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Did I cook my power steering?

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by v4lkyᚱie, Dec 19, 2024.

  1. Dec 19, 2024 at 3:35 PM
    #1
    v4lkyᚱie

    v4lkyᚱie [OP] My ride to Valhalla ᛉ

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    I was noticing the slightest squeak whenever I turned my wheel last week but thought it was just something in the steering column getting old (it sounded like inside the cab). I have various other suspension noises that are minor (bushings) so I shrugged it off. I even checked my fluid levels then and all was well. I don't know if it's related to this: I just found out I have a rusted line which puked all my power steering fluid right as i got home, and only at that moment did I start hearing the pump whine as i pulled in. I shut it off right away. There are a LOT of sharp turns in my neighborhood so I didn't hear anything unusual prior to my driveway. I'm wondering if the pump is ruined after having JUST lost all the fluid and hearing the whine as I got home, or if it's ok to just replace the bad line for now? 126k miles on a 2014
     
  2. Dec 19, 2024 at 3:43 PM
    #2
    Dillusion

    Dillusion Resident A**h***

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    Probably replacing the line is fine but you also said it was squeaking and fluid was full.

    Line is a lot cheaper than replacing the PS.
     
    v4lkyᚱie[OP] likes this.
  3. Dec 19, 2024 at 3:55 PM
    #3
    v4lkyᚱie

    v4lkyᚱie [OP] My ride to Valhalla ᛉ

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    I would like to add for anyone else commenting, at any other time we would definitely replace the pump (and bushings) considering the mileage but, umm, life has been happening to us a lot lately with a baby coming and my husband has been rennovating our house! :( if we can get away with slapping a band-aid on a problem then that's unfortunately our way of solving things right now. Sigh
     
    JuliaGotta4x4 likes this.
  4. Dec 19, 2024 at 3:58 PM
    #4
    Pavo

    Pavo New Member

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    If you dumped all your fluid you’re most likely going to need a new rack
     
  5. Dec 19, 2024 at 3:58 PM
    #5
    Dillusion

    Dillusion Resident A**h***

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    Even if it squeaks a little but PS works drive it.

    Its not like no PS would make it impossible to drive. Just hard obviously.
     
    v4lkyᚱie[OP] likes this.
  6. Dec 19, 2024 at 4:02 PM
    #6
    icebear

    icebear Recovered Kia Owner

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    I would fix the line, top it off, send it and see how it goes.

    Did something similar to a Sienna and it lasted a couple more years and several plus thousand more miles (it wasn’t driven much but it did cross the country a couple times) until something else rusted out.

    Edit: Teensy grammar, context edit
     
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2024
  7. Dec 19, 2024 at 4:08 PM
    #7
    v4lkyᚱie

    v4lkyᚱie [OP] My ride to Valhalla ᛉ

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    Oof, it was still gushing out the rusted line as I parked it. Fresh out of fluid when we checked the resovoir
     
  8. Dec 19, 2024 at 4:09 PM
    #8
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

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    I don’t think it’s much risk to change the line, refill the system, and see what happens. Worst that could happen is you find out you really do need a new power steering system, and you lose the few bucks in PS fluid.

    If it works, then great! It might be a wounded system, but it might get you through to sometime in the future , when you can deal with it at your leisure. Hopefully that’s the case. Best wishes on the baby (and the renovation). :)
     
  9. Dec 20, 2024 at 8:28 PM
    #9
    3JOH22A

    3JOH22A トヨタ純正男娼

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    The whine will typically disappear once you refill the fluid.

    Squeak turning your steering wheel is probably a failing U-joint in the steering column intermediate shaft.

    At 10 years old, you'll want to inspect other rust-prone areas, like a broken fuel tank support strap, or fuel pump controller swollen with pus.
     
    Thatbassguy likes this.
  10. Dec 20, 2024 at 10:57 PM
    #10
    McSpazatron

    McSpazatron New Member

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    A what now? Do I want to know? Lol
     
    v4lkyᚱie[OP] and icebear like this.
  11. Dec 21, 2024 at 5:15 AM
    #11
    Hungryhawk

    Hungryhawk New Member

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    I too would try to spend as little as possible to keep your 4runner on road:
    Get a premium AAA membership with the 100 mile free towing benefit.
    Replace the rusted line and the plastic reservoir. These have a fine mesh filter inside.
    Use a fluid designed for high mileage vehicles.
    Purge system by fill then drain a few times.
    Plumb into the return line an original genuine Magnafine in line filter. (I would avoid the cheap imitation in line filters the copy the original).
    IMG_7284.png
     
  12. Dec 21, 2024 at 6:32 AM
    #12
    Hungryhawk

    Hungryhawk New Member

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    There are hundreds of posts about "best power steering fluid" on this (and the other runner forum).
    The consensus seems to be a name brand synthetic ATF fluid.
    I used Valvoline Max Life for my first several "turkey baster" reservoir empty/refill and it cleaned it up from the factory original fluid dark color.
     
  13. Dec 21, 2024 at 7:24 AM
    #13
    3JOH22A

    3JOH22A トヨタ純正男娼

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    It's the module mounted to the left of the spare tire. If you have been covering it in Fluid Film, then it's probably OK. FF displaces water and acts like a thin dielectric grease, good for electrical parts.

    upload_2024-12-21_10-22-52.png
     

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