hello, i recently moved to the british virgin islands and bought a 93 4runner from my boss. He did a horrible job maintaining the vehicle and I have been trying to bring it back to life since I bought it. The power steering had been out for as long as he could remember. I bought a used pump had it shipped here and had it installed by a local mechanic. I doubt that he thought to bleed the system because he called me about an hour or two after I dropped it off to tell me he changed the pump but it still doesnt work. Does the system just need to be bled? Are there any other parts that could be affecting the steering? He says the power steering pump I bought is faulty because when he turns the wheel he doesnt hear it working? He also thinks that the steering box may be broken due to a small collision on the left side of the truck. Is there any truth to this? Where do I go from here?

Thanks for you help!
Paul

 

First warning - the power steering takes ATF, not power steering fluid!

I would hope he would know to bleed it, that's not unique to Toyotas ... if not, he's not much of a mechanic!

FSM for a '93 truck - mechanically, your 4Runner is the same:
http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-buchanan/93fsm/

 

The mechanics here arent the greatest, so anything is possible. If put power steering fluid instead of ATF, did he kill the pump?

 

no its fine if he did. you just dont wanna mix the fluids

 

In my experience, using PSF instead of ATF results in a power steering pump not long for this world, but it wouldn't kill it that fast.

 

So, why do you think the power steering still does not work? Do I just need to bleed the power steering and maybe that will fix it? The power steering hasnt worked in years, is that a factor?

 

Do you have dirt dobbers?And you assumed it was the pump,It could just as easily be the steering sector.There is a bleed screw on it but it will mostly bleed itself when you crank the engine.
Bigblock

 

Should I hear a winding sound with the pump is working, like the mechanic says? I kind of have the feeling he was expecting to install it and the pump work right away...

 

tc has it right, check out the link below. you can do this yourself.

lee

 

I only heard a winding in my PS pump if I am low on fluid. If the previous owner used PS Fluid instead of ATF the viscosity is different and will wear down the seals causing it to leak further down the road. Is there fluid in the actual reservoir? If you turn the ignition on and steer form side to side, open up the reservoir cap to see if you notice the fluid swirling around.

Double check for any leaks, the belt, and your lines.

 

I just replaced my power steering pump on my 92 4runner.
It wasn't working at all and it was hella hard to turn the 31 inch tires.

I replaced the pump and bled it and it works like a new car now.

It's really easy to bleed. Just jack up the front tires and turn the wheel all the way left and fill the resivor then turn the wheel right and left to lock position 20 times or so. Then repeat (check the fluid level! Be careful) with the engine on.
The fluid may overflow a little.


Also.. I've never heard of putting Automatic transmission fluid in the power steering!
Where did you hear that from??

Thanks
Smod

 

Uhm, on the power steering cap.

 

page sr23 in my 93 4runner fsm.

lee

 

In the FSM..... and on the power steering pump cap! Its small lettering so look close..

 

i dont really know what he was doing.... i picked up my truck this afternoon and the power steering is working fine. he didnt charge me to install it because he thinks its broken still. i guess i need to flush it and put ATF in because im not really sure what he put in it.

 

Should be able to smell it. Or look at the colour of the fluid.

So the mechanic things the part is broken because it doesnt make any noise? I guess he isnt used to working on yotas.....