Topic: Power steering check stick broken
in Forum: General Non-Vette Discussion
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Lifetime MemberC3VR Founder
Eagleville, PA - USA
Joined: 11/1/2001
Posts: 18377
Vette(s): Used to own a 1979 Corvette now owned by JB79
I went to check the power steering fluid in my MDX and when I pulled the stick out, I was puzzled as to how I can read it. All that was there was the plastic rings around the stick that keep it in place while in the reservoir. Then it occurred to me that the stick was broken. So the part that has the measurement on it is no longer there. I'm assuming the broken piece is in the reservoir.
How big a deal is it that the piece is in the reservoir?
How hard is it to pull the reservoir out? Any special prep or considerations I need to know about?
Thanks!
How big a deal is it that the piece is in the reservoir?
How hard is it to pull the reservoir out? Any special prep or considerations I need to know about?
Thanks!
-Adam Wartell
NCM Lifetime Member #1222
Founder: C3 Vette Registry
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My first Vette, now owned by JB79:
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Need to know the internal workings of the pump. The broken part may just be sitting in the bottom of you reservoir. Maybe a big deal if the pump has chewed it up and is pushing it throught your system. You may end up getting a blockage down the road. Reservoir pull is not that big of a deal, just a pain in the butt. Use a crabber tool, what I call it, tool use to get things you drop in hard to get area and fish around in your reservoir for the missing part. I would try that first.
Good Luck
Lifetime MemberC3VR Founder
Eagleville, PA - USA
Joined: 11/1/2001
Posts: 18377
Vette(s): Used to own a 1979 Corvette now owned by JB79
Oh yeah! I know the tool you are talking about. Not sure I have one, but can certainly pick one up at the local auto supply store. Gotta get a oil filter there anyway!
-Adam Wartell
NCM Lifetime Member #1222
Founder: C3 Vette Registry
C4 Vette Registry, C6 Vette Registry
My first Vette, now owned by JB79:
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
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Turkey baster...suck the fluid out of the reservoir, then you should be able to see the stick.
You don't need to leave it in there, it will eventually create a problem. Depending on how the pump is designed, it could get into the vanes, and lock it down...while driving at 75mph...in "rush hour" traffic.
You don't need to leave it in there, it will eventually create a problem. Depending on how the pump is designed, it could get into the vanes, and lock it down...while driving at 75mph...in "rush hour" traffic.
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56 
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Lifetime MemberManteca, CA - USA
Joined: 11/20/2005
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Vette(s): 1978,two tone,Metalic Rootbeer & gold
1975 L48 4 speed
Woah ! 75 mph and no PS, could seriosly endanger the armadillo population. 
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Its not that difficult to take the pump off and remove the outer housing.
kstyer 2007-06-09 19:37:50
There is a large nut holding the pressure relief valve in where the pressure hose was attached. There are also two more bolts on the back of the housing. With the pump out of the brackets, pull those and the housing will tap off of the pump toward the rear. Just be sure to keep track of which way the pressure relief valve and spring went in when you pull those pieces off.
It goes back together fairly easily. Just tap evenly around the housing when pushing the pump back into the housing. Sometimes a good squeeze will do the job.
The dipstick is plastic. You can probably just remove the pump if you can't reach it with the mechanical fingers, and dump the dipstick out.
Of course then there is the possibility that you did not break the stick. It's only a few inches long, and there are two rings that show the level of the fluid in between the two.
Look closely at the bottom of the stick. It may not be broken. But from your discription it probably is. If most of the stick is laying in the bottom of the pump it is very unlikely that it will bother anything. Due to the design of the pump and the fluid pickup, the plastic can not enter the pump.
The problem comes in if the plastic breaks up into smaller pieces, and then does get into the pump. So I would get it out.
Forgive my post I was giving advice on the C3. After I was done I realized it was the other car. But if you can't grab it with the fingers, you could still take the pump off, flip it over, and dump the stick out.
in Forum: General Non-Vette Discussion
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