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00Dak
Dodge Dakota
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12/06/2004
09:48:05
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 Subject: P/S Fluid Change
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Message:
I let my P/S fluid get low (stupid me) and the pump started whining. I topped it up and got home. The fuild was burnt, brown, and smelled funny, so I want to change it out.
Do you think if I suck the fluid out of the reservoir with a hand pump, then replace with new stuff, and repeat this several times over a few weeks (giving the new fluid a chance to circulate and mix with the old) that I will change enough of it for this whole process to be worthwhile?
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um
Dodge Dakota
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12/06/2004
16:30:08
|  RE: P/S Fluid Change
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Message:
yes you can do this, i've done it just to change the fluid on an
annual basis
the big question is why did the fluid get low in the first place?
better check your hoses
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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12/07/2004
01:48:31
| RE: P/S Fluid Change
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Message:
Yeah you could do it that way, but it's going to take forever to get all of the fluid replaced. I had the same problem on my 00, friggin P/S fluid was burnt, brown and funky looking.
It's easy to get all the fluid out. Jack up the front and undo the 2 lines going to the rack. Let the pump drain and work the steering wheel back and forth to get all the fluid out of the rack. Replace the hoses, fill up the pump, start the enginge and top off the pump.
I let the engine run and worked the steering wheel back and forth 30-40 times to get any residual old fluid suspended in the new stuff, then drained the pump and rack again as I was filling it with Amsoil ATF, gooood (synthetic) stuff ;)
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garwood
Dodge Dakota
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12/07/2004
09:05:11
| RE: P/S Fluid Change
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Message:
So what fluids are compatable. My 01 steering fluid is brown, but it looks like it may have started out that way. Other vehicles I have owned used Dexron and this doesn't smell ike old tranny fluid. I have a bunch of Mopar ATF+4 that I would like to use. It says it can be used in certain PS after 88. Owners manual doesn't give any details.
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caulk04
Dodge Dakota
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12/07/2004
09:49:37
| RE: P/S Fluid Change
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Message:
ATF+4 should be factory fill in yours. I know it is in my 02.
When I bought mine used, it was right around low on P/S fluid, so I bought a quart of the mopar stuff just to have around.
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DSW
Dodge Dakota
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12/07/2004
13:38:39
| RE: P/S Fluid Change
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Message:
At 80K my P/S fluid was disgusting. I don't know what they used in the 00's, but heard that they were using ATF+4 in the newer trucks. I opted to replace with Amsoil ATF since it's better. I am at 140K and the P/S fluid looks real nice, no discoloration.
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00Dak
Dodge Dakota
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12/07/2004
13:38:44
| RE: P/S Fluid Change
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Message:
thanks.
don't know why the fluid got low.. doesn't seem to be leaking.
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BruceWard
Dodge Dakota
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12/12/2004
19:19:12
| RE: P/S Fluid Change
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Message:
I do not know about the Dakota system but I have
been told on other vehicles that it is bad to
let the system go dry. So here is what I do.
1. Take a cap that will fit the new power
steering fluid bottle and drill a hole the size
of the our diameter of a piece of rubber tubing
and glue in place.
2. Use syringe to suck all the fluid you can out
of the reservoir.
3. Detach the feed line from the reservoir and
connect the prepared cap and hose with the
bottle of power steering fluid attached.
4. Detach the return line and place in a
suitable sized waste bottle.
5. Have someone you trust get in and start the
engine.
6. Very soon you will want them to turn it off
as soone as the waster bottle is filles.
* Whatever you do, do not let the system go dry.
It may not hurt the Dakota but why take the
chance.
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