p/s noise issue

[c240sx13]

Everytime I turn the steering wheel towards the left it makes a screeching type noise and i can kind of feel the vibration reflect off the gas pedal and stuff... .any idea wat it would be? something wd40 can fix??

[Rkesh88]

i thik you need to tighten the pulley to mke the belt tighter....i kind ahaev the same problem when i hit like 45-5k rpm but its tight...i dunno

[c240sx13]

hmm but it only does it when i turn it to the left... i was thinking the fluid... but then i dunno.... i saw some other people had the same problem in other forums but they didnt really post the remedy

[ass15]

i just filled the powersteering fluid. mine was leeeking.. once filled the noise and the lil vibration went away... fill it w/ the so called non leak ps fluid...just in case

[c240sx13]

will do thx

[SirWarrior]

use ATF not PS fluid

[projectRDM]

Originally Posted by ass15

i just filled the powersteering fluid. mine was leeeking.. once filled the noise and the lil vibration went away... fill it w/ the so called non leak ps fluid...just in case

Good job. Wrong fluid. You'll be replacing the pump soon. PS fluid kills the bearing and gums up the rack.

[ass15]

never looked into this but why doesn't it make sense to put ps fluid or ps for our cars? anyhow i used the STP power steering flud & stop leak. why the hell would you use auto transmission fluid in ps ? i'm just asking this cuz i just don't know and just going w/ common sense.

just found this:
"Under NO conditions is ATF to be used in power steering systemsATF will become very hot under loads and start to break down causing electrochemical degradation, this also happens with power steering fluid but not as fast was with ATF. "
http://www.tandmautomotive.com/1/inf...ing_fluid.html

[Al_S14]

Originally Posted by R240NA

Good job. Wrong fluid. You'll be replacing the pump soon. PS fluid kills the bearing and gums up the rack.

i used PS fluid in mine. thats what came out of it and i got OEM Nissan fluid.

[SirWarrior]

Oh well, we told you.
Next time read the FSM.

And when you going to have more issues with PS system, look back at this and say DOH!!!

[projectRDM]

Originally Posted by ass15

never looked into this but why doesn't it make sense to put ps fluid or ps for our cars? anyhow i used the STP power steering flud & stop leak. why the hell would you use auto transmission fluid in ps ? i'm just asking this cuz i just don't know and just going w/ common sense.

just found this:
"Under NO conditions is ATF to be used in power steering systemsATF will become very hot under loads and start to break down causing electrochemical degradation, this also happens with power steering fluid but not as fast was with ATF. "
http://www.tandmautomotive.com/1/inf...ing_fluid.html

Good job on research. Now go read the owner's manual and FSM for your car, then come back and take your foot out of your mouth.
ATF is commonly used in most Japanese cars as the systems are designed to handle it and work best with it. ATF contains detergents that breakdown deposits within the lines and hoses and allows for better lubrication as it's a thinner fluid. ATF also has a higher thermal point than PS fluid (your quote above is probably old or does not take into account modern advances in fluids) and does not gum up like PS fluid does when heated. Nissan suggests and recommends the use of Dexron/Mercon ATF in the PS system, that's what you should use. Domestic cars haven't made any strides towards advancements in PS systems for years so they're fine with using old technology, I'm sure that article was written without taking all points into consideration either.
Every car I've ever worked on that had issues with either the pump, rack, or leakage was filled with PS fluid. My own car killed a rack back in 1998 because I had rebuilt the lines and inadvertently filled it with PS fluid, not thinking better. The rack locked up and damaged the main gear within five weeks, and the return hose had become so clogged that it dropped considerable pressure to the pump.

[Al_S14]

i am so confused. if nissans use atf then why does dealer sell PS fluid....or is it ATF fluid with PS label on it? i know i told the parts guy whatv ehicle its for.

[projectRDM]

Originally Posted by Al_S14

i am so confused. if nissans use atf then why does dealer sell PS fluid....or is it ATF fluid with PS label on it? i know i told the parts guy whatv ehicle its for.

Do you actually expect anyone at the parts counter to know better? Most parts guys aren't trained in the vehicles they sell for, or they're just going by whatever they assume on their own. I've never personally inspected their counter fluid but if it's bright red, it's ATF. Otherwise, it's the wrong fluid.
My Lexus takes ATF also, clearly written in the manual, yet I had to drain PS fluid out of it and replace the pump right after I bought it since the original owner couldn't read either.

[OdessaS13]

dude, my car was having same issue. turn wheel screcching noise. replaced pump and filled with PS fluid becuase common sence said Power steering fluid would go into Power steering reservoir. 2 weeks later pump started leaking. got new pump under warranty and filled with ATF after reading the FSM, so far its running flawlessly. live and learn

edit:
guy at kragen said PS fluid for nissan
mechanic at nissan dealership said PS fluid
a shop mechanic said PS fluid

after i specified to each its for a nissan 240

zilvia knows best

[aznpoopy]

FSM page ST-6

Recommended fluid is Automatic Transmission Fluid "Dexron II" type or equivalent.

live and learn. go change out your fluid and cross your fingers.

