kissthis66

moved to WI from CA. when it gets really cold out here in WI, like under 20 degrees, my power steering pump freezes and won't work until the motor warms up a little then the power steering pump will kick in and begin working. And when it does kick in and start working it gives off this horrible loud noise until its warmed up. Is there a way to fix this problem or is a replacement needed? It works fine other than when it freezes up due to the cold. And it only makes the noise until it is warmed up. Also wondering if a new one would have this same issue in this cold weather.

94 XJ 4x4 6cyl 4.0

CCKen

Change it.

Firestorm500

Yeah, 20* isn't all that cold.

Now if it was -20 to-30F, that would be cold.

JackJare9455

change it... its not difficult... Get a power steering pulley puller... your probably going to break the plastic return nipple on your reservoir... grab a few quarts of fluid for a system flush... and check your pressure and return lines for condition.

kissthis66

Ya I know it's not difficult. Have had it off plenty of times during other under the hood projects. Just wasn't sure if a new one would freeze up as well or if there was a way to fix the one I have other than swapping it out.

jamurrin

I just went through this...of course, ZERO degrees here in Ohio is cold.

My PS pump was making noise about a month ago...I was hoping to "limp along" until spring.

Took 2 weeks before the bearing froze for good, tore up the serp. belt, leaked fluid all over the place...yadda, yadda, yadda.

Do yourself a favor and replace it NOW!

kissthis66

Haha that sucks. I'll be sure to do it. So does your new one have the same issue during freezing conditions?

jamurrin

The pump actually died while I was driving on the highway. I guess I "lucked out" since the power steering oil leeked onto the belt, so the belt mostly just slid over the frozen bearing, keeping the water pump and alternator working. Cleaned up the other pulleys with Dawn dish soap...no problems (knock on wood!) since.

Pelican

No one has really answered the OP about the pump freezing up. It doesn't get cold enough here for me to have an inclusive answer but I assume that the oil in the pump will thicken but not actually freeze in the same sense that a pot of water freezes. As someone said, 20* is only 12* below freezing and not all that cold. We do get that cold and I've never had a hint of the PS pump "freezing" up.

Could someone reassure the OP that his new pump is not going to self-destruct because of the cold?

Firestorm500

Well he hasn't actually gotten that new pump yet.

But his old one has worn to the point that it won't flow fluid when it's just a little cold. He is either going to have to put up with it or replace it.

Incidentally, he should replace the pump and reservoir as a unit. You can buy just the pump, but I have been told it's a little hard in the field to separate the two and get a leak-free seal when transferring the reservoir to the new pump.

Radi

I'd try fresh fluid first unless you know the pump to be failing. Old/thick fluid will do what you describe, particularly if someone has added a thickening additive/stop leak to it. Lucas for example.
If it's actually freezing you have water contamination.

Firestorm500

I think he meant that the steering effort is very high until the engine/pump warms up some.

"Freezing" in this case might mean "stop working".

kissthis66

Thanks for all the replies. By freezing I meant that the belt and PS pully turn freely but the PS doesn't work until it gets wormed up. And this only happens when it at or below 20 degrees out. We hit a negative 50 the other day. Hella cold out. But once it warms up it's fine. Just doesn't work when it's super cold out until it warms up. Not an PS expert so not sure what the actual issue is. I think I did put some thickening/stop leak stuff in it at one point tho as it was leaking. So maybe that is the culprit. Checked out autozone and a new PS pump w/ res is $66 so I'll probably just put a new one in next weekend when I get paid. Hopefully the non working thing when it's really cold out is just due to the high mileage in this pump. Thanks everyone for your input.

Radi

you've probably already thought of it, but just in case... it's a good idea to flush all the old fluid out and replace it with new when you replace the pump. When the impellers wear the crud stays in the fluid.

kissthis66

Thanks for the tip. Hadn't thought of doing that but I'll for sure do it when I replace it now.