Power steering pump failed - left me stranded

[Solar Sparky]

Yesterday, with <9000 miles on my new gladiator Mojave, the power steering pump failed, and the engine shut down. I had just filled up with gas, and after restarting, I turned off the ESS, when I heard a clicking sound from up front. Immediately I saw a warning light to service the power steering system. Next was the warning light that the engine was going to shut down, and to pull over soon. Several hours later, I was dropping the truck off at the local Jeep dealer in New Port Richey. Anyone else have this problem?

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[GeekJT]

have about 1k on mine, nothing yet.

 

[Casique]

Any mods?

 

[Lost1wing]

You can check your N6 fuse, the powersteering ground and the power steering connector. F34 fuse too. I'm thinking you have a loose battery cable. Check the fender ground and the main terminal connections.

Reservoir full?

 

[OVERLORD]

I have to add power steering fluid periodically, yet see no leaks.

 

[Hootbro]

On a sliding scale EHPS failures seem to be pretty rare. Not exactly zero obviously, but not something reported often.

 

[\/\/0j0]

Did you have any symptoms ahead of time? I ask because my 21 JTRD is having what seems to be intermittent pump drop out. Typically between forward and reverse gears, though lately with the cooler weather, it's been from Park to traveling gears, lasting up to a couple seconds.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

I had 3 pump failures on my 21 JTR, 3.6. I found that when the pump would fail on all 3, they were smoking hot to the touch but would reactivate once pump temps came down. It was so predictable that I could drive to the dealership, park outside the service doors, keep the engine running while I went in to tell them what was going on with the pump (no codes) and they had a tech ready to come out once pump got too hot and would then shut down. Tech couldn’t see a code but also couldn’t actuate it on his scan tool but i did get replaced under warranty. I also found I had air lock on all my 4 pumps.

The worst experience was pump #3. It was in the summer and I was travelling from Calgary to Vancouver for a wedding and once I got to Kamloops which was about 6-7 hours into our trip, I filled up and started the truck and the pump quit.

It never came back on and i strong armed steered the entire 1500 kms without it coming back on! That’s a lot of steering on my own strength and no damage came of it. Dealership in Kamloops said I’d be waiting 2 weeks for a pump and….well, I had ALL THE BOOZE for the wedding in the back of the truck and couldn’t just leave it. We had to press on to Vancouver! BC was under a liquor strike and shelves were empty so, I was the most important guy besides the pastor that was having to be there.

Dealership back home in Calgary ordered the pump and said it’ll be in when I get back home. The 3rd pump was deemed electrical failure.

 

[RHINO79]

Some pumps are quiet some noisy, I'm guessing poor quality.

 

[RHINO79]

I have to add power steering fluid periodically, yet see no leaks.

That sounds like a lot of air in the system, can you hear the pump run every time you move the steering wheel?

 

[OVERLORD]

That sounds like a lot of air in the system, can you hear the pump run every time you move the steering wheel?

No noise.

System to my knowledge never opened since being built.

 

[Solar Sparky]

Any mods?

