Power Steering Problem 1993 Camry

[ss1670]

This is my first post on this forum.
I have a 93 Camry with the 3VZ-FE engine. Automatic with 86K miles.
Less than 3 months ago the P/S pump (aftermarket Beck Arnley) was
replaced when I bought the car. Yesterday the PS suddenly went out with no prior symptoms.
This model has the hydraulic cooling fan driven by the PS pump. It is
not working either. I have a Haynes manual and looked it over for
troubleshooting. I did jumper the "E1" and "OP1" terminals on the
diagnostic block as part of the drill. Still no fan or PS.
I looked underneath and the PS belt is intact and good tension on the
belt. The pump pulley turns when the engine is running. Fluid level
is full in the reservoir. While I had the car jacked up, I turned the
wheels all the way to the right and back to the left thinking maybe
there's an airlock or something as a means to bleed the system. That
exercise didn't result in any change.

Questions:
1. I notice there's a solenoid on the PS pump. If this is bad or
defective will it cause my symptoms? If it's bad, does it just allow
the pump to run in sort sort of bypass mode? I assume it is key to
the cooling fan operation.
2. I also read about the cooling fan ECU behind the glove box. I
haven't pulled that yet.
3. Are there any other relays or fuses that I should be looking for?
4. If the rack and pinion went out, would this be a sympton?

Based on anyone's experience, is the solenoid a candidate for
failure, likewise with the ECU? BTW, the cooling fan turns freely by
hand, no binding or anything like that.

Thanks in advance on any information about how I should proceed
before yanking and replacing the PS pump. I'd like to get an idea on
troubleshooting and will decide if I can tackle the problem or take
it to a certified mechanic.

Greg

[davemac2]

if both the PS and fan are not working, then I would think the pump itself is gone since I think the fan and rack fluid paths are separate. The solenoid I believe is for the hydraulic fan control. If there is sufficient fluid in the reservoir, then the pump should be primed just fine. Maybe someone put in the wrong type of fluid and it affected the seals, or the new pump was bad? No leaking at all? No noise before it completely failed? The PS pump is not affected by the ECU. The FCU (fan control) will only control the fan hydraulics via that solenoid.

dave mc

[ss1670]

It worked fine for the 3 months. Last time I'm going the aftermarket route. Originally I didn't want to shell out $300 for a new one. Shame on me now.
There are no leaks and the fluid level is full. It's my girlfriend's car but I last drove it a week ago with no issues. It went out suddendly on her when she made a U-Turn.
Guess I need to replace this weekend. Don't know about the wrong fluid but this time around I'm using Dexron III in it and will probably run it then try to flush again so I get any residual fluid out.
Thanks for the reply.
BTW ... any tips on installing? It's tucked up underneath. I assume I have to remove the lower control/support panel to get fully at it.

Greg

[parimento1]

same thing happened to me this weekend...all of a sudden no PS, replaced pump, prob fixed. It was the orig pump with 116k miles tho.

[ss1670]

parimento1 -
Did you do the work yourself? If so any tips on removing and installing? Do you have to remove the tie rod end and any cross member or covers?

I believe I found the potential culprit. I drained the PS reservoir last night and the fluid is NOT red like I would expect Dexron to be. I'll bet the mechanic that installed the PS in November used some off the shelf fluid. May have caused the seals to go.