I did a thorough search on my issue the forum but I still have questions. I just replaced the power steering pump and lines on my 2001 XJ. Before I was having issues with the power steering system: hard steering when the engine was cold, a minor fluid leak, and lots of moaning noises. Since doing all of the replacement work and flushing the system, it remains hard to steer when at low idle, but gets better when rpms are increased. It seems OK for a brief period of driving and then suddenly gets hard again. The new pump is not a Cardone reman (which some on the forum said to avoid). I added 8 oz of Seafoam Trans Tune in an attempt to clean sticky valves in the steering box. It seemed to help some. So my questions are: could it be a bad reman pump that does not give sufficient help at low RPMS? Could it be a bad steering box? Before I replaced the pump it never got hard while driving, but only at cold startups. If it is a bad steering box, how hard is it to replace and what brand of replacement should I get. Any suggestions on a remedy? Thank you all, as always.

 

Yes the reman pump could be bad , but also check that your belt is not slipping also are you using power streering fluid or trans oil in the pump .

 

Thanks for the reply. Belt is tightened to spec. Someone suggested replacing the power steering pressure switch, which adds assist based on rpm's, but I can't find it. Anybody know where this switch is located?

 

Though every parts dealer, including Chrysler, carries a power steering (pressure) switch for the XJ, I cannot find one on my 2001 XJ . . . neither on my old 1997 XJ (which was totaled in a head-on last September . . . another story) . According to Chrysler it attaches to the high pressure hose, but none of my hoses have one. Another site shows it on the power steering pump, but none of my pumps have one. I am wondering if the switch was added later by Chrysler as an upgrade to resolve a PS problem. Do any of you have a power steering pressure switch on your XJ? The problem I am having ---- no PS assist at low rpm's and good PS assist at high rpm's ---- has shown up twice in an Internet search. Both state the problem was a bad power steering pump. I am going to pull the old power steering pump off of my wrecked XJ, which worked fine, and see if it works. If it is a pump, can anyone recommend a decent pump? My new replacement pump that is currently installed is a reman from OReilly's. Thanks

 

I beleave the older xj witth a v6 engine had one , I don't think the 4.0L engine had one .

 

That could very well be the case. They show a switch for a 2001, but if I am correct the 2001 came with a 4.0 inline six or a V8. At this rate I will become an XJ expert or a raving madman.

 

For those following this thread, I did resolve the issue. It was a bad re-manufactured pump from O Reilly's. I put in the old pump from my wrecked 97' Cherokee and it immediately had great power steering. I took it for a 20 minute test ride to be sure. It is working fine. Anybody have a recommendation on a good pump?

 

When you're all said and done, drain and put the proper fluid in (no seafoam!). Hydraulic fluid especially power steering fluid generally uses anti-foaming agents, which often transmission fluid doesn't always contain enough of for certain applications. Using a witches-brew of different 'ingredients' is likely to push you outside the boundary of good, workable hydraulic fluid and you don't know what's going on. Any 'foaming' that might occur inside the pump won't be able to compress foam (it's like 'air'). Then the PS pump can't produce the right pressure as intended.

On skid steers and heavy equipment, most manufacturers specifically require anti-foaming agents added to normal hydraulic fluid or else using the equipment mfgrs specified hydraulic fluid (i.e. Case/John Deere/Bobcat, etc) ....which contains the right amt of anti-foaming and other properties. It's not uncommon for newbe owners of skid steers or tractors who have been adding hydraulic fluid or ATF because it's cheaper at Walmart to get to a point where the equipment will no longer move ..or lift a heavy object when it warms up or gets hot. The reason is often b/c of not using the right fluids. Some mfgrs are more sensitive to this than others (e.g. Case). In that case adding a qt (or proper amt) of anti-foaming additive to normal ATF or whatever hydraulic fluid they used, can bring it up to a usable level and then things work. The point is, it's not just an "imaginary" situation in high-pressure hydraulic environments.

I know seafoam isn't 'foaming' per the name but it's mineral fluids and 'thinners' that aren't going to do the fluid any good. Drain out as much of the fluid as you can and use the correct fluid as per your manual so you don't kill the new "good" pump. If you read cardone literature they essentially say this too. Glad you got it fixed. Keep on Jeepin'!!

 

sounds like most reman are cr@p..best bet might be used OEM from wrecks

 

Interestingly, it's claimed a lot of new pumps are in effect 'murdered' by installers who unwittingly use the wrong PS fluid or didn't drain the old fluid (which could have been a bastardized 'coctail' of different fluids, contaminants, stop leaks, etc). Read the document below. Then the installers tend flail-about and blame the reman as defective when in fact they may have unintentionally 'killed' it. I'm not saying you did (we know how the aftermarket situation is), but it's worth reading up on the topic and understanding and learning how to get the most out of your good Jeep.

http://my.cardone.com/techdocs/PT%2020-0027.pdf

 

This new reman pump started clean with the manufacturers recommended fluid. It was Oreilly that recommended using the Seafoam Trans tune to clean out the valves in the steering box. In searching the Internet it turns out that someone else having installed the same brand pump had the very same problem. Their solution was to install another new reman pump.