How to change the power steering pump on a 2000 dodge caravan?

Answer 1

This is a time consuming part replacement that is too complicated to explain very well here and really needs some diagrams. I would recommend getting a manual in your local library and following it, but there are two routes to sucessfuly changing this Power Steering pump. Published manuals replicate the factory service manual method working from below moving the exhaust system aside to gain access and are the best procedure if the car is on a lift. The other procedure only found on-line works from above and requires removing and reinstalling the windshield wiper box and alternator to gain access to the power steering pump works better when there is no access to a lift. Both procedures require removing the splash sheild and serpentine belt. A condensed from-above procedure originally found in an on-line Chrysler mini-van forum further edited and detailed based on personal experience follows;

1. Remove the winsheild wiper box. (remove wiper arms, detach wiper fluid line, remove top cover, detach descending drain hoses, seperate electrical connector, remove wiper motor assembly box)

2. Remove the serpentine belt. (turn tensioner to releive tension and push belt aside)

3. Remove the front passenger wheel and serpentine belt splash shield.

4. Disconnect vehicle from negative battery terminal and remove the alternator (begin by removing alternator to intake housing bracket to access connections at rear).

5. Remove the top alternator brace plate.

6. Remove the top 3 bolts from the alternator / power steering mounting bracket AND the one in the back mounted to a stabilizer bar.

7. Remove the bottom 3 bolts from the alternator / power steering mounting bracket. Requires offset 15mm and obstruction 15mm (e.g. fixed size box end wrench or gear wrench recommended, PS pulley has slots to permit working with socket wrench through the pulley).

8. Remove the 3 bolts (behind the pulley that mount the power steering pump to the alt / ps mounting bracket.

9. Disconnect the fill hose from the ps pump (large spring clamp). (it will empty itself, and the reservoir above, a drain pan below is helpful, factpry method only marginally more tidy suctions reservoir then drains power steering pump and hoses from below at fittings on steering rack near the right front wheel)

10. Remove the low pressure return line from the ps pump (small spring clamp may be concealed by heat sheilding).

11. Remove the nut that hold the ps pump from behind (easier to remove l-bracket attaching rear of pump to engine and transfer to new pump)

12. Remove the alt /ps mounting bracket from the engine compartment allowing the ps pump to stay behind.

13. Remove the high pressure line from the ps pump, this is a threaded reverse flare fitting.

14. Remove the power settering pump from the vehicle.

15. Transfer the pump pulley to the new pump. A gear puller, or a 3 jaw puller, etc. are helpful. Do not pry. This pulley is widley available because it is often damaged during removal.

16. Transfer the mounting stud, filler bolt, and rear l-bracket to the new pump as required.

17. Place new power steering pump in approximate location in cavity from above.

18 Attach High Pressure line, low pressure line.

19 Secure rear l-bracket to engine but do not tighten

20. Install alternator and power steering pump mounting bracket. Step 21 (next) may be easier if some of the longer screws can be placed loosely before this step, but not always, depending on now the hoses attempt to position the pump.

21. Attach power steering pump to mounting bracket and tighen rear l-bracket. This is an awkward step because the screws are inserting and tightened around obstacles. A magnetic retriever is useful to assist both placing screws and recovering dropped screws and tools.

22. Reinstall alternator and serpentine belt, reattach vehicle to negative battery terminal, reinstall wiper motor assembly, reattach drain hoses, reconnect wiper motor electrical connector, reattach wiper fluid hose, reattach wiper box cover, reattach wiper arms.

23. Reinstall splash shield and passenger wheel, tighten wheel nuts to final torque in 2 or 3 steps to avoid distorting brake rotor which would brake pedal pulsations.

24. Add power steering fluid

25. Bleed air from power steering. With engine running turn steering wheel from lock to lock and back 3 times. Top off power steering fluid reservoir and repeat as necessary. This vehicle is heavy enough for the front tires to damage asphalt driveway paving if this procedure is performed (esp repeatedly) on a warm day with the vehicle stationary. Moving, even extremely slowly, or between lock-lock turns, avoids over-stressing a sun softened paving surface.