Powersteering loss

[bradsgtz]

How often does the powersteering jus stop working. The belt is still on and fluid is good and dont smell burnt or anything. Its a 2000 gagt i have had nothing but trouble out of it (but i still love the car). Im really getin tired of the dumb security light too!

[rixGAphx]

The power steering never just 'stops working' unless the engine stops or something's wrong.
Sounds like mebbe a valving problem, inside the rack assembly.

Frankly, I've never heard of this.

Mebbe somebody else has experienced this, I dunno

[bradsgtz]

yeah it never made a noise or anything.it jus stoped working. it has a electrical plugin on it so im gonna put a volt meter on it and check to see if that has anything to do with it.but a new pump is only 63 dollars with a 30 dollar core. but that still might not be it.

[rixGAphx]

Originally posted by bradsgtz
yeah it never made a noise or anything.it jus stoped working. it has a electrical plugin on it so im gonna put a volt meter on it and check to see if that has anything to do with it.but a new pump is only 63 dollars with a 30 dollar core. but that still might not be it. I believe your PS is variable-assist, and that electrical plug recieves commands from the PCM (Powertrain Control Module, the engine-tranny 'puter).
It causes the pump's internal valving to change from 'normal' assist at road speeds to greater assist at slow/parking speeds.

But even if you unplugged it, it should never result in zero assist.

Is the $63 for the variable-assist pump, or a 'standard' pump?

[bradsgtz]

i think its jus a standard pump.quite cheap i thought

[red98grandamse]

Im with Rix.. I'm pretty sure your PSP is variable assist, which is why the plug is there.... I don't think the standard pumps have any sensor plugs.

[97limitedbird]

That valve is probably what's known as PWM-- pulse width modulated, aka duty cycled. I'm sure that it's engineered to open fully (provide full assist) should it lose it's signal from the controller due to bad wiring, disconnected, whatever (I know Fords do that, GM I'm sure does also, it only makes sense in the name of safety). So pull the connector off, and go for a drive. If the steering is normal, you have an electrical issue. If not, then that valve could be bad, or the rack itself.

[Colin]

Maybe the pump shaft is broken inside and it's no longer spinning..... :hmmm:

[bradsgtz]

ok il give that a try.thanx for the info guys.

[DFK000]

Hey

I also have a Grand am 2000...I changed my power steering pump about 2 months ago (was making a weird noise).

Last week while driving downtown my battery light came on and 15-30 secondes after that my power steering stopped working!

Now I have no ideal how those 2 items are related?!?!


anybody can illuminate me? lol

Tks

DFK

[levey]

Broken Belt?

[DFK000]

No ...my belt if fine (was also changed along with the power steering pump)

Forgot to mention that after I pulled over ( after my power steering was gone). I stopped the car and checked under the hood to see what was happening ....Saw nothing special.

Anyways....restarted the car and ever since then ( about 2 weeks now) ..the battery light and power steering seem to be ok?!@?!


DFK

[MantaGreen97]

Originally posted by bradsgtz
i think its jus a standard pump.quite cheap i thought

The pump itself should be nearly identical on the VES (Variable Effort Steering) and the standard power steering cars. On GAs they use an "EVO" (Electronic Variable Orifice) system to vary the assist (more expensive GM cars use MagnaSteer).

On the GA, the main difference in the pump is that the VES pump will have accomodations for the EVO itself. If you're buying the pump without the EVO, it shouldn't be much different in price than the non-VES pump. However if the pump includes the EVO it will be more expensive.

As for the intermittent loss of P/S that is strange. It could be that you have air in the system somehow. You could always try a P/S flush to start with (if you're going to be working on it on your own I mean). If that doesn't solve the problem, I'd follow what other ppl here have already mentioned (look into the pump, rack, etc.)