Chrysler Repair: 00 LHS 3,5L Power Steering Issue, power steering pump, 2000 chrysler lhs

Question
Hello, around last week (since it is winter and the mornings are very cold) upon first startup of the day.. My 2000 Chrysler LHS (3.5 V6) has an aweful noise that occurs around 1100-1000 rpm and I sounds like it is the power steering pump. The fluid has a burnt smell to it and is a brownish color but the fluid level is always at the cold full level... it never changes even after I drive it al day at operating temp it never goes up to max hot. When I got the oil changed they did say there was an excessive power steering leak and they saw a bypassed hose so does this mean the pump isnt getting any fluid and has burned out in result? I still have power assist but the noise sounds the same compared to a bad accessory belt bearing. Hopefully this is just the pump, and is it a hard job to replace by myself at home?
Please advise.. Thanks!

Answer
Hi Joe,
It would be good for you to take a look to determine from where the leak appears to be occuring and also what hose was by-passed so as to clarify whether it is the pump or the power steering gear proper and what hose way by-passed and by what reason does that happen (normal system malfunction or an erroneous repair?). The pump removal and replacement is about a dozen stepa in each direction and appears to be a routine sort of task for a do it yourselfer. Let me know if you would like the list of steps and I will either digitally copy it from the '04 CD manual and email it, or if that manual doesn't agree with my '99 hardcopy manual then I would xerox copy and postal mail it to you. Use a follow-up question to let me know your email address, but check the box to make it a 'private' question.
Roland
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