Author	[Modern View]
TheOldHokie 08-01-2012 04:31:38 108.8.17.88 Report to Moderator	This is a little long so bear with me. The power steering on my Ram 1500 (5.7L Hemi) started flaking out a few weeks ago. At low engine RPM I was getting the classic PS groaning noise a and loss of steering boost. Fine on the highway but noisy and hard to steer in a parking lot. No leaks just the low RPM groaning and loss of boost - fluid looked good. I replaced the pump with a NAPA remanufactured unit complete with reservoir. The OEM service manual says not to reuse the serpentine belt pulley so I installed a new NAPA pulley with the new pump. I also ran about a quart of fluid through the system to flush it after installing the new pump. The steering now worked fine but from the git-go I had a little chirping noise at startup which I attributed to the belt and new pulley combo. It seemed like once the belt got warm the noise diminished or stopped so I was considering replacing the belt. Yesterday as I was returning from Baltimore the "belt squeal" got really loud and I pulled over to check. The new pump was leaking fluid from the shaft seal and the noise clearly wasn't comng from the belt - it was the pump. I topped it off and nursed it the rest of the way home. Steering still works fine but the pump has an intermittent loud squeal and it's slowly leaking fluid out the shaft. So now I'm faced with replacing this pump again and I expect some grief when I ask NAPA for a warranty exchange. And quite frankly I understand that - I'm always suspicious of anybody who says a new part they installed was defective. But this was a simple job - just three bolts to remove the pump. The new pulley was installed before the new pump was bolted on using a professional pulley installation tool - no hammers or presses. The system was flushed of all old oil. The noise was present from the start and the new pump couldn't have more than 400 or so miles on it - yesteday was the first time I put gas in the truck since I installed the pump. Can anybody think of anything I might have done to cause this very premature failure? TOH [Reply]   [No Email]
oldtanker 08-01-2012 20:06:14 66.228.255.239 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - PS pump on Ram 1500 in reply to TheOldHokie, 08-01-2012 04:31:38   TOH NAPA should refund that without any problem. I know my NAPA dealer would. In fact my dealer has "extended" the warrenty just a tad once or twice for me. Last one was on a heater fan motor that was 2 months past warrenty. I put a reman PS on my Suburban from NAPA 2 years and many miles ago (dealer offered to let me barrow his puller instalation tool too when I got it)......no problems so far. Just about all the reman stuff is being sent to Mexico today. Rick [Reply]  [No Email]
TheOldHokie 08-01-2012 18:20:16 108.8.20.175 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - PS pump on Ram 1500 in reply to W_B, 08-01-2012 04:31:38   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see Thanks Hobo - I just needed a little reassurance from someone that does this on a regualr basis. I have been told I could F up a wet dream - whatever that is.... ;-) TOH [Reply]  [No Email]
TheOldHokie 08-01-2012 18:16:15 108.8.20.175 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - PS pump on Ram 1500 in reply to Launistrut, 08-01-2012 04:31:38   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see Myersville MD - abot 10 miles due east of Hagerstown on I-70. Then up the mountain a little bit ;-) TOH [Reply]  [No Email]
Kevin in MN 08-01-2012 17:56:42 76.113.186.146 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - PS pump on Ram 1500 in reply to TheOldHokie, 08-01-2012 04:31:38   I had simular issue with a napa reman pump for a Dodge, I made napa refund 100% and I went off to the dealer to pay the BIG bucks for a new pump. Turns out a new OEM pump was $10 cheaper than the napa reman! Kevin [Reply]  [No Email]
Hobo,NC 08-01-2012 10:12:08 98.16.5.216 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - PS pump on Ram 1500 in reply to davidNvirginia, 08-01-2012 04:31:38   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see Common issue with all reman pumps these days... Get one from Chrysler... Are try another you may get lucky... I just swapped out the pump on my son's Honda for the second time I think I got a good'n this time cuzz from the get go no wine'n and it worked like a new one that was not the case on the first one BUT on the second one I do get one site chirp when I fire the engine off as you did... The pump is as EZ as it gets to R&R so I will gamble one more time... Like fuel pumps if the customer wants aftermarket he's on his own he save the $100 he can deal with the issues... [Reply]  [No Email]
heybusdriver 08-01-2012 09:35:02 70.71.98.18 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - PS pump on Ram 1500 in reply to TheOldHokie, 08-01-2012 04:31:38   Get rid of the Dodge, but a Ford. Stan 8N 146710 8N 179555 8N 197904 8N 199000 8N 254079 8N 362039 [Reply]  [No Email]
horsin around 08-01-2012 09:34:02 108.215.68.111 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - PS pump on Ram 1500 in reply to TheOldHokie, 08-01-2012 04:31:38   TOH I agree with soundguy ! Anytime you have a leak around a shaft it is usually a seal problem. The cause can be a bearing or a bent shaft. Either way it should be returned to NAPA and replaced at their expense. Good luck Oh by the way where in Maryland do you live ? bob [Reply]  [No Email]
reomack 08-01-2012 06:25:13 184.3.94.123 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - PS pump on Ram 1500 in reply to TheOldHokie, 08-01-2012 04:31:38   If it were me, I would drive to the NAPA store and let the manager see and hear the problem, then he won't argue when you take it back for a warranty replacement. And no, I don't think you did anything wrong in your replacement effort. [Reply]  [No Email]
soundguy 08-01-2012 04:55:59 184.247.204.169 Report to Moderator	Re: OT - PS pump on Ram 1500 in reply to TheOldHokie, 08-01-2012 04:31:38   buying a napa reman pump is the first thing that comes to mind :) sorry to hear about the issue. my guess is that reman pump has a bearing issue and that is the chirp.. and it's eating the seal as we always see with a sealed shaft with bad bearing.. good luck i'd walk in that store VERY unhappy. [Reply]  [No Email]