After you have replaced or serviced a hose, steering pump or gear box in the power steering system of your vehicle, you need to bleed the system. This will not only let you purge the air from internal components, but also prevent future system problems. Although there is a general procedure for bleeding the steering system, some manufacturers may add a specific step to properly purge the system in a particular model. If you need more help, consult the service manual for your particular car model.
Set your vehicle's transmission to neutral.
Open the hood and verify that the fluid level in the steering pump reservoir is at the "full cold" mark. Replace the reservoir cap but do not tighten it. Leave the hood open.
Raise the front of your vehicle using a floor jack and support with a jack stand under the frame on each side.
Detach the ignition coil wire from the distributor, if your particular model is equipped with it. Alternately, remove the fuel pump relay or fuse, depending on your particular vehicle model. This will disable the ignition system.
Turn the ignition key to the "on" position but do not crank the engine.
Turn the steering wheel slowly and completely to the left and then to the right. As soon as you hit the stops in either direction, begin to turn the wheel in the opposite direction. Keep cycling the wheel left and right. Ask an assistant to periodically check the fluid level in the reservoir during this procedure and add small amounts of new steering fluid to the reservoir as necessary using a small funnel.
Center the steering wheel once the fluid in the steering pump reservoir stabilizes and your assistant reports no bubbles in the reservoir fluid. Otherwise, repeat Step 6.
Crank the engine for five seconds. If the fluid level in the reservoir remains stable and no bubbles form in the fluid, go on to the next step. Otherwise, repeat Step 6, 7 and 8.
Attach the ignition coil to the distributor or install the fuel pump relay or fuse to enable the ignition system, depending on your particular vehicle.
Start and let the engine idle for five minutes. Check the fluid level in the steering pump reservoir and add if necessary. Turn off the ignition.
Lower your vehicle using the floor jack.
Start and let the engine idle for two minutes. At the same time, turn the steering wheel slowly left and right without allowing the wheel to stay at the stops in either direction. If the wheel turns smoothly, the fluid level remains stable without bubbles, you have completed the steering system bleeding. Otherwise, repeat Steps 6 through 12.
