Power Steering Fluid Cooler: Description and Operation

DESCRIPTION






All models of this vehicle are equipped with a cooler for the power steering system fluid. The power steering fluid cooler is located at the front of the vehicle. It is mounted to the radiator lower support just forward of the air-conditioning condenser and just rearward of the front fascia. The cooler is positioned so it is in the air flow through the front fascia of the vehicle.

OPERATION
The purpose of the cooler is to keep the temperature of the power steering system fluid from rising to a level that would affect the performance of the power steering system.
The cooler used on this vehicle is referred to as a fluid-to-air type cooler. This means that the air flow across the tubes of the cooler is used to extract the heat from the cooler which it has absorbed from the power steering fluid flowing through it. The cooler is placed in series with the power steering fluid return line, between the steering gear and the power steering fluid reservoir. This lowers the temperature of the power steering fluid prior to it entering the power steering fluid reservoir where it is resupplied to the power steering pump.