1998 Ranger Bad Power Steering Pump OR Bad Fluid - Help

[sahasranshu]

Hi All,
I purchased a 1998 Ford Ranger XLT 2.5 L with 93K miles this month. There is a loud noise coming from the PS Pump and hard to steer, my understanding is this could be due to air trapped inside the fluid OR Bad PS Pump.

When I took off the reservoir cap, the fluid is completely black BUT no air bubbles coming out, the fluid was stagnant ( Engine running )

Can I conclude that there is no air trapped inside the pump and the pump has gone bad ? I know for a fact that these pumps whine in general but not to the extent that it makes hard to steer imo.

Looking for suggestions from folks familiar with this situation, need inputs to find the root cause/resolve.

Thank you all for your time.

P.S - I read that switching to a Saginaw style pump is the best option to stop the whine, however that is out of my budget for now.

 

[franklin2]

Just try a reman pump. It could get worse, it could get better. You will need a special tool to pull the pulley off the pump and install it on the new one.

 

[sahasranshu]

Just try a reman pump. It could get worse, it could get better. You will need a special tool to pull the pulley off the pump and install it on the new one.

Thanks for your response. Another question though, along with the pump, do I need to change pulley as well?
Sorry for the lack of knowledge. I am not aware what are the signs of bad PS pulley,

 

[Shran]

Thanks for your response. Another question though, along with the pump, do I need to change pulley as well?
Sorry for the lack of knowledge. I am not aware what are the signs of bad PS pulley,

New or reman pumps don't come with a pulley. He's saying you need to remove the pulley from your pump and reuse it.

 

[sahasranshu]

New or reman pumps don't come with a pulley. He's saying you need to remove the pulley from your pump and reuse it.

Yes, I understood that part. But I am wondering if my pulley is bad too? What are the signs that I should look for that indicates a bad pulley?
This can help me understand if I should use a reman pump with a new pulley OR re-use existing pulley.
Thanks

 

[sgtsandman]

As long as the pulley spins straight, it's fine. The only way they go bad is if it got bent some how.

 

[sahasranshu]

As long as the pulley spins straight, it's fine. The only way they go bad is if it got bent some how.

Thanks, much appreciated

 

[franklin2]

Thanks for your response. Another question though, along with the pump, do I need to change pulley as well?
Sorry for the lack of knowledge. I am not aware what are the signs of bad PS pulley,

This is something I have never understood. Most all OEM's use a power steering pump bracket that is solid with just a hole in the middle. You HAVE TO take the pulley off to get the pump off. So even if they did sell a new pump with a new pulley (never seen that) you will still have to take the old pulley off to get the pump off and put the new pump on and then put the old or new pulley back in place. Why don't they make a little slot in the bracket so the pump slides off and leave the pulley in place?

 

[franklin2]

P.S. I do not want to see you write back in saying you are looking for a new pulley because you tried to pry the old one off or used a regular puller on it. You can buy the proper puller from Harbor Freight, the last one I bought was several years ago and it was $25. Using anything else will bend the pulley. And some of them are really stuck on there. They do not use a keyway and no retainer bolt. The press fit does it all, so it's tight.

 

[sahasranshu]

1998 Ranger 2.5 L | PS Pump or PS Pump Pressure Switch | RPM Drop

Hi All, I understand typically power steering pumps in Fords of that era whine in general and to my understanding the pressure sensor/switch works by increasing engine RPM during demand. When I make sharp turns when parking, the pump whines very badly and it decreases the RPM of the engine and...

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