power steering screen or filter?

[95camaro3800]

Is there any kind of screen or filter in the power steering?

The reason I ask is:

1. Loud whine (i believe the power steering pump)
2. Very hard to turn steering wheel at low rpms.
3. Had a good leak a while back, was stranded at gas station, and all they had was "power steering stop leak". so I basically poured like 1 1/2 bottles of that crap in there, so it's probably half power steering fluid and half this stuff. I'm thinking that the screen or filter (if there is one) could be clogged from this stuff, being theres so much in there.

My Hayne's manual mentions something about a filter in the troubleshooting part, however I'm not sure if they were talking about a 3.8 (which is obviously what I have) a 3.4 or a 5.7. If there is such thing, can someone please explain where it's located, and how to get at it?

Also, when the car is idling, it runs a bit rough. I also noticed when it idles, the battery meter fluctuates a bit. Not a huge amount (usually) but more than normal.. I'm assuming. At night, the lights dim a good amount. Not sure if this has anything to do with it or not.

[josh98bird]

Re: power steering screen or filter?

When you put the stop leak in, well it probably made it harder for the fluid to run through. Let us know what it is?

[95camaro3800]

Re: power steering screen or filter?

When you put the stop leak in, well it probably made it harder for the fluid to run through. Let us know what it is?

thats exactly what i'm saying. i think it clogged something up, making the power steering pump whine and starve for oil. i'm in the process of doing springs/shocks as i type this (taking a break.. lol). so far i'm at about 3 hours, and i've gotten one shock off :p
theres WAY too many things going wrong already :cry:

if anyone knows if theres a screen or filter i could try cleaning/unclogging, let me know

[95camaro3800]

Re: power steering screen or filter?

anybody? i need to know asap

[Camaro Dom]

Re: power steering screen or filter?

no filter or screen. completely free flowing system. no p/s radiator either (unless you have an SS)

[95camaro3800]

Re: power steering screen or filter?

well, i took a closer look at it all today, and noticed one of the hoses are pretty messed up. theres also a bunch of fluid (i'm assuming p/s fluid) all over the front of the engine. any way this could be the whole cause of the whine and stiff steering? or will i still need to replace the pump?

[Vracer111]

Re: power steering screen or filter?

The whine and increased effort at low speed is the pump letting you know it's on the way out soon and the failed hoses are not helping anything. Best thing to do is replace the hoses and power steering pump at the same time...expensive but necessary (will run about $400 for just parts - the two hoses and pump). You will also need to borrow a pulley puller from an autoparts place to take the pulley off the old pump and put it on the new one.