WTF?

[rockmax77]

I have a stock 97 2-door, and I was playing on a smooth muddy dirt road, I stopped, turned my wheel all the way to the right, stomped on the gas to do a 180, and all of a sudden I lose my power steering, WTF? Hard as hell to turn, but was able to get it home, (would have got out and checked, but was pouring rain), PS fluid fine, no bursted hoses, belt fine, WTF? Does a pump just take a crap that quick, and that bad? Please help, and thanks in advance!



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[someotherguy]

Seems like the Vortec-era pumps are bad about shearing the shaft off inside the pump; the pulley will continue to turn as it's supported by the bearing but no pump action is happening.

Richard

 

[superdave]

Seems like the Vortec-era pumps are bad about shearing the shaft off inside the pump; the pulley will continue to turn as it's supported by the bearing but no pump action is happening.

Richard

...and you put it in the highest possible bind by turning it to lock while sitting still.

 

[great white]

...and you put it in the highest possible bind by turning it to lock while sitting still.

This is true. Maybe it's an old habit from my days of manual steering but I always roll when I turn the wheel. The thought of all that pressure and stress on tie rods and associated steering components always makes me cringe. I'll turn the wheel stationary if I have to, but avoid it if I can.

Well, my reluctance to spin the wheel stationary probably also has to do with having to deal with the after effects of aircraft tires that have been spun on thier axis. Eepp!

To the OP: open the pump reservoir cap with the engine running. Your should see fluid moving. If you don't, start investigating the pump as Richard has suggested. Another possibility is popped seals in the spoon! Valve, but I've never seen it happen before.

Good luck.

 

[bluex]

It could be either the evo sensor on the steering column or the valve on the pump itself. Try unplugging either one before replacing the pump.

 

[someotherguy]

His description of "hard as hell to turn" would lead me away from the EVO system, but nothing wrong with checking there as well. Thing is, if you disconnect it, you would have no extra steering assist at low speed - which is what the EVO is meant to provide. The steering shouldn't be unreasonably difficult at this point, just resistant enough that soccer moms would complain when trying to park a 'burb.

Richard

 

[bluex]

My evo is screwed up an it looses all assist when parking. An with big @ss tires it's very hard to turn when not rolling...

 

[1997chevydriver]

His description of "hard as hell to turn" would lead me away from the EVO system, but nothing wrong with checking there as well. Thing is, if you disconnect it, you would have no extra steering assist at low speed - which is what the EVO is meant to provide. The steering shouldn't be unreasonably difficult at this point, just resistant enough that soccer moms would complain when trying to park a 'burb.

Richard

Actually the evo system, when unplugged, provides 100% assist.

If every thing works normal, When you pick up speed it cuts the assist back so you have more steering feedback, more positive feel in the wheel.

When they fail, most of the time you end up with "jerky" steering in corners. When mine went out i was in the middle of a corner and it went from limited assist to full assist and it felt like something broke loose due to how fast the wheel turned.

 

[1997chevydriver]

My evo is screwed up an it looses all assist when parking. An with big @ss tires it's very hard to turn when not rolling...

Just unplug it at the column

 

[someotherguy]

Actually the evo system, when unplugged, provides 100% assist.

Only time I ever had that scenario was when the wires going to the pump had bare insulation and shorted together. But I've only owned a couple GMT400's new enough to have EVO...

Anyway, if anybody cares to go back and read the OP's post I think you might reconsider wanting to blame this on the EVO. The pump is most likely dead.

Richard