What had happened was...

mikeH

mikeH

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So I just picked up my truck from it being shipped to Germany. Every time I hit a little bump, it would pull to the right. Sooo either A. they screwed up my suspension during shipping, or B. maybe the power steering fluid was low/belt slipping etc...I pop the hood to check the fluid, and when I pull the top off, its FREAKING TRANS FLUID. The shop I took it to in England RIGHT before I left (~2.5 months ago) somehow screwed up and put trans fluid in the power steering system. :dontknow::dontknow::dontknow: Red as hell. So my question is...as it's been in there almost 3 months now...what should I prepare for. Since I have noticed, which was a few days ago, I have been siphoning out the red from the reservoir and replacing it with new power steering fluid and starting it, turning the wheel, shutting it off and repeating. This is until I can get it in to get it flushed entirely (probably next week - figured a week isn't going to make much of a difference as its been in there for months now). :chain: Any suggestions?
 
Trans fluid can be run as power steering fluid. I don't think your concern is related at all to the fluid.
 
Well the bump steer issue has since completely gone away, and I have noticed a light squeak coming from the p/s pump. How is it, I wonder, that the fluids could be interchangeable? The p/s fluid is twice as thick as the (what looks like) ATF.
 
These trucks came from the factory with ATF+4. It is what was recommend from the factory. You've mixed 2 different fluids, I suggest you get it flush asap and put ATF+4 in it.
 
mikeH,
The Mopar power steering fluid for our trucks is red.... are you sure they didn't use that? And the pull to the right sounds like a bump steer issue, if your lowered? JTSVP makes a nice fix for that problem.
JTS Venom Performance
JTS Venom Performance
 
Mine isn't lowered...yet...the kit is in the mail. But like I said, since I started flushing it, it completely went away. It drives perfectly fine now. I am definitely lost...
 
maybe had air in the lines? :dontknow:
 
Quite possibly. I'm diagnosing it today, and it squeaks while cold, but as soon as it warms up, the squeak goes away entirely.
 
Ok, further findings...it may be a pulley that is being resistant to turning...I am trying to see which one it is, and the only one that may be resistant is either the power steering one or the one below it (coolant I believe?). Best way to tell is pull off the belt and spin them by hand yea?
 
mikeH said:
Ok, further findings...it may be a pulley that is being resistant to turning...I am trying to see which one it is, and the only one that may be resistant is either the power steering one or the one below it (coolant I believe?). Best way to tell is pull off the belt and spin them by hand yea?
Click to expand...

Typically you will feel some resistance in the pulley with the belt off. If not you can try to listen with a stethoscope to pinpoint the location of the sound.
 
VPRPWRD said:
Typically you will feel some resistance in the pulley with the belt off. If not you can try to listen with a stethoscope to pinpoint the location of the sound.
Click to expand...

But first thing first and more importantly MAKE SURE THE STETHOSCOPE IS WORKING! Check this by placing it directly on the horn while having a friend go inside your truck and push on the center of your steering wheel. Listen carefully! :vroam:
 
A thicker fluid can make the pump noisy when cold. I'm running ATF in my truck.
 
These trucks are unique! Just drive it for a while and get used to the sounds it makes. the oil filter will whine when cold,the lifters will tick so bad you think the oil pressure is low, the oil lines leak, the power steering lines leak, the harmonic balancer will want to fall off, the radio amp will quit and the shifter is sloppy like soup, it will toss you around from the grooves in the road because the tires are to wide in the front ,the back tires just can not find traction when you want but it will be the most fun truck you will ever own!! In stock form they are not that quick but it feels like you are driving on glass! Please, stop looking for and assuming there are problems with your truck! it is just fine!! drive it! just try to break it before you try to fix something that isn't broken.....just a rant...... it has been winter here to damn long and i sorely miss trying to break mine! Have a nice day!!! :)
 
Slitherbeast said:
These trucks are unique! Just drive it for a while and get used to the sounds it makes. the oil filter will whine when cold,the lifters will tick so bad you think the oil pressure is low, the oil lines leak, the power steering lines leak, the harmonic balancer will want to fall off, the radio amp will quit and the shifter is sloppy like soup, it will toss you around from the grooves in the road because the tires are to wide in the front ,the back tires just can not find traction when you want but it will be the most fun truck you will ever own!! In stock form they are not that quick but it feels like you are driving on glass! Please, stop looking for and assuming there are problems with your truck! it is just fine!! drive it! just try to break it before you try to fix something that isn't broken.....just a rant...... it has been winter here to damn long and i sorely miss trying to break mine! Have a nice day!!! :)
Click to expand...

This is absolutely the most accurate description of a Ram SRT-10.
 
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