I have a 96 Blazer that's been sitting undriven for at least two years. I got it started, but I don't have any power steering. Things the posts here suggested I look at were a corroded power steering cooler, bleeding or replacing the fluid, and replacing the power steering pump.

I disconnected the cooler and let as much old fluid drain out. I reattached the tubing so that it bypassed the cooler, refilled with fresh fluid, and followed a standard procedure for bleeding the system. There was no noticable change in the power steering.

Next I put a piece of tygon tubing in place of the cooler so I could watch and see if any air was left after bleeding. I did see a little air left and after many more lock to lock turns of the wheel, it occured to me that the fluid was circulating through the gear box with a bubble consistently appearing at the same point--the start of the turn from extreme left back to the right. The circulating fluid was reddish in color: a mix of the old dark red ATF and some from the new clear power steering I added. When I checked the level of the fluid, it was totally clear. Does this mean my pump is shot?

 

I replaced the pump and the steering is great now.

 

Good to hear. Sorry we couldn't help you much on this problem.

 

I'm sorry I didnt see your post. There's just about only one thing to go wrong


That relief valve is a 'bypass' and sitting a while it can get gunky then first time it opens with pressure, it sticks open.

 

That happened to me after a really bad day at a trucks gone wild event my k5 sat up for a while. When I got it back running I too had lost power steering. A pump will lose prime. All u have to do is put front end on jack stands fill pump up crank it up and work the wheel side to side in both directions for a few minutes. Make sure to top the pump off with fluid after it primes up.

 

When I get time, I want to check that out. I got my replacement pump from my other 96 Blazer that has a dead engine. If I fix that, I'll need another PS pump.

BTW, I saw that HowStuffWorks site and that convinced me to go ahead and replace the pump. That and the discussions I read in this forum are awesome help. Thanks.

 

Unfortunately, it wasn't that easy for me. I drained the old fluid and I'm pretty sure about two cups of water came out with it. Don't ask me how. There is a lot of rust and mildew on my Blazer so I wonder if it was in a flood. Anyway, power steering cleaner and new fluid did not work until I replaced the pump. It was a lot of work for a DIYer, but satisfying to get it working again.

 

Yea that's bad luck I have no idea how water would get in it unless it was in a deep mudhole with the cap off lol.