Power Steering Pump Failure!!!

[Viperchad]

Driving home last night noticed the car was running a little hot and the wheel was a little hard to turn. Just before entering my street I lost all power steering. Muscled the car home and had it towed today. Only 4K miles and the pump and pulley are shot...per the dealers investigation. How the H@## does this happen to a 2003 car with 4K miles???? I'm a little worried. By the way...if you ever need to use DC roadside service.......don't be in too much of a hurry!!!!!


Chad

 

[jk]

This has happened on quite a few early SRT10s. Happened on my 2003 at 500 miles. There was a recall on the power steering pump or rack, I believe. Was this performed on yours?

 

[Viperchad]

Recall was not done....thing that ***** the most now is i'm off for the holiday weekend and instead of the viper....i get to cruise in a f$$#(%# pacifica!!!!!

 

[LynnS]

Chad - Sorry to hear that you also had a problem with the power steering system. My 2005 with 3K miles did the same thing last week while returning from a day in the mountains. Dodge Service Rep. said that one hose was not clamped correctly and that it came-loose, dumping the fluid all over the engine compartment. And you are correct, besides ruining an otherwise great day, the DC Roadside Service leaves somewhat to be desired.

 

[Viperchad]

disappointing

 

[VPRTKMIKE]

chad I have had 4 in the last 2 weeks, 05's the fan module and pumps had to be replaced. it only takes about 2hrs so you should have car back for weekend.

 

[FASTFUN]

Is the fan electric or hydraulic? I have never heard of a hydraulic fan before..........however I thought I read it somewhere.If it is hydraulic, what is the advantage? Being in AZ we think alot about cooling.

 

[Nsane1]

I had the same thing.. I think I was one of the people who started the recall (mine failed way before the recall). Very scary thing really. The fan is hydraulic, which I agree is a tad strange...

 

[Steve-Indy]

Chad (and others)...you may want to read this old thread carefully...

http://vca2.viperclub.org/forums/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=UBB21&Number=423941&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&vc=1

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And, even though both my Tech and I remember this as a "recall"...here is the TSB summary of the cooling problem...that can lead to new PS pump, hoses, steering rack:


From NHTSA site:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/tsb/results.cfm


" DODGE Model : VIPER Year : 2003
Manufacturer : DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION
Service Bulletin Num : C31 Date of Bulletin: NOV 01, 2003
NHTSA Item Number: 10005369
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
Summary:
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION NOTIFICATION NO. C31 - COOLING FAN MODULE. A CHECK BALL RETAINER IN THE COOLING FAN MODULE MAY BECOME DISLODGED. *TT "

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It will be VERY INTERESTING to hear the results of the dealers' findings at the time of repair...ESPECIALLY for the 2005's.

 

[Racer Robbie]

I have had no problems in 10000 miles on my 2003 SRT-10 which was built late in the year on June 11 2003. It seems that vipers built later in the year have not had all the problems of the earlier ones, at least mine has had none. Even my headlight switch has never acted up and I live right on the ocean front.

 

[Buckeye Viper]

Dang bro, sorry

 

[Steve-Indy]

Atro Racing is correct...seems to me that this potential problem was a concern on the first 1300 (or so) of the 2003 SRT-10's...though I am told that a member with a VERY LATE 2003 Viper had the PS pump fail early on (and his VIN was NOT part of the TSB/recall batch).

As noted above...will be very interested in hearing the cause of the PS problem on the 2005's.

 

[Viper Specialty]

Is the fan electric or hydraulic? I have never heard of a hydraulic fan before..........however I thought I read it somewhere.If it is hydraulic, what is the advantage? Being in AZ we think alot about cooling.

The fan is indeed hydraulic. There are a few reasons for this. The first, is that a hydraulic fan motor will have much more torque than an electric fan motor of the same size, allowing a more aggressive fan blade pitch to be used. This in turn will cuase much more airflow at the same fan speeds.

Second, the Hydraulic fan reduces the parasitic loss on the engine, as the electrical system (alternator) is not sapping power to cycle the fan. The hydraulic fan is run off the power steering pump, which is ALWAYS a parasitic loss whether it is being used or not. In essence, it is "free" power to run the fan.

Lastly, the Hydraulic fan is controlled by a Stepper motor, which has close to 100 fan speeds if I recall correctly. This allows the fan to keep the temp almost rock solid steady, as the fan speed is variable and can be ramped accordingly. There is no need to cycle the fan On/Off at certain temps. Also, the fan spins at minimum speed constantly, regaurdless of engine temp- airflow through the engine compartment is always occuring.

 

[FASTFUN]

Daniel said:
"The fan is indeed hydraulic. There are a few reasons for this. The first, is that a hydraulic fan motor will have much more torque than an electric fan motor of the same size, allowing a more aggressive fan blade pitch to be used. This in turn will cuase much more airflow at the same fan speeds.

Second, the Hydraulic fan reduces the parasitic loss on the engine, as the electrical system (alternator) is not sapping power to cycle the fan. The hydraulic fan is run off the power steering pump, which is ALWAYS a parasitic loss whether it is being used or not. In essence, it is "free" power to run the fan.

Lastly, the Hydraulic fan is controlled by a Stepper motor, which has close to 100 fan speeds if I recall correctly. This allows the fan to keep the temp almost rock solid steady, as the fan speed is variable and can be ramped accordingly. There is no need to cycle the fan On/Off at certain temps. Also, the fan spins at minimum speed constantly, regaurdless of engine temp- airflow through the engine compartment is always occuring."



FinalGTS(Daniel),
I want to thank you for the information! Now it makes a lot of sense.
Is this the only production car using a hydraulic fan?

 

[Viper Specialty]

The hydraulic Fan system used in the Viper is very similar to the tried and true system that Jeep has been using since 2001 in the Limited V-8 Grand Cherokee models.