I need to replace the power steering pump on my 1999 Grand Caravan, 3.3L.
Anything I should know before I start? Known problems / difficulties?
I am very comfortable doing minor / medium repairs on my Toyota, Ford, and
Saturn, but this is my first attempt at something this hard to reach on the
Dodge.
It looks like I will have to push the exhaust system out of the way. Is
this necessary? Will I have to remove the pulley before I remove the pump?
Should I remove the pump from the bracket first, or take out the whole
bracket/pump assembly in one piece? I'm thinking I'll cover all necessary
bolts/nuts with penetrating oil and let it sit overnight before I begin. Is
this a good idea?
Any advice / tips would be appreciated.
Thanks.
I case anyone else was waiting for an answer to this post - The power
steering pump is bitch to get to, and almost impossible to remove. Unless
you can figure out some way to turn the vehicle upside-down, expect a face
full of power steering fluid, no matter how much time you spend draining the
system. The hose from the reservior to the top of the pump cannot be
reached from the top, bottom, or any side, unless you have an extra elbow
1/3 of the way up your arm.
Buy either the Chilton's or the Haynes - doesn't matter because both are
wrong about how many and which bolts need to be removed. The ones that need
to be removed are the ones you can't get to until after you remove the
pully. To remove the pully, simply remove the pump.
Once the pump is free of the mounting bracket, you simply turn it, twist it,
pull it, push it, squeeze it, bend it, and stretch it - simultaneously, of
course - and then dismatle the entire exhaust system to free the pump from
the undercarriage.
That's as far as I got. Tomorrow I'll install the new pump. Haynes says
"installation is the reverse of removal." Should be a piece of cake.
> I need to replace the power steering pump on my 1999 Grand Caravan, 3.3L.
> Anything I should know before I start? Known problems / difficulties?
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Thanks.