OPERATION
Turning of the steering wheel is converted into lat-
eral (side-to-side) travel through the meshing of the
helical pinion teeth with the rack teeth within the
steering gear. This lateral travel pushes and pulls
the tie rods to change the direction of the vehicle’s
front wheels.
Power assist steering provided by a rotary type
pump. It directs fluid through power steering fluid
hoses to the power steering gear where it is used to
assist the driver’s turning effort.
Manual steering control of the vehicle can be main-
tained if power steering assist is lost. However,
under this condition, steering effort is significantly
increased.
Refer to SPEED PROPORTIONAL POWER
STEERING GEAR for information on the operation
of the speed-sensitive variable-effort power steering.
POWER STEERING FLUID HOSES
DESCRIPTION
The power steering fluid hoses connect the compo-
nents of the power steering system.
The power steering fluid supply hose (3.2L/3.5L
engines only) is a special rubber hose that connects
the power steering fluid reservoir to the power steer-
ing pump. The hose is secured at each end using a
standard adjustable clamp.
The power steering fluid pressure hose is a high
pressure hose that connects the power steering pump
to the gear. At both ends of the flexible hose portion
are steel fittings. A tube nut fitting with an O-ring is
used at each end to connect it to either the power
steering pump or the gear.
The power steering fluid return hose is a special
rubber hose that connects the power steering gear
and the power steering fluid cooler, back to the fluid
reservoir. A standard tube nut fitting with an O-ring
is used to connect it to the power steering gear. The
hose is secured to the cooler and reservoir using
standard adjustable clamps.
OPERATION
The power steering fluid hoses transfer fluid from
one power steering system component to the next.
POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER
DESCRIPTION
All models of this vehicle are equipped with a
cooler for the power steering system fluid (Fig. 1).
The power steering fluid cooler is located at the front
of the vehicle. It is mounted to the radiator lower
support just forward of the air-conditioning con-
denser and just rearward of the front fascia (Fig. 1).
The cooler is positioned so it is in the air flow
through the front fascia of the vehicle.
OPERATION
The purpose of the cooler is to keep the tempera-
ture of the power steering system fluid from rising to
a level that would affect the performance of the
power steering system.
The cooler used on this vehicle is referred to as a
fluid-to-air type cooler. This means that the air flow
across the tubes of the cooler is used to extract the
heat from the cooler which it has absorbed from the
power steering fluid flowing through it. The cooler is
placed in series with the power steering fluid return
line, between the steering gear and the power steer-
ing fluid reservoir. This lowers the temperature of
the power steering fluid prior to it entering the
power steering fluid reservoir where it is resupplied
to the power steering pump.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING
STEERING DIAGNOSIS CHARTS
NOTE: There are three diagnosis charts following
that cover POWER STEERING NOISE, STEERING
WHEEL FEEL, and POWER STEERING FLUID.
Fig. 1 Power Steering Fluid Cooler
1 – AIR-CONDITIONING CONDENSOR
2 – TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER
3 – POWER STEERING OIL COOLER
19 - 2 STEERING LH
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION (Continued)
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