You have a clogged filter in the power steering reservoir,, or bad pump, or air in the lines, of
these the clogged filter (it’s a fine screen) in the reservoir is very common. The filter
isn’t;replaceable, but the reservoir is inexpensive enough that there isn’t any enthusiasm for
cleaning the thing. It isn’t difficult to remove, I expect that it’s not very hard to plug the hose
barbs with some trimmed corks or cap them plastic wrap and rubber elastic and fill the
thing with acetone put on the cap and shake it and then drain it from its inlet fitting, and
repeat until clean. I say ‘expect’ because like everyone else I just swap it out when I can’t
remember when the last time I swapped it out was.
If you fill it up and idle the car turn the wheel *slowly* from lock to lock 4 times to purge air
from the steering rack. If you find a puddle on the ground, or if that doesn’t solve your
steering problems then it’s a hose or the pump. Change the hoses while changing the
pump.
If that doesn’t solve the problem, the only part of the system left to change is the steering
rack. Save that for last, it takes much more labor time and a front end alignment afterward.
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