Ok im having a problem with my 96 Eclipse Rs... When i start it nothing is wrong, but after driving it for about 5 minutes a clicking starts coming from the power steering. at first me and my friend thought it was my belt, but then we got closer and we listened and it appears that its the power steering. What it sounds like is The Power Steering isnt pumping the fluid, and if i make a sharp turn the power steering cuts out a little. it becomes hard to drive the car. this has been goin on for about 6 months now and i finally have alot of money again and id like to fix this. does anybody think they MIGHT have a clue what i need to do? Replace the power steering pump? please help me, i cant drive like this forever im gonna end up dead if it cuts out when i need it. so any feedback would be great. Thanks!
->Brian

Have you verified that it's not low on fluid?

usually power steering pumps groan when they're failing, but i imagine clicking isn't impossible.

They're easy to replace. The belt aside, they come out with three 14mm bolts and the lines are i think an 18mm banjo bolt and a 13mm bolt holding down the return. Nothing to it.

100% positive that its not low on the fluid, but to double check im gonna go to my car right now. . . . . Perfect...Its filled. Well if i need a new pump, im gonna want to buy a whole new power steering set-up. does anybody know where abouts i can buy it??? I can google it but someone here probably knows a better place with a better price.

Define "whole new system."

A new pump from Satan is about $400. A new rack is about $900. Have fun with that.

Have you verified the noise is the pump with a mechanic's stethascope? (or a long screwdriver, or a couple of extensions in your ear, etc, etc..)

btw you prolly won't die if your PS cuts out on you. mine's been doin that a lot lately (my belts loose but i haven't had time to go tighten it). even if i'm taking a turn when the belt starts to slip you only feel a slight pull on the wheel which isn't that hard to compensate for. i suppose if you were driving with only one hand on the wheel and not paying attention there's a slight possibility you could lose control and die if your PS cut out... PS is only a bitch if you don't have it in parking lots an stuff :P

and yea verify the problem before you start tearing into things. replacing your R&P will not be fun (or cheap). replacing just the pump on the other hand is only a minor inconvenience. you can prolly get a used pump off a member here for cheap too. i got one for like $50. well two actually - the first one got lost in the mail :wary

You can get a rebuilt rack for around $250-$300 bucks. Mine was leaking and wouldn't pass inspection, so I had to replace it. I found a used one in good condition for less than $100. Hardest part is putting it in, but I did it in a day. Certainly not as hard as a headgasket (which I have to do again).

I got a power steering pump from a junkyard for 28bucks and its been in my car for 3 years now with no problem knock on wood.

alright then im gonna take it to a place and have them tell me whats wrong and ill go get one at the mitsubishi pick n pull friday. Cause im not 100% sure its even the pump it self. i think it is, im not passin smog either and i took my header off and put my stock one in and g2p and still failed they tried like 4x and it never worked..... well i wont get time to go til friday after i get off work and ill get that shit on! or whatever it is