99 Wrangler stiff power steering when cold
 

Hi all,

I live near Toronto, Canada, and we've had some damn cold weather the last week or so. We went into a deep freeze last Friday and I couldn't turn the steering wheel at all, although the engine started no problem. Even after having it running for 30 minutes, still no steering.

The temperature went up on the weekend and I finally got some steering back, although it was still pretty stiff when cold, but improved once I got moving. I took it into a shop today and they disconnected the tie-rods to check for free movement of the ball joints and then removed the steering stabilizer on a hunch, but no difference. Now they're scratching their heads and it's looking like they will start progressively removing steering parts to diagnose it. Will likely get expensive.

Anybody out there have a similar experience? I would love to hear back from anyone who has, and how they resolved it.

Thanks all,
Rob

Re: 99 Wrangler stiff power steering when cold
 

I be inclined to say your oil in the steering box could be changed, it might have been in there since day one. Remember these temperatures aren't normal either. Even my 03 TJ oil looked like molasses and I run 10/30 in it all year long. Maybe 5/30 wud be better if we were going to have these temperatures all winter as that grade looks like water. Since its been in the shop did the steering move any better??

Re: 99 Wrangler stiff power steering when cold
 

Time for a ghetto power steering fluid change. With the engine off, remove as much as you can from the power steering reservoir with a turkey baster, then top it up with new fluid. Do it a few times.

Re: 99 Wrangler stiff power steering when cold
 

Tend to agree, replacing fluid would be my first move. If that doesn't fix'er, likely the PS pump itself(bad internal seals get worse at -20c).

Curious Mr. White...you use 10w30 oil for your power steering fluid??? I thought ATF+4 was the best to run for power steering?

cheers

Re: 99 Wrangler stiff power steering when cold
 

just out of curiosity, why run anything other than power steering fluid? are there any tangible advantages, or is it a price thing?

the only thing i can think of is running a heavier oil instead of PSF may help compensate for any seeping... am i on the right track?

Re: 99 Wrangler stiff power steering when cold
 

Hi Trigger

Can't speak for others, but both my owners manual and Factory service manual for my 03 specify that Mopar ATF+4 is to be used as the power steering fluid. No idea why or how PS fluid differs from ATF+4(or 10w30 for that matter)...but I've been using ATF+4 and doing a 50% change(ghetto style...lol) every few years and so far have not had any PS issues.

If memory serves, the earlier TJ's called for mopar PS fluid and the change to ATF+4 happened in the 02/03 model year???

pss...Mr White...suspect I misread your 10w30 comment. Not using as PS fluid, but just noting how thick fluids get at -20?

cheers

lnr