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Old 08-27-2013, 08:32 AM
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Kim473 Kim473 is offline
 
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Default 2004 Dodge Dakota power steering problem

Thought maybe some one could help with suggestions. Just started happening on the weekend. When at a stop or going very slow I have to use both hands sometimes to turn the wheel. When moving at say 10 km or faster, no problem. What do you think the problem is. Fluid is up, belt seems tight, no broken lines. I was thinking that the pump is wore out or maybe the belt is wore and not quite grabbing on the pulley like it should. What do you think?
I want to try the simple and cheep things first.
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Old 08-27-2013, 08:45 AM
sillyak sillyak is offline
 
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If the belt was slipping it should be obvious from the noise.
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Old 08-27-2013, 09:44 AM
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Dacotensis Dacotensis is offline
 
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Does the Dakota have a power booster?
If the ps lines are shot through the PB then you may have a faulty booster.

How about your steering box? Any visual issues with it? Leaks?
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Old 08-27-2013, 01:00 PM
bb356 bb356 is offline
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The rack and pinion is starting to fail !!!
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Old 08-27-2013, 01:06 PM
Bound2Fish Bound2Fish is offline
 
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Same thing was happening to my truck. Turned out to be the power steering pump but could be other things too. Maybe take it to a mechanic and see if they can diagnose it for you or find a buddy who is well versed in mechanics.
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Old 08-27-2013, 03:34 PM
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Kim473 Kim473 is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sillyak View Post
If the belt was slipping it should be obvious from the noise.
No noise from the belt, was a little the last few weeks from the pump making a little noise.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dacotensis View Post
Does the Dakota have a power booster?
If the ps lines are shot through the PB then you may have a faulty booster.


How about your steering box? Any visual issues with it? Leaks?
Don't think there is a booster. No visual leeks

Quote:
Originally Posted by bb356 View Post
The rack and pinion is starting to fail !!!
Please don't say that. Sounds like big bucks.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bound2Fish View Post
Same thing was happening to my truck. Turned out to be the power steering pump but could be other things too. Maybe take it to a mechanic and see if they can diagnose it for you or find a buddy who is well versed in mechanics.
I'm pretty versed in stuff, Rebuilt engines and changed them out when I was younger. But there are too many possibilities that it could be and I would like to start on the right track at the beginning and not chase my tail if you know what I mean. Changing all kinds of parts till you find the correct one could be big bucks and a lot of work.
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  #7  
Old 08-27-2013, 06:52 PM
coolpete1 coolpete1 is offline
 
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those pumps are crap , we change lots of them , but with out seeing it its hard to diag for sure.
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  #8  
Old 08-27-2013, 07:15 PM
sako1 sako1 is offline
 
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Pump.
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  #9  
Old 08-27-2013, 07:47 PM
on point on point is offline
 
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Default Steering

My guess is the steering rack is on it's way out. My truck did the same thing good luck.
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  #10  
Old 08-27-2013, 08:50 PM
Singed Singed is offline
 
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Same thing happened to my 2004 it was the intermediate steering shaft, the ujoints seized up. Very easy to check and change just remove the bolts on each end of the shaft one at the rack the other at the column and check the joints. I did mine about 5 years ago, part was 230 and about half hour of my time to change. I have a 2004 factory manual in pdf that I could email you if you want.
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Old 08-27-2013, 10:07 PM
wildcat111 wildcat111 is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bb356 View Post
The rack and pinion is starting to fail !!!
x2
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  #12  
Old 08-28-2013, 07:52 AM
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Kim473 Kim473 is offline
 
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When the truck is moving at 10km or more, there is no problem. The steering is positive at 30km or faster so I don't think its the rack and pinion. No slop at all at those speeds. Seems that when the rpms are up and the truck is moving that it works good.
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  #13  
Old 08-31-2013, 03:55 AM
hunterbabe hunterbabe is offline
 
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i've got the same truck n i have changed the power steering pump twice in 4 years
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  #14  
Old 08-31-2013, 07:28 AM
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Turned out to be the pump and one hose starting to leak so it was changed out. While it was in the shop I had them change out some bushings on the sway bar. Banging sound from the front when going over bumps. Tie rod ends will need changing in a few months and maybe the rack and pinion, still ok for now. I knew I should have traded it in for new last spring. $ going to start pileing up in the next year or two. The old girl has treated me well over the last 9 years. First major cost to date. Expecting the brakes next, complete front & rear suspension/ball joints etc... after that.

Maybe a new truck should be in order this fall when the new years models come out and the sales hit for the 2013 models clearances in Nov/Dec/Jan. Will have to give it some thought before it becomes a money pit.
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  #15  
Old 09-03-2013, 03:56 AM
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Sure glad I took the truck into a shop to have this changed and not done it myself. Found a puddle of oil on the garage floor yesterday morning. Turns out I happened to get a bad pump. Crack or a seal in the new pump. Shop is gonna redue everything that they did at no cost. Including a complete flush of the system again. Just too bad it happened on a holiday and no parts in stock, no parts wharehouses open.
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