Help

[mudinuri]

Hi All,

Can someone please help with my Power steering problem.

I want to drain the fluid from the Power steering system and refill it with new Fluid, so can anyone please tell me the easiest and simplest way to drain the system, including which pipes to disconnect, how to get all the fluid out of the system and then how to bleed it after refilling.

I know I have to refill the fluid to the cold mark and then turn the wheels lock to lock but not full lock, but do I have to leave the cap OFF the resevoir whilst I am doing all this or do I replace the cap and only take it off to top up?

I have the Hayes Manual but it is not at all clear, well not to me any way!!!

Any help and advice very welcome.

Thanks

[JON35Y]

I am by no means a Toyota technician but have been a vehicle texhnician for over 10 years. I would say to drain the oil out by removing the hose which is the lowest down and refill the system.

Most if not all power steering systems will self bleed so turning lock to lock will bleed it for you. It doesn't matter if you leave the cap off or not. Personally I would put it back on though.

[mudinuri]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the advice, but I am completely useless when it comes to mechanical things, so when you say remove the pipe which is lowest, do you mean the lowest pipe on the power steering reservoir.

You see the problem is I"m an OAP and I"m unable to clamber under the car so it would have to be a pipe I can reach by standing looking into the engine bay, in which case would it empty the whole system?

Cheers mate

[gjnorthall]

The rack is the lowest point of the system so you really need to break a fluid connection at the rack in order to drain the system properly. If you're unable to get under the car then the next best thing would be to part flush the system. Drain the reservoir either by removing the liquid with a syringe (turkey baster). Use a rag around the reservoir so you don't get drips of fluid on the auxilliary belts. Refill the reservoir with fresh fluid up to the cold max mark. Start the engine and move the steering wheel slowly from lock to lock 5 times. Repeat the procedure until you have used a litre of fluid. In this way you should not have introduced air into the system but in any event minor ingress will purge itself when driving. The cap should always be fitted to the reservoir whilst the engine is running.

[mudinuri]

Thanks again for all the help and advice I have recieved.