluid. Did you flush all the fluid out of the rack when you replaced the pump? When I replaced my power steering pump, there was a note in the box to say that the warranty was not valid unless the whole system was flushed with fresh fluid.

[Keesh]

yer might be a blocage somewhere, maybe youe rack has shit itself and its losing pressure somewhere?? are you buying new ones or organising change overs? or even worse second hand? at work we do reconditioned ones and sometimes thats a shit idea.

[savage1987]

Noooooo don't tell me that! I just put a reco one in mine a couple of months ago! It's going OK so far though And yeah I kinda blew off my high pressure fitting too so had to replace that line. Was a pain. The high pressure fitting was entirely my fault though *cries*

[immortality]

sounds like you may have a problem with the rack, does it turn normally like it use too? does the pump whine? you either have contaminated fluid which is damaging the pump or some sort of blockage maybe in the rack which is causing the pump to overpressurise and stuff the pump maybe. maybe try dropping the return line from the rack to the pump(into a container) and see how much fluid you get out when you run the engine (don't let the pump run dry though) this way you can flush all the old fluid out of the rack and see if there is some sort of blockage in the system also

[Keesh]

thats why they say do not overfill.. i did my high pressure hose too it was a pain in the ass to get it up and into the resevior haha

[MyVPIsFasterThanYourVP]

there is a power steering pump seal kit to suit on eBay for about $11. Maybe worth keeping one handy.....

[Muse7707]

Sorry about not getting back to you all.

Turns out it was the 'o' ring at the top of the pump, where the reservoir sits on top. If you don't line that exactly, then it will leak. Got that fixed and everything is perfect. Apparently, so we've been told, it's a very common mistake made when changing them over.

Thanks heaps for you replies though. Much appreciated.

[savage1987]

Yeap, that'll do it!! Also, for anyone else doing this, make sure you replace this o-ring with a fresh one THE RIGHT SIZE whenever the pump is changed Good chance it'll save you from having problems later on ...

[Fu Manchu]

Useing Dexron III instead of II will reduce the amount of oil venting out from the top of the lid as well. The VN/P really could o with an oil cooler for the steering. It boils very easy and can cause premature failure. It is said that you can use tractor fluid instead to keep temps right down. I know that it can be used in Ford gearboxes too and gives very hard shifts with a long life span for the gear box, not sure on GM boxes though. Can be used in GM steering but.

[Keesh]

power steering res. caps are a common leak and are still available from holden, i just changed mine and it seals nice! its always a good idea to get genuine o rings, so they fit correctly, youl be suprised if you new how many aftermarket parts look the same but never fit the same so play it safe.. good to see you got it fixed mate! i had a problem with the high pressure hose myself and its a pain to change over! at least it was something nice and small

[VNexecutive]

just while this thread is here, me and my dad are fixing the car up for roadworthy and a week before checking everything, we noticed it had a fairly bad leak of power steering fluid. after high pressuring underneath etc, we cannot find the leak! now this could be a good thing, but if it starts leaking when in for roadworthy check, we are gunna be pissed off!

the old mans just getting a new high pressure hose for it, and we'll see how we go, but i might just ask him about the o-rings too and see what he says..