Hey everyone, I normally am just a reader here, but this time its me needing some serious help. I went to the store last week and on the way home, everything running smooth and no noises, rattles, nothing, suddenly a thump and my dash lights come on, steering got hard and belt comes off, (2004 SS 3.8 non turbo). I get home and the power steering pump is just damgling. Somehow the bolts that hold the pump to the engine all three snapped off. So heres the problem, getting the pump off is enough work alone but since it snapped the bolt off, theres 1/2 of a bolt in all three holes. I am going to have to back them out. Hs anyone of you dealt with this? Am i going to have to drop the motor to be able to reach the bolt holes? Also can anyone tell me the specs on the bolts to replace them, and last does the pully have to com off to ge the pump out. SO what happened? What woulld cause so much pressure that it would snap off the bolts?Thanks

 

The pulley does not need removed to take the bolts out (there are holes in it that you can spin it to the bolt and slide the socket through). Off hand, I am not sure the bolts used. And why this happened, very strange in my book. My guess is the pump was serviced and somehow it was not tight and/or the bolts began rusting and/or the wrong bolts were used. Are you sure they sheared? Do you have the original bolts or can you see remaining bolts in the holes? I would try to see if you can take the inner fender skirt out to get access to it.

 

Yes, I am sure that the bolts are all broken and the remaining parts are still in the block. You're right, they were probably not installed correctly at one point when or if the pump was serviced. Needless to say, I've got to get this fixed. Removing the fender skirt, how big of a job is that and will it allow me enough clearance to be able to get to the holes, and try to extract the broken studs? Sounds like a lot of work. I am 60 and disabled and dont have the funds to hire it done. I had three back surgeries last month so its going to be hard for me in such a tight spot. Thanks for any helpful replies I get.

 

I agree, its almost definitely from someone over torquing after removing it for one reason or another.

How long did you drive after it broke? Id also be concerned about overheating damage as it shares a belt with the water pump. So once the belt loses tension from the pump popping off, I don't think anything else would be spinning either.

Getting to it is going to be a pain due to the location. Its pretty low to access from the top and pretty high to access from the bottom, although I agree with Maniac in that Id start from the bottom.

Is there any bolt sticking out to get vice grips on? If they're broken sub-flush, that's going to be a massive pain. Even with the coolant bottle removed, youre still very limited on depth due to the strut tower / body. Its definitely enough to get an extractor into, the problem would be getting a drill in there. You'd definitely need a 90 degree drill but alignment would be tricky.

 

I honestly don't know how much clearances or access you would get removing the fender skirt. In a perfect world, removing the skirt is not a big job (a couple screws and plastic body retainers). Depending on how the bolts broke, you might be able to get a nut welded on to them and then back them out.

Given the physical issues you mentioned, this might not be a DIY job, you might need the assistance of a friend or reputable shop.

 

My power steering pump housing, the cast part has a hole in it. Will it blow out fluid from this hole on top? I started it and fluid is gushing out of it. The lines are good and no holes and tight, the cap is wore out but ok, and I cant see with it running where the leak is but its coming from the pump. All I can tell you is I see a hole in the pump.

 

Something is definitely wrong - there should never be fluid gushing out of the pump.

Is it possible its a pressure relief hole? Ive never looked in depth at a 3800 pump, but many PS pumps have a small hole in the housing for pressure relief. If fluid is coming out of that, it either means the relief valve failed or theres a blockage downstream (i.e. the pump being forced to push fluid through but the fluid has nowhere to go).

 

2000 monte SS 3800 , Car is making a strange noise as if its whining when making turns , worst on left turns . Hesitates in lower gears getting onto the highway as well (the trans is NOT slipping ). You know the sound like when you drop it into 1st gear and cruise a little at very low speed ) But it doesn't feel like the trans is bad and fluid on trans is clean , no burn smell and full to line )
Fuel filter has never been changed as far as I know , And no one want to touch it (rusted to hell) and I do not know how and wouldn't attempt it anyway (so i'm sure it will be $$$ ) .

Second could it be low power steering fluid for the whining noise , I found the cap finally but what do I have to take off to get to this cap ? Doesn't look like I can get my hands in there . And buying a long thin funnel will definitely be something I need to get . The cap is covered with oil and not readable from looking down at it . I have to get it off to see if its low oil .

Any help would be really appreciated
Thanks .