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Power Steering Pump/Car Stalling?

Lately my '89 Cherokee is stalling when I make turns (right or left). This only seems to happen after I've been going relatively fast like on the highway, first I'll feel a slight lose of power and then after I attempt to make a turn the car will shut off midway through the turn. This has been going on for about 3 months now (lucky for me I do very little highway driving).

Prior to this problem I noticed I was leaking power steering fluid. I've been monitoring the levels and keep filling it back up until I have the time to get under there and see where the leak is coming from a fix it. Could the power steering pump be the cause of my problem? Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Reply to
Kyonn Gowans
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Kyonn Gowans did pass the time by typing:

There is no real connection between the two, apart from engine load. My first thought is you have a vac leak, spray some carb cleaner around the base of your carburator and listen for any changes. If the engine stammers then you need to replace the carb gasket. You can do the same thing on the hoses, look for cracks.

As for the PS system, Leaks usually come from one of three places. Return hose cracked at the bottle (or bottle nipple cracked) Supply hose pinhole, not easy to see, usually shows up as oil/dirt stuck all over the side of the engine. O ring between the PS pump and reservoir. In this case it leaks between the pump and reservoir. Fairly easy fix, NAPA has the rings. Just take it easy with the reservoir as older ones tend to crack.

Reply to
DougW

Oh.. forgot.

Check your motor mounts and the engine ground strap. Busted mounts and a shot ground strap can also cause the engine to cut out on turns.

Reply to
DougW

Thanks for the input

Reply to
Kyonn Gowans

Check the high pressure hose from power steering pump .... looking for a small electical switch mounted/connected directly into the pressure line. It will have two electrical leads .... one black the other usually blue with a brown stripe. There is also usually a 5 amp fuse somewhere nearby (orange leads). This switch is an "Idle kicker" that increases engine rpm when the PSteering pump is straining during a left handed turn (doesnt strain so when turning fully right). Replace the switch and all will be fine again. Problem is that these idle kick switches were mostly/sometimes applied to carburated Jeeps from the 1980s and are hard to find in aftermarket or even dealer sources. If carburated also check the rubber vacuum hose to the idle kicker diaphragm/dash pot on the carburator to be sure that the hose is still intact and check (energize) the electrically operated vacuum switch that usually sits up on the left inner fender .... vac hose runs across to the carb from the vac. switch. . When turning left it takes more Horsepower drain from the pump so you need a 'kicker' on the carb to slightly increase the rpm ... or the vehicle will stall. Doesnt happen when turning to the right.

Hope this helps. ;-)

Reply to
Rich Hampel

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