So my power steering shut off on me the other day after running for 30-45 min of highway driving w/ the A/C on. It didn't die until I got off the highway and drove on local roads for about 5 min or so. So I pulled over turned the car off for a few min to see if A.) I had PS Fluid (which I had plenty) B.) If their was something lodged in the PS fan (nothing.) So I turn the car back on to go home and WoW power steering is back. Ok so now I am on my way to work tomorrow I drive the same distance on the highway and keep the a/c off this time. Again 5 or so min after exiting the highway and power steering dies. Shut the car off and wait 5 min and Bam back again. Now since then I have not been on the highway and drive times have been no more then 15 min and no problems. What could the issues be? Failing power steering pump? And from what I have read here seems the heat from the header causes the electric motor to burn up. Could the pump be overheating from the higher header temp due to high speed highway driving?

 

Check your fuses? Also helps to list your year/model.

 

Oh and if it is the power steering pump does anyone know the part number I don't want to goto the dealer I called them and they wanted $1600 for diagnoses + parts + repair labor. Also is their anyway to safely protect the pump from the heat of the header?

 

2003 cooper S

 

Which fuse controls the PS pump?

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co....php?p=2144930

A few google searches yield many threads.

 

Don't see anything wrong with the fuse so must be the pump on its way out. I found a few pumps on car parts.com is their a difference between an 03 and other new models?

 

Should I even risk putting a used pump in since they apparently don't last that long I found a few between 38k and 46k miles but my car has 40k. Don't want to go through this again in the near future

 

Unfortunately, you can't get a "new" pump. Your options are limited to a re-built pump, or a pump from an '06 with lower mileage.

I am selling my failed power steering pump (mine was replaced from a low mileage '06). I'm half tempted to have it re-built and sit it on a shelf as "back-up". Since these Rover hold-over PSP are known to fail.. sometimes repeatedly.

 

Ah ok so thats what I was wondering (the pumps are the same from year to year)

 

It's not hard if you can get some air under the car. I didn't have much and getting the two bolts lined up in the U-Channel frame drove me crazy to put it in acceptable language. Used a rebuilt pump from Bimmerwrks which was like new. I kept mine and blew the motorbrush dust out with a compressor and It's like new. Brushes are only 1/3 worn. The seal for the hydraulics wasn't leaking so it's like a new unit. With a Mini, you have to live with the problem. Probably not enough room for mechanical pump. Don't forget, pump requires special fluid.

 

Replace the power steering fan for $200! When the power steering pump gets to a critical temp, it shuts down. I just replaced by fan with the same symptoms you have. HTH

 

Do you know when your power steering fan engages?

 

Its the fan? I can see the fan spinning when I look under the car. Is their a heatsink or something on the pump that could be clogged up with debris?

 

As far as when I am parked the only time I can get the fan to go on is when I turn the A/c on.

 

On another note preventing more Power Steering Pump issues would a fan sheild be a good fix or do you all think the Power Steering Pump ducting would do a better job?

 

Replace the fan and end your frustration.

 

ok but do you think the duct or sheild would help prevent more damage?

 

Hey Joe, what makes you think replacing the fan is the end all solution? I'll ask again, when does your PS fan engage? How often do you hear/see it running? Mine switches on when the A/C turns on. Other then that, I do not hear/see it running.

I think we all need better clarification as to when the PS fan engages before assuming a new PS fan solves the problem the OT is experiencing.

 

Sorry dude, I don't know. I don't think my fan wasn't working at all. I think my fan had seized due to dirt. HTH The fan should be replaced as a preventative measure anyway because it's so prone to sucking road grime.

 

Okay, easiest way to tell if you need a new fan is by switching on the A/C, putting the car in neutral, engaging the handbrake, climb out and look under the front/side of the car. The PS fan should engage within 30sec.-1min. You should see it start to spin (and definitely hear it).

I'm just a bit confused if this is the only time the PS fan engages. I may still wrap my downpipes with some heat shield tape just for good measure.

 

Thats what I did and as I said the fan runs.

 

The fan doesn't run all the time. At first I was misled thinking it did. If it
runs quietly with the A/C on, it's probably OK. The pump motor with brushes is flawed and shows up as an intermittent failure. Brushes most likely hangup with all the carbon residue that can't escape. Mine worked when going to the Postoffice and failed when I came back out. This went on for several days. After reading about the fires, I wasted no time in replacing the unit which I think is fused at 100 amps. It's not pretty, but there's no other choice and it's a lot cheaper if you can DYI.

 

Bottom line, there should have been a recall.

 

So far best price I can find on the pump is 399.95 from germanautoparts.com