How to change the power steering oil filter

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vd - 30 Mar 2007 20:56 GMT

My car is Town and Country 2003, but I think it's either close too or
identical to a dodge van.

The question is that my power steering pump made noise, so I am
changing it. However, I heard that I need to clean the oil filter for
this tool. My question is this:

1) Is there such a thing (oil filter for steering pump), and if so,
where is it?

2) If the oil filter is in the reservoir as one of the mechanics I
talked to, how do I take it out. Look at the reservoir, it seems to
be a plastic container that doesn't have way to open it (I haven't
taken it out yet).

3) Do I have to change the oil too? How? The mechanics told me that
poor oil on top, and let it pushes the old oil out. That means I have
to have an opening in the bottom somewhere. One place I can see is
the 2 input/output of the oil cooler. Also, if I let oil out of one
of those 2 two, would that be enough (full path)?

4) If I need to change the oil, then it seems I need to put back the
oil pump first, the question is that would it block the oil flow when
I change the oil?

Thanks.

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Denny - 31 Mar 2007 03:02 GMT

> My car is Town and Country 2003, but I think it's either close too or
> identical to a dodge van.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> 1) Is there such a thing (oil filter for steering pump), and if so,
> where is it?

It is in the bottom of the reservoir. You'll need to get a new reservoir to
get the filter/strainer. Good news is that it's not an expensive
part....$15-$20 if I remember right.

> 2) If the oil filter is in the reservoir as one of the mechanics I
> talked to, how do I take it out. Look at the reservoir, it seems to
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> oil pump first, the question is that would it block the oil flow when
> I change the oil?

The way I do this is to use a suction gun to pull as much fluid out of the
reservoir as possible then replace the reservoir. Put the hose going to the
pump on and stick the end of the return hose in a gallon jug. Cap off the
return fitting in the reservoir with a rubber "cork" for the time being.
Start the engine and leave it idle while pouring new fluid in the reservoir.
It'll take about 2-3 quarts till the clean fluid comes out of the return
line. Hook up the return line and clean up the mess.

Denny

> Thanks.

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vd - 31 Mar 2007 03:52 GMT

Thank you. I'll give it a shot tomorrow.

> > My car is Town and Country 2003, but I think it's either close too or
> > identical to a dodge van.
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
>
> > Thanks.

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Stormin Mormon - 02 Apr 2007 01:34 GMT

If the fluid is low, the pump will make noise.

I know of no filter on the steering system.

How do you know it's the steering pump? I had to replace one on
my Chevy S-10 Blazer, but that was cause it didn't work well, and
I was tired of the steering being hard to turn. I question if
it's a bad pump, on a four year old vehicle.

Signature

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
.

: My car is Town and Country 2003, but I think it's either close too or
: identical to a dodge van.
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
:
: Thanks.

Reply to this Message

vd - 16 Apr 2007 17:01 GMT

Sorry, for the slow reply.

The fluid was not low. The noise occurs even when I don't steer and
the car is not moving. When the car is not moving, if I rotate the
steering wheel a little bit, the noise is much louder. After replace
the pump and the oil, the noise is gone with very limited testing.

I however notice a new problem now though. When changing the power
steering pump, I notice the 2 boots near the inner tie rods are both
wet with oil. I also heard twice lately (once before and once after
the change of the pump) a loud cracking noise on when turning the
wheel while backing the car up from parking. Could someone please
tell me how the oil is leaked here? I plan to open it up, but I want
to learn a bit about it before doing this. Usually with this problem,
which component(s) fail?

Thanks.

On Apr 1, 8:34 pm, "Stormin Mormon"
<cayoung61**spambloc...@hotmail.com> wrote:

> If the fluid is low, the pump will make noise.
>
[quoted text clipped - 50 lines]
> :
> : Thanks.

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