Power steering pump...
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: North Texas
Power steering pump...
The power steering pump on my wife's '08 Expy EL went out. She started hearing a whining and we thought it was a transmission thing because of how odd this six speed tranny is with shifting and all just kinda meshed together. So we took it in to have them check the trans and that's when we were informed that it was the power steering pump and not the trans. Apparently it has developed a leak and needs to be replaced. With only 40K miles, how the heck does this happen????
Here's the kicker... at 40k miles, we are past the 36K/3yr warranty and they aren't willing to work with us on it. They want $400 for parts and installation to do the repair. This is to replace the pump itself. The pump is $150 and the rest is labor.
I'm considering buying the pump and replacing it myself. I'm not a mechanic, but I'm not afraid to turn a wrench either. Anyone ever done this on a late model Expy? Any pitfalls to look for? Should I take this on, or bite the bullet and pay to have it done? I would prefer to do it myself if at all possible.
Here's the kicker... at 40k miles, we are past the 36K/3yr warranty and they aren't willing to work with us on it. They want $400 for parts and installation to do the repair. This is to replace the pump itself. The pump is $150 and the rest is labor.
I'm considering buying the pump and replacing it myself. I'm not a mechanic, but I'm not afraid to turn a wrench either. Anyone ever done this on a late model Expy? Any pitfalls to look for? Should I take this on, or bite the bullet and pay to have it done? I would prefer to do it myself if at all possible.
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: North Texas
Okay, I hadn't actually heard the "whine"... so I just went out and sat in the driveway and with the truck in park and idling, I turned the wheel to the stops left and right several times... perfectly quiet and smooth as silk... hmmm... So I put it in gear and do the same thing and pefectly smooth still.
So I back out of the driveway and go for a spin around the block. As soon as I pull forward and accelerate slightly and hear the whine. Accelerate a little hard and the whine is more pronounced. Accelerate hard and it's not as noticeable but I think the engine noise drowns it out some. Sitting in the drive with the car in park and revving the engine, there is no whine at all, not even a little. Put it in drive and held the brake hard while revving the engine... no whine... even turned the wheel a little to engage the power steering pump... no whine.
Sooo... I'm not buying the dealers prognosis that the powersteering pump is failing... makes no sense at all. Sounds more like a trans whine than anything. I'll be pitching a fit with them on Monday.
So I back out of the driveway and go for a spin around the block. As soon as I pull forward and accelerate slightly and hear the whine. Accelerate a little hard and the whine is more pronounced. Accelerate hard and it's not as noticeable but I think the engine noise drowns it out some. Sitting in the drive with the car in park and revving the engine, there is no whine at all, not even a little. Put it in drive and held the brake hard while revving the engine... no whine... even turned the wheel a little to engage the power steering pump... no whine.
Sooo... I'm not buying the dealers prognosis that the powersteering pump is failing... makes no sense at all. Sounds more like a trans whine than anything. I'll be pitching a fit with them on Monday.