need help, power steering problem/magnasteer

I've been having problems with steering lately, things are fine while driving but at parking lot speeds, sometimes the power steering cuts out and it becomes very hard to turn and half the time it works fine, my service manuals top diagnosis is a magnasteer issue, but the section it refers you to (8a 45) seems to be missing or torn out. If anyone knows what kind of fix I'd be looking at for a magnasteer issue, or has the missing section in their manual or any other idea what's wrong with my steering, help would be greatly appreciated. All of this is on a 97 by the way.

It has nothing to do with the MagnaSteer. The pump is probably on its way out. It sounds like its not supplying enough pressure at low RPMS. Start with that.....

Abaddon wrote:

It has nothing to do with the MagnaSteer. The pump is probably on its way out. It sounds like its not supplying enough pressure at low RPMS. Start with that.....

+ what abaddon said, Magnasteer does not clinch hard enough to cause an issue like that.

So is replacing the pump something that is feasible to do on my own? or am I going to have to go to a mechanic, and how much will the part and labor be do you think?

zpetey88 wrote:

So is replacing the pump something that is feasible to do on my own? or am I going to have to go to a mechanic, and how much will the part and labor be do you think?

Well, the lines have to be disconnected from underneath, and the pump can be removed from the top. Then you have to remove the Pulley with a P/S Pulley remover, and then install it on the new pump with a P/S Pulley installer. If you aren't mechanically inclined, nor have the tools, this isn't the P/S pump replacement job for you.

No clue what a pump costs these days, but you're looking at about 2-3 hours of labor + fluid and shop supplies.

Alright man, thank you!