Steering: Service Precautions

DESCRIPTION - POWER STEERING SYSTEM
This vehicle comes with power steering as standard equipment. There are two different steering systems available, a standard and a special ACR/R/T system. The power steering system consists of these major components:
^ POWER STEERING PUMP
^ POWER STEERING GEAR
^ POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR
^ POWER STEERING FLUID PRESSURE HOSE
^ POWER STEERING FLUID RETURN HOSE
^ POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER

OPERATION - POWER STEERING SYSTEM
Turning of the steering wheel is converted into linear (side-to-side) travel through the meshing of the helical pinion teeth with the rack teeth within the steering gear. The lateral travel pushes and pulls the tie rods to change the direction of the vehicle's front wheels.

Power assist steering is provided by a belt driven rotary type pump. It directs fluid through power steering fluid hoses to the power steering gear where it is used to assist the driver's turning effort.

Manual steering control of the vehicle can be maintained if power steering assist is lost. However, under this condition, steering effort is significantly increased.

WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS

WARNING: POWER STEERING FLUID, ENGINE PARTS AND EXHAUST SYSTEM MAY BE EXTREMELY HOT IF ENGINE HAS BEEN RUNNING. DO NOT START ENGINE WITH ANY LOOSE OR DISCONNECTED HOSES. DO NOT ALLOW HOSES TO TOUCH HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD OR CATALYST.

WARNING: FLUID LEVEL SHOULD BE CHECKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF TO PREVENT PERSONAL INJURY FROM MOVING PARTS.

CAUTION: When the system is open, cap all open ends of the hoses, power steering pump fittings or power steering gear ports to prevent entry of foreign material into the components.