Power Steering Bleeding: Service and Repair

POWER STEERING SYSTEM AIR BLEEDING

Perform air bleeding procedure as necessary after replacing the steering gear, oil pump or the steering fluid lines.

[2.4L ENGINE]

Required Special Tools:

- MB991958: M.U.T.-III Sub Assembly

1. Raise and support the front wheels.





2. Disconnect the crankshaft position sensor connector.
NOTE:
Doing this will prevent the engine control module (ECM) [M/T] or power control module (PCM) [A/T] from carrying out ignition and fuel injection.

3.
CAUTION:
Perform air bleeding only while cranking the engine. Do not perform air bleeding while the engine is running. If you do so, air in the fluid will be increased and air bleeding will become more difficult. During air bleeding, refill the steering fluid so that the level never falls below the lower mark on the dipstick.

Turn the steering wheel all the way to the left and right five or six times while using the starter motor to crank the engine intermittently several times (for 15 to 20 seconds).
4. Connect the crankshaft position sensor connector.
5. Start the engine and allow to idle.
6. Turn the steering wheel to the left and right until there are no air bubbles in the oil reservoir.
7. Confirm that the fluid is not milky, and that the level is between the high and low dipstick marks.
8. Confirm that there is very little change in the fluid level when the steering wheel is turned left and right.





9.
CAUTION:
If the fluid level rises suddenly after the engine is stopped, the air has not been completely bled. If air bleeding is not complete, there will be abnormal noises from the pump and the flow-control valve, and this condition could reduce the life of the power steering components.

Confirm that the change in the fluid level is no more than 5 mm (0.2 inch) when the engine is stopped.
10. If the change of the fluid level is 5 mm (0.2 inch) or more, the air has not been completely bled from the system. The air bleeding procedure must be repeated.





11. Use the M.U.T-III to erase the diagnostic trouble codes.
NOTE:
This will erase the diagnostic trouble code resulting from the crankshaft position sensor connector being disconnected.

[3.8L ENGINE]

Required Special Tools:

- MB991958: M.U.T.-III Sub Assembly

1. Raise and support the front wheels.





2. Disconnect the crankshaft position sensor connector.
NOTE:
Doing this will prevent the engine control module (ECM) [M/T] or power control module (PCM) [A/T] from carrying out ignition and fuel injection.

3.
CAUTION:
Perform air bleeding only while cranking the engine. Do not perform air bleeding while the engine is running. If you do so, air in the fluid will be increased and air bleeding will become more difficult. During air bleeding, refill the steering fluid so that the level never falls below the lower mark on the dipstick.

Turn the steering wheel all the way to the left and right five or six times while using the starter motor to crank the engine intermittently several times (for 15 to 20 seconds).
4. Connect the crankshaft position sensor connector.
5. Start the engine and allow to idle.
6. Turn the steering wheel to the left and right until there are no air bubbles in the oil reservoir.
7. Confirm that the fluid is not milky, and that the level is between the high and low dipstick marks.
8. Confirm that there is very little change in the fluid level when the steering wheel is turned left and right.





9.
CAUTION:
If the fluid level rises suddenly after the engine is stopped, the air has not been completely bled. If air bleeding is not complete, there will be abnormal noises from the pump and the flow-control valve, and this condition could reduce the life of the power steering components.

Confirm that the change in the fluid level is no more than 5 mm (0.2 inch) when the engine is stopped.
10. If the change of the fluid level is 5 mm (0.2 inch) or more, the air has not been completely bled from the system. The air bleeding procedure must be repeated.





11. Use the M.U.T-III to erase the diagnostic trouble codes.
NOTE:
This will erase the diagnostic trouble code resulting from the crankshaft position sensor connector being disconnected.