Originally Posted by al s14

am so confused. if nissans use atf then why does dealer sell PS fluid....or is it ATF fluid with PS label on it? i know i told the parts guy whatv ehicle its for.

as rx-7 guys learned many, many years ago, never trust dealership mechanics or parts counter people.

[Al_S14]

Originally Posted by aznpoopy

FSM page ST-6

ST-7 but you are correct . Damn i hate the dealer!!!!!!!!

[EchoOfSilence]

i'm running half ATF and half PS fluid cuz i'm a lazy dumbass with no time. i replaced one of my lines, and my uncle filled it with coastal ps fluid, yet i didn't know. then my steering got wierd, started whining. I didn't have time to replace the fluid before it was time to come up here for school, so I took out the fluid in the resevoir and filled it with dex3 atf.

*sigh*... I know I'm gonna have to replace shit, just don't know what's gonna go out first. damnit.

[Shawn_of_the_Dead]

yeah, ATF is the way to go....mine was leaking really bad....rack and pinion a little too. Now I have it filled with ATF, instead of PS fluid and it leaks less from both. Take these guys advice....I would trust them before some parts guy who probably doesn't even drive a nissan, just works there. He doesn't give two shits about your car...or it's health. Good luck.

[ass15]

i used STP Power Steering fluid & stop leak. its color is light redish/pinkish.... would you say its atf?

either way i think best thing to do now is to go ahead and take out the fluids and put in the atf... . live and learn... i must say.

Originally Posted by R240NA

Do you actually expect anyone at the parts counter to know better? Most parts guys aren't trained in the vehicles they sell for, or they're just going by whatever they assume on their own. I've never personally inspected their counter fluid but if it's bright red, it's ATF. Otherwise, it's the wrong fluid.
My Lexus takes ATF also, clearly written in the manual, yet I had to drain PS fluid out of it and replace the pump right after I bought it since the original owner couldn't read either.

[overb0ost]

Originally Posted by aznpoopy

FSM page ST-6

Recommended fluid is Automatic Transmission Fluid "Dexron II" type or equivalent.

Is Dexron 3 the same as 2? or does it HAVE to be "Dexron II"

[EchoOfSilence]

Originally Posted by overb0ost

Is Dexron 3 the same as 2? or does it HAVE to be "Dexron II"

IIRC, Dexron III meets and exceeds Dexron II requirements.

[Al_S14]

o man i went bonkers on my steering rack today lol!! drained shit till last drop filled it up let it get warm then drain it again. went through this 5 TIMES no joke. 3qrts of ATF . Feels ok for now.


Floor jack at pepboys : 19.99
Having a lift at my disposal: priceless

[Xandy Boosts]

how would one drain it? just disconnect a hose and let gravity do its thing?

shoulda read zilvia before i filled it up

[SR20d2fourT]

I always used to use p/s fluid...then my shit gave out. Then I took off my p/s cuz I was a lazy broke ass bitch. haha, its fun w/ out it though.

[!Zar!]

Originally Posted by Xandy Boosts

how would one drain it? just disconnect a hose and let gravity do its thing?

shoulda read zilvia before i filled it up

There is a drain plug on the steering rack.

After you remove the plug turn the car on and turn the rack back and forth.

ATF is the best way to go.

Enough said.

[Xandy Boosts]

Originally Posted by !Zar!

There is a drain plug on the steering rack.

After you remove the plug turn the car on and turn the rack back and forth.

ATF is the best way to go.

Enough said.

thanks for the tip, will do this today after work

[krustindumm]

Another quick way...

jack the front of the car up

remove the P/S return hose from the reservoir, and extend it into a large bucket/drain pan, plug the open port on the reservoir

get an equally large container (or many opened small containers) of ATF (3-5 qts) at hand and drop a funnel in the reservior

have a friend start the car and crank the wheel lock to lock as fast as they can while you pour in ATF to keep the reservoir full. have them shut it off when yuou have about 1/2-1 qt left.

reconect the lines, start the car, and top off the fluid.

[THEMkris]

i just wanted to bump this old thread. i had some problems in my p/s and up until now i never knew i wasnt supposed to use ps fluid. so now im trying to find the correct way to drain my power steering. where exactly is the power steering drain plug? heres a picture if someone can use it to pinpoint where it is exactly.


also, what are the steps of flushing out the system correctly? oh and about those return hoses.. what hoses are they exactly? and the boot on my steering rack is leaking.. do i just change out the who steering rack or change the boot, o-rings, etc?

any help will be greatly appreciated.

[driftthis]

i don't think anyone specified this but, regular ps fluid eats at the rubber hoses..thus causing a leak.

[Harbe]

walmart ATF is baller seriously