By ZPukajlo on Thursday, November 29, 2001 - 10:20 pm: Edit

Finally got a cold streak in CO. This has caused the power steering to freeze in the morning. Would the cap on the reservoir be the culprit for this? I noticed that it has like a breather tube built into it. Also, this has caused a small leak. Is the freezing causing that? Just replaced the clamp about three weeks earlier due to a leak. Does LR make a cap without the built in breather? Would putting in a semi-synthetic ATF fix all of the problems? Would you guys reccomend it? Thanks for any and all advice!

Z

By ZPukajlo on Friday, November 30, 2001 - 01:18 pm: Edit

Any thoughts on the issue?

Z

By michel on Friday, November 30, 2001 - 01:30 pm: Edit

I ran the disco in labrador in -40 and beyound for extended periods and no such issues as freezing power steering. What do you mean by frezing?

Michel

By ZPukajlo on Friday, November 30, 2001 - 01:38 pm: Edit

It sits outside all night while I'm at work. When I go to turn it over the steering wheel won't move to the right until the fluid warms up. That's the freezing that I am talking about. It only happens when the temp drops to 32 degrees or colder.

Z

By Mark Meyer (Deadelus) on Friday, November 30, 2001 - 02:41 pm: Edit

I noticed a similar tightening-up of the power steering also. We had our first cold snap this week in Austin. It got down to 30deg F or so, and when I would go out in the morning or after the truck had sat for long enough to cool down, the steering would be very stiff. It would loosen up to its standard feel after the truck warmed up. Today its in the 50's and the symptoms have gone away. What gives?

By Matthew Traylor (Warrdragon) on Friday, November 30, 2001 - 05:07 pm: Edit

I noticed the same symptoms this week (I'm in CO as well, it was really cold tuesday), but mine were not that severe. Just slow, somewhat difficult steering until the truck warmed up. My reservoir leaks like a sieve, so that might have something to do with it. Also, I've been getting an intermittent whine from the engine at idle. I was thinking that the pumps just don't like cold.

Matt

By ZPukajlo on Friday, November 30, 2001 - 05:42 pm: Edit

This is what I think. The steering system uses ATF instead of power steering fluid. The reservoir cap has a built in breather tube to help keep the fluid cool. This becomes a problem when the temp drops to freezing or colder. I'm thinking a semi or synthetic ATF will fix the problem. However, I was hoping that someone who has experienced this and fixed it would chime in. What do you guys think?

Z

By cartner on Saturday, December 01, 2001 - 06:51 pm: Edit

perchance any of you have checked for water in your steering system?
maybe you've got some condensation or something. changing the fluid might help, at least you'll know its clean and pure in there.