Update! The fuse block fried apparently. The dealer replaced the auxiliary battery because it was dead. The technician said that it must have failed previously because it would take a while for the battery to drain down to dead. The auxiliary battery is what powers the power steering pump, which explains losing the pump power (pump was okay). Big issue is the dealer says Jeep warranty doesn’t cover the part because they “never fail…..unless you do something wrong to them”. Repeatedly the advisors both said that they “never” fail without something external causing it. They asked if we tried to jump start the truck, which we didn’t. They literally kept implying that I must be lying about trying to jump start it, or something. Ferman Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in New Port Richey FL. I hope Jeep customer care is monitoring this forum and reads this. The service manager finally spoke with me, and he said that they fail “all the time” but typically when someone does something wrong. I understand that, but since I have done nothing, maybe they should look deeper into this, but no, they just want me to leave the service department and stop raising hell about basically being called a liar. Parts fail, I understand. I just don’t understand why Jeep doesn’t warranty the fuse block in the bumper to bumper warranty. Now I have to chase after the engineering department and enlighten them to reality. As a 45 year electrician, and the last 10 inspecting big solar PV sites, I have seen hundreds of failed DC fuse blocks, strips, connections fail. F*@kinghellman! Take some ownership Jeep! And the service advisors need to learn some basic communication skills.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Update! The fuse block fried apparently. The dealer replaced the auxiliary battery because it was dead. The technician said that it must have failed previously because it would take a while for the battery to drain down to dead. The auxiliary battery is what powers the power steering pump, which explains losing the pump power (pump was okay). Big issue is the dealer says Jeep warranty doesn’t cover the part because they “never fail…..unless you do something wrong to them”. Repeatedly the advisors both said that they “never” fail without something external causing it. They asked if we tried to jump start the truck, which we didn’t. They literally kept implying that I must be lying about trying to jump start it, or something. Ferman Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in New Port Richey FL. I hope Jeep customer care is monitoring this forum and reads this. The service manager finally spoke with me, and he said that they fail “all the time” but typically when someone does something wrong. I understand that, but since I have done nothing, maybe they should look deeper into this, but no, they just want me to leave the service department and stop raising hell about basically being called a liar. Parts fail, I understand. I just don’t understand why Jeep doesn’t warranty the fuse block in the bumper to bumper warranty. Now I have to chase after the engineering department and enlighten them to reality. As a 45 year electrician, and the last 10 inspecting big solar PV sites, I have seen hundreds of failed DC fuse blocks, strips, connections fail. F*@kinghellman! Take some ownership Jeep! And the service advisors need to learn some basic communication skills.

This makes a lot more sense as to why a 'power steering failure' led to being completely stranded.

Due to the importance of this fuse array, some folks recommend keeping a spare in the truck for the unlikely event it fails or you accidentally kill it.

Speaking of pumps - mine is nice and quiet, though it seemed to have been underfilled from the factory.

 

[sharpsicle]

Update! The fuse block fried apparently. The dealer replaced the auxiliary battery because it was dead. The technician said that it must have failed previously because it would take a while for the battery to drain down to dead. The auxiliary battery is what powers the power steering pump, which explains losing the pump power (pump was okay). Big issue is the dealer says Jeep warranty doesn’t cover the part because they “never fail…..unless you do something wrong to them”. Repeatedly the advisors both said that they “never” fail without something external causing it. They asked if we tried to jump start the truck, which we didn’t. They literally kept implying that I must be lying about trying to jump start it, or something. Ferman Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in New Port Richey FL. I hope Jeep customer care is monitoring this forum and reads this. The service manager finally spoke with me, and he said that they fail “all the time” but typically when someone does something wrong. I understand that, but since I have done nothing, maybe they should look deeper into this, but no, they just want me to leave the service department and stop raising hell about basically being called a liar. Parts fail, I understand. I just don’t understand why Jeep doesn’t warranty the fuse block in the bumper to bumper warranty. Now I have to chase after the engineering department and enlighten them to reality. As a 45 year electrician, and the last 10 inspecting big solar PV sites, I have seen hundreds of failed DC fuse blocks, strips, connections fail. F*@kinghellman! Take some ownership Jeep! And the service advisors need to learn some basic communication skills.

Wow, a LOT of bad information you were given there lol.

The big question though, are they getting you squared away regardless?

 

[Solar Sparky]

This makes a lot more sense as to why a 'power steering failure' led to being completely stranded.

Due to the importance of this fuse array, some folks recommend keeping a spare in the truck for the unlikely event it fails or you accidentally kill it.

Speaking of pumps - mine is nice and quiet, though it seemed to have been underfilled from the factory.

Great idea. The first gladiator had no problem with that, even though I did add a winch and lighting. But, for such a small part and only $100, if I was wheeling somewhere remote I would have been totally f*@ked.

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