Quote:
Originally posted by drew1
That little valve lets off oil when there is so much pumped that the pressure is high enough to cause it to open.
If you don't have oil pressure, you could have a pump that isn't putting out enough (maybe stopped up strainer in oil pan) or too much oil getting by somewhere else. If you rev the motor does it build up pressure?
drew1
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Not too long ago my oil pressure gauge flickered for a few miles and went dead (went to 0 and stayed there). After the drive, I was parking my car and noticed the wheel was difficult to turn. I was able to take it to an auto shop and raise it on a lift. The pulley on the crank that pulled the power steering belt literally fell off (I think someone didn't tighten the bolt on the end after doing a timing belt job) and so the pulley and the belt were just sitting there on my spoiler under the nose of the car. I put the pulley and the belt back on and tightened the bolt on the end of the crank to fix it. I drove it around a little bit and naturally the power steering fluid circulated and steering became easy but ALSO the oil pressure gauge went back up to normal!
So, yeah, I would check the power steering pump's belt first.
-Matt