Hello, new here helping a friend with a 2002 Sequoia.
It lost power steering after I repaired a hose.

I cut out a 1" rusty section of return power steering hard line under the vehicle and installed ATF hose. Others did this in another forum post on a Tundra which shares similar parts without issues.

* It was whining as I turned it back and forth numerous times to bleed, lots of bubbles in the overflow.

* After a few turns - it would not have power steering at idle but give it gas and it was fine.

* After a few minutes of idling/bleeding - the whining is now gone from bleeding but now it has no power steering at any RPM's??

Fluid is full, hose is not collapsing, no bubbles in the fluid, it's not puking out the reservoir, I see some fluid movement in the reservoir, and it worked fine before the work.

She was using some kind of generic power steering fluid - I refilled it with Dexron since that's what the reservoir cap said.

This looks so simple but I'm obviously missing something?

1. the hose? But others have done it on Tundras without issues and it's not visibly collapsing, I can squeeze it.

2. mixing of fluids - But that seems unlikely and most of the Power Steering fluid came out when I cut the lines.

3. bleeding? but these seem simple enough to bleed - i turned it lock to lock tons of times and the whining disappeared.

 

I have not done a Sequia, but I raise my front end on a jack to get the tires off of the ground which seems to help. Like you mentioned going lock to lock tons of times. I would suggest just getting the tires off the ground, not sure what else would help.

 

Thanks Terry.
Have you ever seen what happens if one is bled without raising/wheels off the ground?

Subaru's routinely need engine coolant burped and will overheat as the flow cavitates/stops, be nice if this is something as simple as you said.

Thanks again.

 

It is not something so simple as the belt is to loose??

About the only thing unless your pump has failed .

Over the years I never jacked the vehicle up just bleed it on the ground I can`t see the difference in taking the load off.

If the mix of different fluids was the issue you would most likely have some sort of jello looking stuff in the reservoir.

 

I think you're right it's not likely fluid - it's all red anyway now, the other drained out.

No bubbles/weirdness in the reservoir, fluid is moving in there.

Belt looks fine, power steering worked fine before. No noises.

I bled with nose up, turning wheel, two times this morning and still nothing.

I didn't touch anything - no bolts, no screws...this is odd.

This sounds crazy but I'm wondering if some foreign object jumped into the hose while I had it apart? Seems impossible, it was only open for 30 minutes but I'm confused.

*** Wonder if I can check return pressure or volume to the reservoir?

I work on a college campus and help students with cars if I can...as much as college kids like free stuff, "you have no more leak, it was free, but you don't have power steering" feels terrible!

I'm no professional but i've disassembled engines, trans, my current 240,000 mile DD I rebuilt from a totaled salvage wreck.

 

Woah crack - 1,000 psi pressures, I don't have any gauges that go that high!

Hmmmm, wonder if I can just extended the return hose into the reservoir and see how fast it comes out?

Anyone seen it before if flushing - if it sprays, runs, or trickles out?