Last night i started up my truck and moved it out of the way of another parked vehicle. When i turned it off, power steering fluid poured out of the cap (I'm guessing its a pressure cap, at least hoping). I waited till this morning to check the fluid and it read full. Started it up and went to turn, no power steering. Checked fluid again and dip stick shows fluid is fuller now. Can someone help me?

 

I would try to loosen a line up near the hydo boost unit (psi line from pump) and start the truck. It sounds like you have an air lock. Not sure why it occured, but give it a try.

 

ok that helped, i have power steering back but its not the greatest. The pump humms at low rpms and steering is alittle jerky. Possible the pump is going? thanks for the help btw. least its running again

 

Not sure why, but it sounded like you got an air lock. It may go back to normal once the air is purged from the fluid and that can take a couple days sometimes. Keep an eye on the level.

 

Try some synthetic fluid. Thanks Steve B.

 

alright, we got all the air out of the system and everything was alright if i kept the rpms up. I've put over 500 miles on it since sunday. I just shut it off a couple of minutes ago and power steering fluid overflowed like the first time. Is the pump getting weak? If so, is there a good aftermarket pump?

 

I would look for a pin hole in the PS pump intake hose, if the hose is in great shape, then you likely have a bad shaft seal on the PS pump.

NAPA sells a decent PS pump for much less than Dodge.

 

I need to take a closer look at how this whole system works as far as the whole hydro boost and such. This same thing has happened to myself and several others on this board and I am not sure what would cause it. Mine went away after a few minutes though. Did you notice anything in the brakes like a hard pedal but weak braking?

 

my pedal is stiff, jerks back then goes weak. I tried some new power steering fluid. Supposed to stop leaks and recondition seals. the noise has gotten better and my power steering is alot better. Still a problem there but i can deal till i get some money around. I was looking at PSC for a pump and steering box. Good brand?

 

Well if the fluid overflowed on shutdown that makes me a bit leary of the accumulator on the Hydro boost unit, especially if it seemingly worked ok for 500 miles. This problem is a brain teaser that's for sure. I haven't run into many probs with the pumps failing on these trucks, but I have replaced a couple of hydro units. On those there was no power steer or brake assist, but with the psi gauge on the line coming out of the pump there was adequate psi showing the pump to be ok.