Greetings all. Anyone have any experience with the 7th gen power steering pump? Swap motor with 48k miles I currently have in my 2003 SE. I had a clicking noise on the passenger side for the last several months. Intermittent, not noticeable during driving, seem to happen when fans would come on, really weird. Anyway, I used a stethoscope and nailed it down to the auto tensioner (which has 48k mi on it), which I replaced today. During replacement, however, I discovered some play in my PS pump pulley. I had originally believed the PS pump to be the culprit until I actually got underneath the car with my stethoscope and narrowed it down to the tensioner. Post tensioner replacement, however, the clicking noise is gone. I'm happy to have a new tensioner, but now I'm left to wonder if the originally suspected culprit remains but is now temporarily masked by a renewed belt tension?

See the below video. Would you replace? Should I put a priority on this, or do I have time? I do all my own work, so I'm not even worried about that. Hoping especially that the Lt. is still around for his opinion! Thanks!

 

Yep, definitly a bad pump. As far as urgency of replacement, well it can cause belts to shred at a most inopportune time (they never shred in the driveway on a weekend, but during a storm when you are 50 miles away)

 

Thanks, Lt.!I figured as much. I put the new old belt back on (4k on it, anyways) and reserved the new belt I picked up with the tensioner for after I replace the pump. I think I found a good deal on ebay for a new, OEM Hitachi unit. I'll get that on order tonight. Shouldn't be too bad a job being already familiar with the motor during the swap. I'm just in awe that the damn thing has failed at 48k miles.

 

Great attitude. Just know my first time took about 8 hours (you will really benefit from some extra short, thinwalled sockets.i finally found one in a set at walmart that i ground down. Dont try that with a good socket! It is tedius and if any fluid spills, it makes everything too slippery to work with.

 

Not looking forward to it. What's sad is that I checked for play in the pulley while the engine was on the stand in my garage before I installed it onto the motor only 4k miles ago. Would have been nice if it failed 5k miles ago so I could have replaced it before I installed the motor. Is that one of Murphy's Laws or just my luck?

 

Mr Murphy is alive and well and laughing at us all!