R33 Series 2 Power Steering Pump Issue - Advice Required

[mercyseat]

Ive got a build date 11/1997 Nissan Skyline R33 GTST automatic
 
Issue is the power steering pump ( the bit bolted onto the motor) has shit itself to say the least.
Been told no new ones available in Australia, can't be repaired, no aftermarket option available, can't disable it....
 
Anyone else had this dilema?
 
My mechanics theory is he doesnt wanna start to try to fix it cause he's pretty sure the cam inside is stuffed which will cost $$ labour and leave the car undriveable if no new parts are available.
 
I agree.
 
Just want to know if there is any aftermarket options out there to fix the problem.?
Don't really wanna go second hand again but may have to....
 
OEM Nissan part is like over $900!
But theyre not even sure if Nissan Japan have them available[emoji849]
 
I need to replace the engine fan and fan clutch anyway so gonna sit on this until i find out the fulll options.
 
Any help , Advice appreciated.
 
Thanks in Advance[emoji1303]

[Trex]

second hand again? It's been fixed before?

[mercyseat]

second hand again? It's been fixed before?

 

Original one was damaged in accident.

 

2nd one was off the donor car.

(Is the one on it now, suspected stuffed, noisy bad sounds when hot)

 

3rd one?....I've got a second hand one but been told it can be possibly reconditioned with aftermarket parts for a few hundred $$....

 

Or buy a new oem nissan one which costs a mint...

 

Bit over the labour costs atm

 

 

 

[hardsteppa]

i wasn't aware they failed that frequently...and considering a 2nd hand one is <$100, and genuine nissan seal kit is $33, i'd give rebuilding another 2nd hand one a go.

[mercyseat]

Fixed!
Ended up buying a decent 2nd hand one and got it reconditioned for all up around $230 thanks to Prestige Auto Venue , Coburg VIC
But price will depends how bad it is to whether it can be fixed or if its stuffed. You can't get cam kits for them.
But you can get seal kits etc.
My pump was sounding like a supercharger when it got hot so we are guessing the one thats stuffed in the car is most likely dead.
There are cheap shitty Chinese pumps available but i was told they don't make them good enough to use and to stay away from them.
Final test is next week when she's installed!

[89CAL]

What is this cam you speak of? I thought they were gerotor pumps

For what its worth: I started my car when I bolted my new engine in and did all my running checks and had a small play with the tune (all up about 30mins of running) and had forgotten to fill the system with oil. That was about 5 years ago. Pump is still in my car working no problem. They are fairly durable it seems

I might see what would be involved in doing a DIY refurb. I have a spare one at home

[mercyseat]

Well looks like the reconditioned pump has failed AGAIN....
Did a trip down to Hoppers Crossing and back and she started making the noise again as I was almost home[emoji33]
Only plays up after its hot.
Only stops when you physically pull over, turn off the car then start the car again.
But it does comeback eventually.
Really annoying.
Does anyone know how to fix the power steering pump properly?
Or ended up buying a new oem one?
Im wondering if there is some other issue going on now.
Is there a way that the power steering cools itself down?

[Dobz]

I'm guessing it's the exact same noise as last time. Is the steering feel affected when it's making noise?

[mercyseat]

I'm guessing it's the exact same noise as last time. Is the steering feel affected when it's making noise?

Nope no issues with steering at all other than the stupid belt / bearing noise...shes fine when cold.

Think I'll just bite the bullet and get a new oem one outta nissan japan assuming they still have them in production.

[Dobz]

So it goes away when you shut it off, is it just straight off and on again or do you sit for a minute?

[mercyseat]

It goes away as soon as you turn off / on but once the car is warmed up and hot under accelleration it comes back.

I just pull over stop, then turn the car off, wait a few seconds then restart it up. That seems to temp stop it but if you drive it hard and over 80-100kms it will come back.

I can drive around locally without any issues but as soon as it starts getting to 80-100kms for a long period of time the noise comes back.

But the last one just got worse more often so it will only deteriorate im assuming.

 

[tridentt150v]

I am wondering if you have some other underlying issue???  You said that the original one was damaged in an accident!!!

Something is out of alignment....I really think you will have to dig deeper before grinding a new one down with the same problem!!!

All those pumps and each one failing...its a clear indicator that something ain't right.

 

 

[Dobz]

Thats what i'm thinking too trident, the root of the problem needs to be determined first seeing as it happened twice.

A shot pressure relief valve would make a horrible sound and cause cavitation bubbles which would slowly destroy the pump.

The only thing that makes me unsure about that is it has happened to the previous pump as well and you'd have to be unlucky for the exact same failure to happen on a different pump.

Another possibility could be a small vacuum leak on the fluid return line that only pulls air in when hot and at higher engine speeds.

You need the mechanic to vacuum test the system for any potential leaks, then put a pressure gauge in to test the relief valve while it is and isn't making noise. If the mechanic you know can't do this then find one that can.

[mercyseat]

The 1st pump was damaged after a car accident...pully screwed.

 

2nd pump we just took out of the donor car I bought and put it in without testing it.

3rd pump is second hand but is reconditioned.

 

My mechanic let all the air out after fixing it and gave me a lesson on why you need to get rid of all the bubbles etc.

But I'll ask him to check out the vaccum leak on the fluid return line & the valve cause we definately checked that it wasnt producing bubbles.

I even let it sit with the top off overnight to ensure all the air was out.

My mechanic is the bomb he has a engineering degree and been building/racing cars for years I guess its hard to know/check it when it only happens when its hot.

When I first took it in he told me to take it out on the freeway and get it hot cause he wanted to hear the noise. He used his stethascope to listen to the last pump and he said it was gone.

Hes very good & well respected.

So no issues there.

His policy is though new parts only, no second hand stuff so he said this new one may fail again as hes seen it happen before I just didnt have $950 and didnt even know if Nissan sell them anymore.

We fixed it whilst doing the fan clutch at the same time to save labour.

 

 

[tridentt150v]

Kerry Packer once said....."No I don't have a degree, but I employ a lot of people that do" in response to a legal matter.  So a degree isn't the be all end all.

But sounds like he knows his stuff.....but I am sort of concerned about alignment.  And from your thread it appears that everyone is happy to bandage the sore, but nobody is asking how the sore occurred in the first place or why it won't go away.

I'd think about getting another s/h one and trying again first.....would hate to see your $950 genuine new pump suffer the same fate due to an underlying issue.

 

[mercyseat]

Power steering place that did the reco think that the reservoir filter might be blocked with crap.

He said if it was the valve it would be making the noise all the time...

So dropping the car into them tomorrow to be looked at.

Just gonna check each other bit in the chain.

 

[mercyseat]

Checked out my spare reservoir and you can't change the internal filter...
Looks like a sealed part sold as one piece.

[mercyseat]

What type of power steering fluid should you be using for these cars?

Does it have to be a specific type?

Also do these cars have regulators , regulating flow when the cars run harder/faster?

[KiwiRS4T]

There is a Nissan fluid but I have always used synthetic ATF. Any luck with the power steering specialists?

[mercyseat]

There is a Nissan fluid but I have always used synthetic ATF. Any luck with the power steering specialists?

It's going back to my mechanic Tuesday who knows all the power steering stuff .

He's gonna do some more tests, check for possible air leaks and checkout the reservoir, valves, kinked hoses who knows what's causing it but it seems to be when she's hot and on the freeway under pressure so was thinking it might be the regulator if they have one...

Probably get him to take each belt off to see if it's something else like the timing belt too tight as it's been changed recently.

It's not getting any bubbles coming up when I'm driving it around normally twice this week so it's just a bit of an odd problem unfortunately.