Filling power steering

Has anyone experienced problems filling / bleeding steering system. Following a chassis swap I had my steering box remanufactured and fitted a new steering pump so all new. I filled the reservoir and loosened the bleed valve on the steering box, kept topping the reservoir until air stopped coming out of the valve. It’s only taken around 1L, I understand the systems takes around 3.5L? If I start the engine no power steering but it doesn’t take any more fluid from reservoir. I’ve tried the recommended lock to lock bleeding process but it’s not filling. I suspect the pump is not filled but there’s no bleed valve. Any ideas please?

Thanks

Try doing the lock to lock thing with wheels raised off the ground so there is no load on the system.

Glossy mag under the wheels works as well
Crack output fitting on pump and make sure it is making pressure

Thanks I will try that. It is very heavy trying to turn it lock to lock whilst stationary and it’s not yet back on road yet.

Dont think any car pas system will take 3.5 litres, be surprised if they even hold a litre.

What engine?

Tbh I have never bled any pas system after working on one, just fill it up waggle the steering a bit and away they go.

Have you checked the hose from reservoir to the pump has not collapsed internally or kinked? 200 tdi has a pretty sharp bend just before the pump, def 200 pas pumps like to snap their shafts, had it happen twice.

I fitted my sons steering box the other week and would only bleed with the wheels off the ground. Can't remember how much fluid it took but certainly wasn't 3.5 litres.
1989 Ninety by the way.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I removed outlet hose from the pump and that was flowing with fluid. I raised the wheels of ground and bleed the steering box until loads of fluid came off there so assume it’s ok. The steering is still really heavy when I put it back on the ground, like no power assistance at all. You can see fluid swirling around inside the reservoir when the steering is on lock. It’s a completely refurbished box and new pump so no idea what to do next.

Benji55 said:

Thanks everyone for the advice. I removed outlet hose from the pump and that was flowing with fluid. I raised the wheels of ground and bleed the steering box until loads of fluid came off there so assume it’s ok. The steering is still really heavy when I put it back on the ground, like no power assistance at all. You can see fluid swirling around inside the reservoir when the steering is on lock. It’s a completely refurbished box and new pump so no idea what to do next.

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Stick some pics up, somebody might be able to see something odd.

I actually meant crack as in loosen (not remove) the pas pump output pipe to see if any fluid under pressure starts to escape with engine running, if is squirts out (may get messy!) then you can say the pump is okay and start to look at the pas box.

How do you know it's not full?
Ie could the pump be duff?
Is it heavy with the wheels off the ground?
Why did you put a new pump on? Can you refit the old one?
Have you checked preloads in the steering box?

If the truck is standing still on dry hard surface steering will be heavy.
Check PAS belt is properly tight.

If still an issue, is the steering as heavy a feel with PAS belt fitted and removed? If so, it's either the PAS pump or the steering box is over pre-loaded. + watch here from 10m30s

Thanks everyone. Ive just done a chassis swap so decided to have the steering box rebuilt and replace the steering pump as it was leaking a bit. I fitted the old pump back on yesterday and problem solved, steering working fine. I would never had thought a new pump would be faulty. Got to try and get a refund and I will buy a pump from somewhere else.
Thanks for the advice

Good you are sorted for now. Was it it a new or S/H pump?

It was a new pump but off eBay not a reputable Land Rover parts supplier. Like always with these things it’s the time I spent trying to bleed the system many times that’s most frustrating but never mind. At least it wasn’t the expansive steering box.

just need to finish wiring the lights back and then ready for its mot. In a strange way I’ve actually enjoyed doing the chassis swap. Not sure what I will do with my spare time now.

Thought it might have been a special, there are a lot of rubbish parts out there. You would think that with safety related items Trading standards would be on the ball but it is not so.

Benji55 said:

It was a new pump but off eBay not a reputable Land Rover parts supplier. Like always with these things it’s the time I spent trying to bleed the system many times that’s most frustrating but never mind. At least it wasn’t the expansive steering box.

just need to finish wiring the lights back and then ready for its mot. In a strange way I’ve actually enjoyed doing the chassis swap. Not sure what I will do with my spare time now.

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You will have to get out and about and enjoy driving it, besides I'm sure it will be planning the next thing which needs fixing!