any procedure for flushing the power steering system?

[JBG3]

One of the only issues I've been having since I bought my car is intermittant power steering failures. Occasionally, at certain points while turning, it stops working.

I read after doing a search that you should use ATF in the system?

Any tips on a good place to drain out the whole system? What's in there is the color of mud, and definitely not ATF

 

[hawkeye18]

Most people just use a turkey baster in the reservoir and do a partial flush that way, but the most complete way to flush the system is to take the hoses off the power steering cooler mounted to the front lower radiator support. IIRC, the hose on the driver's side is the supply hose to the cooler.

To flush, all you have to do is put the supply hose in one empty bucket, and stick the other in a bucket of fresh fluid. Once fresh fluid starts coming out the exhaust hose, you're flushed.

 

[SHOZ123]

If the fluid is dark then the insides of the rack, hoises and cooler are coated with carbon. You can dump it by taking the hoses off but when you refill it will just be drity again in no time.

What I found to work the best is to get a gallon of cheap ATX fluid. Suck as much out of the reservoir as you can and refill with the cheap stuff. Check after a couple of days and if it is dark again repeat. Keep doing this only replacing the fluid after it gets dark until it stays clean. Then drain the whole system and refill with some quality ATX fluid.

Then once a year just replace what is in the reservoir.

 

[JBG3]

ok thanks guys!

Ill start with some cheap ATF I have sitting right here

EDIT-

This is the crap I pulled out with the turkey baster. New ATF in and already a slight improvement