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nvu

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Posts posted by nvu

  1. The reservoir cap isn't sealed but it's strange to have it leak.  With engine on, steer left/right a couple times quickly, if the oring was leaking it would suck in air and cause a whining noise and random choppiness in the steering wheel.  You could have someone steer back and forth while you check in the reservoir with cap off and see if there are any bubbles.

    I don't recall ever having fluid leaking out the top of the reservoir cap, but guessing if there's an air leak at the top where the steering pump is, any fluid higher than the reservoir will eventually drain back down into it.

    Betting either that upper host end is so hardened and brittle, the rubber can't contract any more even with the hose clamp.  The oring is under that black elbow, I usually replace it with whatever fits from the auto store.

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  2. It's unlikely the high pressure, that's a pipe from the steering hose that only turns into a hose somewhere behind the engine.  If that one even leaks a little you'll lose all power steering within an hour, it's like 200psi.

    There's two low pressure hoses, one comes back from the steering rack and into the reservoir, unlikely leak.  The other one goes from the reservoir back into the pump and is all rubber, that's probably the culprit.  I don't know what the name is... it's the "really squiggly one".

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  3. With the spark plugs out, crank the engine until you see oil pressure.  It'll crank pretty fast and build pressure after a couple tries.

    Also don't prefill the oil filter,  if the oil pump wasn't preprimed it'll take very long for the air to overcome the oil stuck in the filer.   If you're not sure, just crank it with no oil filter until you see it spit out oil, then the pump is primed.  Put back the filter and crank for pressure.

    I'd crank until the oil light goes out, let it rest while I button up the some things, come back and test crank again to confirm the oil light instantly goes out.  Then you're sure everything ready to fire up.

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  4. If anything, inspect the donut flange area. if it's rusted out I'd just replace the entire thing.  A sometimes leaking and sometimes not spring loaded donut flange makes it hard to chase the inevitable p0420 code.  The muffler end can fall off and it wouldn't set codes.

    No resonator wouldn't bother the neighbors, it'd bother you with highway droning if you're sensitive to that.

  5. 11 hours ago, el_freddo said:

    I’m not 100% sure on what the required action in this situation is - eg: back off all bolts, replace offending unit then restart the procedure or do that ^ and replace the head gasket you just fitted. 

    I don't know if there's a definitive procedure for creaking bolts.  I could tell the if a creaking bolt has gone beyond it's yield, it just feels springy when you tighten.  A good bolt can creak too, it's sometimes due to the threads in the block not matching the threads on the bolt.  Good bolts that creak still feel as stiff as ones the didnt creak.  I run them in and out a couple times lightly with a drill and clean/relube the threads.  then try again.

    Be aware MLS gaskets deform as part of sealing, and then bite a bit into the aluminum at final torque.  You shouldn't loosen the bolts all the way once you started, if you need to work on a problem bolt, back off the other bolts as little as you need to and always leave them in tension. 

    At the torque wrench stage, try and keep everything creak free.  Keep cleaning and relubing if needed.

    After that is the 1st 90 degree stage, some likely creak, you need to remember the feel of the good bolts and decide.  It's the last chance to back off and redo.

    The second and final 90 deg stage, if it's a bad bolt you will definitely feel it.  Never go more than 180deg total for those two stages, if it felt loose after the two stages... it's overstretched already.

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