[s-cars] power steering trouble

[Tom Green]

http://www.worldimpex.com/parts/genuine-part-plugseal_78067.html

see notes below.

Tom

-----Original Message -----
> Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:40:37 -0400
> From: Mike Fitton <rfitton at vt.edu>
> Subject: [s-cars] power steering trouble
> To: s-car <s-car-list at audifans.com>
> Message-ID: <46CCAD55.4030704 at vt.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> ...otherwise known as: Help me not pay $360 for a seven-cent o-ring.
>
> So my power steering system has been slowing leaking fluid for several
> months now.  It wasn't fast enough to worry about it until last
> weekend.  I was kind of afraid it was the rack, so I kind of did the
> head in the sand bit for a while.  Finally it started coming out fast
> enough to take a look.  Rack's fine.  It's coming out of that goofy  
> plug
> on top of the pump.  You know, the one that looks like a giant
> phillips-head.  So I used my biggest flat-head and got it off  
> relatively
> easily (the first time).  Found an o-ring underneath that has clearly
> failed.  But I didn't have a new o-ring for it and I'm fresh out of
> CHF-11S, so I stick it back on.  Then I remembered that there's a
> 24-hour Advance not far from here, so I decided to take the o-ring  
> with
> me over there to get a new one.
>
> But now I can't get the plug out.  I didn't think I put it in that
> tight, but it isn't budging.  After about an hour of messing with it,
> the plug itself isn't looking too healthy.  I've used that screwdriver
> and a couple of other things.  Even ground down a chisel to a flat  
> tip,
> but everything just skips out of the head.  I needed the car the next
> day, so I put some RTV around the edge hoping it would hold fluid.   
> The
> RTV held at first, but now it's leaking again and not slowly.  So  
> I'm in
> desperate need of a new o-ring and preferably a new plug to stick  
> in there.
>
> So my first question: anyone have any clever ideas how to get that
> little guy out?

I'm trying to contain myself, here, but I'm losing the battle.  I  
don't see that
clever ideas would be understood given the account of preceding  
events.  :-)
Get a NAPA NB95 tool, a 11/16 or so screwdriver bit in impact strength.
You may have to trim it a little to fit the slot.  If there is some  
slot left, use
a rotary impact wrench to remove the old plug and o-ring and discard.
Clean up the mess you made and install new ring using a little fluid  
( hope
there is some left) for lubrication, and new x plug.
>
> Second question: can I get just a new plug from somewhere?  There's a
> check valve under the plug that sits against it just so, so I can't  
> just
> stick a random bolt in it.  ETKA doesn't appear to list a separate p/n
> for it, so officially the only way to get a new plug is with a new  
> pump.

See the web link at the top.  This is the plug and o-ring for the '91  
200/20v.
It is a different pump internally, but uses same plug.  Hint:  look  
at price,
then buy two.  Maybe buy fluid from them as well and spread the shipping
cost.
>
> Third question: if I run out of p/s fluid for a few days before new
> fluid arrives in the mail, will it damage anything?  The pump isn't  
> such
> a big deal, but I'll be damned if I'm going to let a bad o-ring on the
> front of the engine destroy the rack on the firewall.

Yes, it is a big deal.  You risk damaging the pump by operating without
fluid.  If that happens, you risk contaminating the entire steering  
and brake
boost system with metal.  The big stuff will be caught by the  
filters, but the
5 micron and less stuff will grind around in all those expensive  
parts.   Next,
the pump will seize and throw the serpentine belt through the fan,  
the fan
blades through the radiator, and perhaps trash the timing belt  
plastic cover
and the timing belt as well.  Of course, YMMV, and you might get away  
with
it.

I think a better idea ( but not a clever idea) would be find an indy  
repair shop,
perhaps one you have patronized before, and have them order some  
fluid for
  you.  Most have WorldPac accounts and get parts overnight without any
additional shipping charges.  If their mark-up is reasonable it could  
be your
best source.


Actually, that procrastination that has been going on for several  
months is a
big deal also.  That fluid that has been leaking all over everything has
probably streaked all the way to the rear differential, creating a  
real mess
as it attracts dirt and forms a hard coating and softening all the  
rubber
bushings and other parts it comes in contact with, meaning good by to
c/v boots, suspension bushings, etc.
>
> Fourth question: why didn't I just look at it three months ago,  
> like an
> intelligent and well-adjusted guy would have done?

No, no, I'm done.  I'm not going to be suckered in here.
>
> -Cheers!
> Mike